Treating Neck Pain

Cervicalgia or neck pain can occur in the neck, head, or at the top of your shoulders. Sometimes, the pain can radiate to the arms and hands, depending on the cause of the pain. There are multiple treatment options to alleviate neck pain. These treatments can provide temporary or long-term relief. Patients who have an existing condition should avoid heavy weights and strenuous activity.

Testing

The first step in diagnosing your source of neck pain is imaging. Scans such as X-ray, CT, and MRI can find the root cause and treat it accordingly. Other tests include an Electromyography (EMG) and blood test. An EMG looks for a pinched nerve that may be causing the pain. Blood tests can detect an infectious or inflammatory condition that contributes to neck pain.

Treatments We Offer

• Trigger Point Injections- Small needle injection containing local anesthetic or saline and may include a corticosteroid.
• Botulinum Toxin Injections- Safely injected into muscles to relieve pain, blocking nerve signals that control activity and relaxing chronically contracted muscles.
• Epidural Injections- Steroid injected into epidural space.
• Facet Joint Injections- Small amount of anesthetic/ numbing agent or steroid medication injected into the facet joint to block pain.
• Medial Branch Blocks- Typically, multiple levels of the spine are injected with a local anesthetic near medial nerves that are connected to a facet joint.
• Radiofrequency Nerve Ablation- A nonsurgical and minimally invasive procedure that provides long-term pain relief with the use of heat.
• PRP/ Stem Cell- The use of your own plasma/ cells injected into the affected area to alleviate pain and help to heal.
• Discseel- Revolutionary and minimally invasive procedure uses an FDA-approved, 100% natural biologic called Fibrin. Fibrin is injected into the disc, which seals the tears and allows for natural healing to occur. CSSI is the only healthcare provider on the west coast that offers this procedure.

Physical therapy is an important part of recovery and healing. In addition to exercises that are done in therapy, your therapist may assign specific stretches to do at home. These exercises help strengthen the supporting muscles and prevent future occurrences of pain. Upon the onset of pain, you can try a cold compress to the area. This lessens the pain and inflammation. Alternating between cold and warm compresses works as well! While the cold reduces inflammation, the heat relaxes tension.

Over-the-counter medication has proven effective in temporarily alleviating pain. If you have any underlying conditions or are taking additional medication, consult with your physician before taking over-the-counter pills such as Tylenol or Advil.