Neck Pain Specialist

What causes neck pain?

Sleeping with a bent neck and muscle tension frequently causes neck pain. So does poor posture. Neck pain is often the result of injuries like whiplash, which stretches or tears the muscles and tendons in your neck. Auto accidents and sports injuries are common causes of whiplash.

You can also suffer neck pain if you damage the discs in your cervical spine (the seven bones on the top of your spinal column). Discs have a soft core and a tough outer shell, protecting your spine from injury and keeping it stable. Sometimes the disc’s core pushes through a tear in the outer layer and presses on the nerves in your spinal canal, causing pain.

Herniated cervical discs can happen because of a trauma like a bad fall or car accident. But they’re more often caused by degenerative disc disease. This age-related deterioration of the discs makes them more likely to bulge or herniate and cause neck pain.

You could also get osteoarthritis in the facet joints linking your vertebrae. Bone spurs can grow, and the ligaments can thicken, causing narrowing of the spinal canal (spinal stenosis). This leaves less room for the nerves, which can become irritated or inflamed, causing neck pain.

How is neck pain treated?

After analyzing your medical history and symptoms, examining your neck, and reviewing your imaging, Dr. Amin creates a treatment plan for you. He uses nonsurgical treatments at first. These noninvasive treatments are often very effective. They can include:

• Rest and activity changes
• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication (NSAIDs)
• Physical therapy
• Gentle heat
• Muscle relaxant medicines
• Anti-inflammatory steroid injections
• Nerve block (local anesthetic) injections
• Cervical traction

These treatments successfully reduce neck pain for most patients. If you’re not getting relief, Dr. Amin might suggest surgery.

What surgery would I need for neck pain?

The surgery Dr. Amin recommends will depend on what’s causing your neck pain. Your age and general health are also concerns when selecting treatments. Common procedures include:

Discectomy

Discectomy is the removal of a herniated disc. Dr. Amin might do a microdiscectomy instead, taking out only the damaged part of the disc. After discectomy, he either fuses the vertebrae on either side or implants an artificial disc. Fusion provides stability, but you retain more spinal flexibility with disc replacement.

Decompression

Decompression surgery relieves the pressure on the nerves in your neck caused by spinal stenosis. Dr. Amin might remove some (laminotomy) or all (laminectomy) of the lamina bone in your spine. Or he can make more space in the gaps where nerves exit your spine (foraminotomy). Laminectomy surgery will also require a fusion with screws and rods.

Call Beejal Y. Amin MD today or book an appointment online for expert relief of your neck pain.