Neck Pain
Remedy Pain Solutions is a state-of-the-art medical center that focuses solely on interventional and regenerative pain relief. We provide minimally invasive treatments that address the root cause of your neck pain without narcotics, surgeries, or extensive downtime. Please schedule an appointment with the interventional pain specialists at our offices in Marina del Rey or Manhattan Beach to discuss your neck pain treatment options.
Symptoms of Neck Pain
- Neck stiffness
- Pain while holding the head still
- Compromised mobility
- Muscle tightness
- Muscles spasms
- Cracking sounds
- Pain radiating down the neck
- Headaches
Causes of Neck Pain
Muscles Strains
Muscle tensions, sprains, and strains caused by poor posture, working at a desk for extended periods, sleeping in incorrect positions, or jerking your neck suddenly.
Neck Injuries
The cervical bones can get injured or fractured due to falls, accidents, sporting injuries, and other factors. Neck injuries can also occur due to sudden whiplash movements when you jerk your head.
Cervical Disc Herniation
Trauma, injuries, and age-related wear-and-tear can make the cervical discs bulge outwards, placing pressure on the nerve roots running through the cervical vertebrae. This sends painful signals into the brain, leading to cervical pain.
Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is a condition that weakens the cervical bones, leading to small cracks and fractures. This usually affects the knees, but it can also affect the neck, leading to pain.
Spinal Stenosis
Spinal stenosis is a condition wherein the space between the cervical vertebrae narrows down because of bulging discs, herniation, bone spurs, and other factors. This places pressure on the nerve roots running through the vertebrae, leading to inflammation and neck pain.
Other Causes
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Fibromyalgia
- Cervical spondylosis
- Abscesses
- Tumors
Diagnosing Neck Pain
As shown above, numerous factors can contribute to neck pain, so evaluating and diagnosing the true locus of the problem is essential. Diagnosing neck pain will begin with a consultation with our interventional pain specialists, who will discuss your medical history, current habits, and lifestyle details. From there, an examination may be performed to test the range of motion in the neck and gauge the level of pain.
If necessary, further testing could be ordered to diagnose the issue causing the pain. This can include MRIs, X-Rays, CT scans, or ultrasound. We always treat the root cause of neck pain rather than simply masking the symptoms, an approach that guarantees lasting results without major side effects or complications. If you have neck pain that lasts for more than a day or a restricted range of motion, make an appointment for assessment and treatment.
Interventional Treatments for Neck Pain
Cervical Epidural Injections
Cervical epidural injections are suitable for neck pain caused by the inflammation of the nerve roots, which can happen due to disc herniation, stenosis, or other conditions that compress the nerve roots. An epidural injection is an anti-inflammatory medication that decreases the inflammation in the epidural space, i.e., the region with the nerve roots. As such, epidural injections provide relief from inflammatory pain in the cervical region.
Cervical Facet Joint Injections
Cervical facet joint injections are an excellent treatment option for patients suffering from neck pain. Cervical facet joints connect the vertebra, and when they are not properly functioning, serious pain can be the result. Injecting a combination of anesthetic and steroid medications directly into these joints can provide immediate pain relief and can also help a physician diagnose the exact source of neck pain. The results can last for as long as a week, giving patients and doctors time to determine a long-term solution.
Occipital Nerve Block
Occipital neuralgia is a condition wherein the nerves in the back of the head can get injured or inflamed, leading to scalp and neck pain. Occipital nerve block is a steroidal injection that reduces swelling and inflammation around the occipital nerves, thereby alleviating the pain, stress, and migraine.
Botox for Migraines
Botox is an injectable composed of a diluted form of botulinum toxin, which blocks the release of a chemical (acetylcholine) that encourages muscle contraction. Migraines occur when specific facial muscles contract involuntarily, thereby compressing the surrounding nerves. Botox injections are carefully injected into targeted trigger points to temporarily paralyze the muscles responsible for migraine.
