What is Neck Pain?

How is Neck Pain Diagnosed?

Accurate and thorough diagnosis is key to selecting the best treatment options. The following is part of a comprehensive diagnostic workup:

• Medical History Assessment of symptoms, previous treatments and care.
• Physical Examination A careful examination by a spine specialist for limitations of movement, problems with balance and pain. The examination should also cover loss of reflexes in your extremities, muscle weakness, loss of sensation or signs of spinal cord damage.
• Diagnostic Tests Generally, X-ray films are taken which allows the physician to see any abnormalities in your spine and rule out other problems such as infections, tumors or fractures. CT Scans and MRIs are often used to give them a three dimensional view of the lumbar spine, soft tissue and can help detect degenerative problems and potential herniated discs.

Non-Operative Treatment

Conservative treatments are usually suggested for up to 2 months.

• Pain Medications Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) muscle relaxers and on rare occasions narcotic painkillers
• Heat/Cold Therapy Alternating heat and cold compresses
• Physical Therapy exercises to includestretching, massage, strengthening educational patient resources
• Spinal Steroid Injections These injections are used two-fold. First to relieve inflammation of the affect soft tissue of spinal cord and secondly, diagnostically to confirm the correct affected level at which the pain originates from.

Least Invasive Procedures

There are a number of pain management treatment procedures that can help reduce painful symptoms in the neck, shoulder, arms and hands.

Injections

• Endoscopic Cervical Rhizotomy
• Cervical Facet Radiofrequency Ablation
• Triggerpoint Injection

Surgical Procedure

• Cervical Artificial Disc Replacement is an ultra-minimally invasive surgical procedure used to treat chronic neck pain that originates from the facet joints of the cervical spine. Facet joints are small joints located between each vertebra in the spine, providing stability and facilitating movement.

Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery

• Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion Damaged disc and any bone spurs pressing on the spinal cord or nerves are decompressed and removed. Once the disc is prepared, a durable plastic and metal device that moves in a similar fashion to the natural disc is inserted into the disc space. The specific advantages of the artificial disc replacement is to maintain the motion, maximize function, and minimize the long-term risks to the disks above and below this level.
• Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion Two or more vertebrae are immobilized with surgical plates and screws. The damaged disc is removed and bone graft is placed in the space between the vertebrae to encourage growth of the bones together. Sometimes it is possible that the fusion does not eliminate the patient’s pain for whatever reason and additional surgery may be required.
• Posterior Laminectomy Some or all of the lamina, or posterior part of the vertebra is removed on both sides, along with the spinous process and spinal ligament that binds the vertebrae together. Sometimes a spinal fusion is incorporated with a laminectomy due to spinal instability.
• Posterior Foraminotomy The foramen or openings on the sides of the spinal canal, through which spinal nerves exit the spinal column, is removed to reduce pressure on the nerve. Often a spinal fusion is incorporated due to spinal instability after decompressing of the foramen.

How to Protect Yourself Safe From COVID-19?

Mauris dapibus elit at odio dapibus, ut finibus odio porta. Aliquam aliquam tortor eu orci condimentum egestas stibu lum ante nulla. 

• Aliquam aliquam tortor eu orci condimentum egestas stibu.
• Duis mattis felis augue, finibus dapibus tellus dapibus at.
• Fusce risus augue, condimentum et odio vitae, lobortis auctor.
• Praesent euismod posuere nunc, in pharetra quam.
• Morbi facilisis turpis a sapienelementum, sit amet convallis.
• Integer gravida nisi tincidunt lobortis interdum donec consequ.
• Ut congue tristique augue in euismod quisque sit amet magna.