Neck Pain Specialist

What is neck pain?

Neck pain is pain that originates in your cervical spine, the part of your spine that goes through your neck, or any of the tissues in your neck. Your neck is responsible for supporting the weight of your head and allowing you to turn your head in either direction. There are many ligaments, muscles, tendons, and nerves in your neck that make this possible, and injuries in any part can cause pain or stiffness. 

Some forms of neck pain also involve numbness, tingling, dizziness, or lightheadedness. Symptoms like these happen when nerves along your cervical spine get pinched. You might even get a headache, shoulder pain, or arm pain, depending on where the pinched nerves travel in your body. 

What are some common neck pain causes?

A wide range of different injuries and degenerative conditions can cause pain in your neck. One common injury that causes neck pain is whiplash. It’s common in car accidents and happens when your neck jerks suddenly, causing muscles and ligaments to stretch or tear. You can also get neck pain after a night of sleeping in an awkward position or from having poor posture for a long time. 

Specific injuries and diseases that lead to neck pain are:

• Cervical vertebrae fractures
• Herniated discs
• Bone spurs
• Arthritis
• Muscle strains
• Spinal stenosis

If your neck pain lasts for a long time and you’re uncertain of the cause, the team at Athens Spine Center can conduct imaging tests like X-rays or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to view the bones and other structures in your neck. These techniques can help them identify an injury and choose the best course of treatment for it. 

How is neck pain treated?

Athens Spine Center provides several options for neck pain treatment and management. Depending on the source and severity of your neck pain, the team might recommend:

Cervical facet radiofrequency neurotomy

During this procedure, the team uses radiofrequency heat energy to treat painful joints along your cervical spine. The heat stops your nerve from transmitting pain signals. 

Cervical epidural steroid injection

A cervical transforaminal epidural steroid injection can relieve pain in your neck, shoulder, and arm that's related to a compressed nerve in your neck. The steroid injection relieves inflammation-causing or worsening pain.

Cervical facet joint injections

Facet joint injections can diagnose facet joint pain in your neck and provide temporary pain relief. The facet joints are the joints that connect your vertebrae. 

For more information about neck pain and neck pain treatments, call Athens Spine Center today.