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Persistent neck pain that doesn’t improve with conservative approaches may need surgery. When is it time to think about surgery to relieve your neck pain? Here’s what you need to know.
Why do we often refer to extremely irritating experiences as “a pain in the neck?” For anyone familiar with chronic or acute neck pain, it can seriously interfere with your quality of life. It’s hard to work, rest, or enjoy yourself when you’re worrying about or coping with neck pain.
Dr. Beejal Y. Amin understands the complex structure of your neck and why your neck may be prone to pain problems. Dr. Amin treats new and existing patients with neck pain from his locations in Hinsdale and Woodridge, Illinois.
Dr. Amin typically starts your treatment for neck pain with the most conservative treatment options. But, at some point, you may need to consider surgical intervention. When does Dr. Amin recommend surgery for neck pain? Here’s some information for you to know as you decide about your treatment.
Surgical treatments for neck pain
Neck pain is a common type of pain in adults in the United States. If you look at the biology and structure of your neck, it’s pretty easy to understand why.
The area of your spine in your neck, known as your cervical spine, contains seven small vertebral bones spaced apart by cushioning discs. Your neck is also an area of your body with a high concentration of nerves.
When degeneration, trauma, or other issues cause damage or nerve problems in your neck, pain symptoms can become debilitating. If the problem is structural or intensive measures are needed to address a problem nerve, you may need surgery on this part of your body.
Depending on the nature of your neck pain, you may need surgery to remove a herniated disc in your cervical spine. Or, you might need spinal surgical decompression to relieve pressure on a pinched and painful nerve.
When to consider surgery for neck pain
The question of when to consider surgery for neck pain contains two main factors: your pain levels and the effectiveness of conservative treatment approaches.
In some cases, acute neck pain may be severe enough that it makes sense to consider surgery relatively early in your care. If your neck pain results from a trauma or physical injury, surgery may be the right treatment path for you.
It’s also time to start thinking about surgery for neck pain after you’ve exhausted other options. If you’ve tried approaches like rest, physical therapy, pain injections, and cervical traction without sufficient pain relief, surgery may be your next best step.
Dr. Amin discusses your symptoms, underlying condition, and treatment plan with you in depth. He ensures that you fully understand your options and can make the right decision.
Minimally invasive spinal surgery for neck pain relief
Dr. Amin keeps your procedure as minimally invasive as possible. He uses state-of-the-art techniques to reduce your risk and recovery time associated with surgery.
If you’re struggling with chronic or acute neck pain, determine if surgery could be the pain relief solution you need. Contact Dr. Amin online or over the phone today to schedule your initial consultation appointment.