Neck Pain

Did you know that neck pain affects nearly one-third of adults and turns into a chronic and debilitating condition for half of them? Prompt treatment from Alexis Tracy, DO, at Somerset Spine & Nerve, can relieve neck pain and prevent or ease chronic problems. Dr. Tracy offers advanced nonsurgical treatments that can help, even when traditional medical care has failed to ease your pain. Call the Medford, Oregon, office or request an appointment online today. 

What causes neck pain?

Acute neck pain occurs suddenly and typically heals over time. It may begin if you strain the neck muscles or experience a traumatic injury.

The most common traumatic neck injury, whiplash, occurs during car accidents and athletic injuries when a blow to the head or body makes your head snap back and forth. However, a severe injury can result in a neck fracture.

Chronic (long-lasting) neck pain usually arises from age-related tissue degeneration, leading to conditions such as:

• Herniated discs
• Spinal arthritis
• Degenerative disc disease
• Spinal stenosis
• Pinched nerves
• Radiculopathy (pinched nerve root)
• Spondylolisthesis (slipped vertebra)

Spondylolisthesis may develop because of arthritis or disc degeneration but can also be caused by trauma.

What other symptoms accompany neck pain?

Neck pain usually limits head and neck movement. Problems in your neck may also cause headaches.

Pinched nerves may send pain and tingling through your shoulder and arm. Nerve damage can also lead to numbness and muscle weakness, making it hard to grasp and hold onto objects.

How is neck pain diagnosed?

Diagnosing neck pain begins with learning about your symptoms and examining your neck. Your Somerset Spine & Neck provider may need to take diagnostic imaging or perform electrodiagnostic testing.

Two electrodiagnostic tests include electromyography (EMG), which checks the electrical activity of nerves, and a nerve conduction study (NCS) to determine the nerve signal’s speed.

How is neck pain treated?

Though you need intense treatment for a severe neck injury or fracture, acute neck pain typically heals with conservative care, such as modifying activities, taking medication, and engaging in physical therapy.

Physical therapy and anti-inflammatory medications also help improve chronic neck pain. But if your pain persists, your Somerset Spine & Nerve provider may recommend:

Interventional procedures

Dr. Tracy specializes in numerous minimally invasive interventional procedures. These procedures either reduce inflammation by injecting corticosteroids or use different techniques to stop nerves from sending pain messages to your brain.

A few examples include epidural steroid injections (injecting corticosteroids into the space surrounding the spine), nerve blocks (injecting an anesthetic), and radiofrequency ablation (using a specialized device to deliver heat to the nerve).

Regenerative procedures

Regenerative procedures are injections containing platelet-rich plasma (PRP) or stem cells. These treatments ease pain by triggering healing, repairing the injury, and reducing inflammation.

Call Somerset Spine & Nerve to schedule an appointment and get relief from neck pain. You can also request an appointment online at any time.