When Should You See a Doctor for Neck Pain?

Your spine is important and, when you’re experiencing chronic neck pain, it can be scary. How do you know when neck pain crosses the line from being “a pain in the neck” to something more serious?

Check out this quick reference guide for common causes of neck pain and when it’s time to see a doctor. 

Common Neck Pain Causes

The tricky thing about neck pain is that it can have a number of causes. Most of the time it’s temporary and could go away with something as simple as a good night’s sleep or a dose of over-the-counter pain medication. Common causes include:

• Tension headaches: Tension headaches are an incredibly common brand of headache and they are often associated with pain and tenderness in the neck.
• Sleep position: Sleeping in a position where your head lacks support and your neck is strained can often cause neck pain. To avoid neck pain from sleep, try sleeping on your back. You might also need a new mattress or pillow for additional support.
• Looking up and down: People tend to hold their cellphones too low and situate their televisions too high. This can lead to looking up or down for extended periods of time, which can cause neck pain.
• Using the phone: While pinching your phone between your ear and your might be a convenient way to hold a conversation while keeping your hands free, this practice can put strain on your neck.
• Dehydration: The discs in your spine that separate your vertebrae need hydration. If your body is dehydrated, these spongy discs become less spongy, which can lead to neck pain.
• Carrying heavy objects: Carrying too much weight in one hand, such as in a briefcase or purse, can put undue strain on your shoulders, back and neck.
• Posture: Sitting in a slouched position with your head in front of your shoulders can put a greater strain on your neck.

Serious Neck Pain Causes

While neck pain often results from less-serious conditions such as slouching or dehydration, there are a number of serious medical conditions that can cause neck pain as well. If you’re experiencing serious neck pain, you may want to consider seeing a spine specialist at the Orthopedic Institute.

• Worn joints: Just like other joints in your body, the padding between your vertebrae can wear down with age. This can cause bone spurs which can affect your joint motion and cause pain.
• Injuries: Rear-end auto collisions can result in whiplash injury, which occurs when the head is jerked backward and then forward, straining the soft tissues of the neck. Strains or sprains to the neck after an auto accident may not be immediately evident.  Symptoms may start or intensify in the days after the accident but generally are short lived and treated with simple conservative measures such as ice, heat, over the counter anti-inflammatories, muscle stimulation or a exercise/therapy program.

• Disease: Certain diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, cancer or other inflammatory conditions can cause pain and stiffness in the neck.  If you have persistent symptoms and family history of auto-immune diseases you may want to contact your physician.
• Nerve compression: The disks in your spine that separate your vertebrae are soft on the inside with a tough exterior on the outside. A herniated disk occurs when the softer inside ruptures through the tougher exterior. A herniated disk in your neck may also cause pain in your shoulder or arm. Herniated disks, along with bone spurs in the vertebrae of your neck, can press on the spinal nerves or the spinal cord, resulting in pain, weakness or numbness and tingling

If you have severe, lasting pain, and signs that may indicate one of the more serious causes of neck pain mentioned above, it’s time to Stand Up For Your Spine. Learn more about our experienced neck and back team.  

Neck Pain | University of Miami Health System

Pain in the neck, also called cervical pain, is often a dull, aching feeling that gets worse when you move your head. Neck pain can come with headaches, facial pain, and muscle spasms.

Neck pain is acute (a sudden, intense pain that lasts a few days to a few weeks) or chronic (lasts more than a few months). Common causes of neck pain include:

• Overuse, strenuous activity, or improper use (such as repetitive or heavy lifting)
• Fractures due to compression or dislocation
• Trauma or injury, like whiplash
• Degeneration or break down of the vertebrae, disc, or cartilage due to stress, normal “wear and tear,” or aging
• Infection in the bone or spinal fluid
• Abnormal growth such as a tumor or bone spur
• Poor posture or sleeping position
• Muscle and ligament sprains, strains, or tears
• Herniated disc between the vertebrae
• Pinched or compressed nerve
• Congenital (present at birth) abnormalities

If you have neck pain that lasts longer than a few days, schedule an appointment with one of our University of Miami Health System physiatrists (physical medicine and rehabilitation doctors). Early care means less chance for chronic (ongoing) pain.

Tests

Discography

During this test, you will receive an injection of saline into your disc(s) under image-guidance, either using CT or fluoroscopy (dynamic X-ray) technology. This is done to provoke any pain and/or abnormal response. It can show abnormal nerve pathways generating pain inside the injured/degenerated disc.

Electrodiagnostics

Electroneurophysiological testing is done with current and electrodes to determine nerve and muscle function/dysfunction and damage. Tests include electromyography (EMG) and nerve conduction studies (NCS).

Treatments

Neurostimulation

Neurostimulation, also called electrical stimulation, uses low-voltage electricity to stop the nerve impulses that cause pain. Examples include transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), applied on the skin over nerve endings, and spinal cord stimulation (SCS), which is inserted under the skin.

Interventional spine procedures

These procedures use image-guided technology to deliver steroids and medications right to the pain source. Selective epidural injections, cervical facet injections, cervical selective nerve blocks, and discograms reduce pain and inflammation in the neck. This treatment is usually prescribed with physical therapy or exercise.

Ultrasound-guided injections

Ultrasound imaging allows doctors to view nerves, bones, tendons, and muscles. Combining this technology with injection therapy means we can deliver medicines to the exact trigger point to relieve pain and inflammation. Steroids and platelet-rich plasma injections are commonly used to treat neuromusculoskeletal pain.

Radiofrequency ablation

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a minimally invasive procedure that uses heat from radio waves to damage nerve tissues, disrupting their ability to send pain signals. This is performed on the facet joints in the spine.

Why Choose UHealth?

Multispecialty care with teams built around your condition. Our rehabilitation team works closely with orthopedic surgeons, neurologists, and neurosurgeons, and many other specialists to customize your treatment plan. We have special expertise in conditions that cause neck pain, such as neuromuscular diseases, sports injuries, and cervical spine disorders.

Leading-edge non-surgical and minimally invasive therapies for neck pain. You have access to the latest approaches to managing chronic pain, including neurostimulation and neuromusculoskeletal ultrasound-guided injections, all in one place.

Which doctor treats osteochondrosis?

If you feel tired, uncomfortable, in pain and suspect that you have osteochondrosis, you should consult a doctor. Osteochondrosis is treated by a chiropractor who specializes in neurology. But, before treating, he must make sure that it is precisely osteochondrosis. And for this, he must conduct a neurological examination and manual muscle testing.

If you feel fatigue, discomfort, pain and suspect that you have osteochondrosis, you should consult a doctor. But the question immediately arises: what is the name of the doctor who treats osteochondrosis? Fortunately, there is no mystery here. Osteochondrosis is treated by a chiropractor who specializes in neurology. But, before treating, he must make sure that it is precisely osteochondrosis. And for this, he must conduct a neurological examination and manual muscle testing. This requires professional knowledge and the ability to identify the symptoms of osteochondrosis, as well as qualifications and experience. After all, the exact diagnosis and the results of treatment depend on the doctor, and not at all on x-rays or MRI! Now you understand how important it is to find an experienced and knowledgeable doctor?

When choosing a clinic, the main thing is to get to an experienced and knowledgeable doctor.

Briefly about osteochondrosis

It is generally accepted that osteochondrosis is caused by factors that negatively affect the human body, primarily the musculoskeletal system. Among them: metabolic disorders, sedentary lifestyle, spinal microtrauma, posture disorder, stoop, lack of physical activity, spinal muscle degeneration, constant stressful situations and much more.

In modern medicine, it is customary to distinguish the following types of osteochondrosis, in accordance with the sections of the spine that have undergone this disease.

• neck;
• chest;
• lumbar;
• common.

The most common are cervical and lumbar. Their manifestations are pain in the back and neck, pain and numbness of the limbs, disruption and pain of the internal organs. In general, the symptoms of this disease are quite extensive, but the main clinical symptom, nevertheless, is pain, which can appear and disappear with a certain frequency, and also have different intensity.

If you feel fatigue, discomfort, pain and suspect that you have osteochondrosis, you should consult a doctor. But the question immediately arises: what is the name of the doctor who treats osteochondrosis? Fortunately, there is no mystery here. Osteochondrosis is treated by a chiropractor who specializes in neurology. But, before treating, he must make sure that it is precisely osteochondrosis. And for this, he must conduct a neurological examination and manual muscle testing. This requires professional knowledge and the ability to identify the symptoms of osteochondrosis, as well as qualifications and experience. After all, the exact diagnosis and the results of treatment depend on the doctor, and not at all on x-rays or MRI! Now you understand how important it is to find an experienced and knowledgeable doctor?

When choosing a clinic, the main thing is to get to an experienced and knowledgeable doctor.

How to choose the right doctor treating osteochondrosis?

Given the number of offers, both from large and small clinics, it is difficult to understand where to go. After all, many highly educated specialists practice in Moscow, so choosing a doctor is not an easy task.

If you have specific recommendations from relatives or acquaintances about a particular doctor who treats osteochondrosis as a competent specialist, then you are lucky – feel free to contact him.

If there are no such recommendations, we offer you some tips that will help you find a doctor to cure osteochondrosis.

• First, you should go for a consultation not to one, but to several chiropractors. It is to go, and not to ask on the phone. Don’t waste money on this. Find out how each of them sees your treatment and what they offer. After all, the cost of a consultation is much less than the cost of a course of therapy, and it is very important to find out the estimated costs. Agree, the budget of treatment matters. But keep in mind, the question “How much does manual therapy cost?” – does not give a final idea. The concept of “manipulation session” in some places may mean only 5-10 minutes of admission, while in others – five to six times more. In some places, they will limit themselves to only what a simple layman thinks that this is manual therapy – the “reduction” of the vertebrae. In other places, manual treatment will be carried out in accordance with all the rules, leaving no germs of the disease anywhere – neither in the spine, nor in other structures of the musculoskeletal system – joints, muscles, ligaments. Remember, everything is connected. Leaving a sprout of the disease, you give it a chance to renew itself. And further. Don’t forget, today’s medicine is commercial. And the main principle of commerce: wholesale is cheaper, retail is more expensive. By comparing how much a session costs in different clinics and how long it lasts, you will find out the real price-duration ratio. Keep in mind, manual therapy consists of various methods that are supposed to be performed in a row. But, according to the laws of commerce, it is much more profitable to sell these methods as separate procedures, taking advantage of the fact that people do not understand this. This is the principle of “retail more expensive.” In general, find out everything, compare – otherwise you run the risk of greatly overpaying. Know that there is always an opportunity to get effective treatment at a quite adequate cost.
• The next important aspect of choosing a doctor or clinic is, of course, patient reviews, which can be obtained from various sources. You should analyze the information and figure out where the frank advertising lies, and where are the real words of gratitude for the effectively performed therapy.
• You should be wary of the offers of clinics, replete with discounts, bonuses and free consultations. Often this is a clever bait that allows you to turn your pockets inside out later. The same goes for profuse advertising. This, of course, does not mean that normal clinics do not advertise their services, you just need to analyze everything that you see, hear and learn more closely.

It is important to understand that in the end you should get real results for an adequate cost. Do not make a decision quickly, weigh the pros and cons. And then you will be able to choose for yourself the optimal chiropractor in all respects, who treats osteochondrosis and will be responsible for the result.

How is osteochondrosis treated?

When you find your doctor, who makes sure that the cause of your problems is really osteochondrosis, you can begin to choose a strategy and tactics of treatment. Here you need to proceed from your physical condition, age, duration of illness, the presence of concomitant diseases and a number of other factors.

In the treatment of osteochondrosis, the main remedy is soft manual therapy – it is like an antibiotic for pneumonia – you cannot do without it. The rest of the means – massage, medicines, physio and exercise therapy – are auxiliary types of treatment. They increase the effectiveness of manual therapy, but they themselves cannot give a stable positive result.

Modern soft manual therapy allows you to treat people of any age – without restrictions. After all, the treatment is absolutely safe. Soft manual therapy includes many effective methods that can really cope with the disease, restore health and restore an active lifestyle.

Thus, a doctor treating osteochondrosis is a chiropractor.

Lateral neck pain – causes, diseases, diagnosis, prevention and treatment

Description

Lateral neck pain is a feeling of discomfort, discomfort or pain that occurs in the side of the neck. It can be acute or chronic, moderate or intense, and present with a variety of symptoms depending on the cause. Lateral neck pain can be one-sided or affect both sides of the neck. Possible causes of this pain may include muscle tension, injury, inflammation, nerve or joint damage, and other conditions or diseases. To accurately determine the cause of pain in the side of the neck and prescribe the appropriate treatment, it is recommended to consult a doctor for examination and diagnosis.

Why lateral neck pain is dangerous

Lateral neck pain can be associated with various causes, and its severity depends on the underlying disease or condition that causes this pain. Here are some potential dangers associated with lateral neck pain:

1. Injury to the cervical spine: If pain in the side of the neck is associated with trauma or damage to the spine, this can be a serious and potentially dangerous condition. Injury to the spine can lead to compression of the spinal cord or nerve roots, which can cause sensory loss, muscle weakness, or paralysis.

2. Radiculopathy: Pain in the side of the neck may be due to radiculopathy – compression or irritation of the nerve exiting the cervical spine. This can cause symptoms of pain, numbness, weakness, and decreased function in associated areas of the body.

3. Inflammatory or infectious processes: Lateral neck pain may be caused by inflammation or an infectious process such as cervical osteomyelitis, lymphadenitis, or other infections. In such cases, complications associated with the spread of infection or the development of systemic symptoms are possible.

4. Malignant Tumors: Rarely, lateral neck pain may be associated with malignant tumors such as cervical cancer or lymphoma. This requires careful examination and treatment by specialists.

5. Other causes: Side pain in the neck can also be caused by muscle tension, osteochondrosis, joint diseases (eg arthritis), vascular disorders or even psychogenic factors. Depending on the cause, these conditions can have varying degrees of danger.

Physiological causes of lateral neck pain

Physiological causes of lateral neck pain may include:

1. Muscle tension: One of the most common causes of lateral neck pain is muscle tension or spasm. This can be caused by long-term incorrect position of the neck, lack of physical activity, stress or excessive exercise on the neck. Muscle tension can cause discomfort and pain in the side of the neck.

2. Injury or strain: Injury or strain to the muscles, ligaments, or joints in the neck can result in pain in the side of the neck. It can be caused by injury, sports injury, car accident or other external factors.

3. Turning the head: Sometimes pain in the side of the neck can occur when turning the head in a certain direction. This may be due to defects or dysfunction of the cervical joints or vertebrae.

4. Incorrect posture: Maintaining an incorrect posture or sitting in an uncomfortable position can cause pain in the neck, including the lateral region. This can be especially noticeable after a long period of work on a computer or using mobile devices.

5. Tension and stress: Tension and emotional stress can cause muscle tension in the neck, which can lead to pain and discomfort in the side of the neck.

Pathological causes of lateral neck pain

Pathological causes of lateral neck pain may include the following conditions:

1. Cervical osteochondrosis: This is a degenerative disease of the spine in which the discs between the vertebrae become less flexible and strong. This can lead to pain in the neck and cervical region, including the side of the neck.

2. Radiculopathy: This is a condition in which the nerve roots coming out of the cervical spine are compressed or irritated. This can be caused by a herniated disc, cervical spondylosis, or other pathologies. Radiculopathy can cause symptoms of pain, numbness, or weakness in the side of the neck and related areas of the body.

3. Cervical spondylosis: This is a condition in which there is degeneration of the cervical spine, including the joints and intervertebral discs. Cervical spondylosis can cause pain in the neck, including the lateral region.

4. Diseases of the neck: Arthritis, arthrosis or other diseases of the joints of the neck can cause inflammation, pain symptoms and limited mobility in the neck. This may include the side of the neck.

5. Cervical Trauma Syndrome: This is a condition that can occur after an injury to the cervical spine, such as a car accident or a fall. It can lead to pain in the neck, including the lateral region.

6. Malignant tumors: Rarely, malignant tumors of the cervical spine or surrounding tissues can cause pain in the neck, including the lateral region.

Accompanying symptoms

Accompanying symptoms of lateral neck pain may vary depending on the cause of the pain. However, some common symptoms that may accompany lateral neck pain include:

1. Neck restriction: Pain in the side of the neck may be accompanied by a feeling of stiffness and limitation of movement of the head and neck.

2. Pain elsewhere in the body: In the case of radiculopathy or nerve compression, neck pain may radiate down the shoulder, arm, or other areas of the body, following the path of the compressed nerve. This may be accompanied by numbness, tingling, or weakness in these areas.

3. Headaches: Pain in the side of the neck can cause headaches, including tension headaches or migraines.

4. Tingling or Numbness: Nerve root compression or nerve damage in the cervical spine may cause tingling or numbness in the neck, shoulder, arm, or other relevant areas.

5. Muscle Weakness: Damage to the nerves or muscles in the cervical spine can cause muscle weakness in the neck, shoulder or arm.

6. Dizziness or feeling of instability: Some people may experience dizziness or a feeling of instability with pain in the side of the neck.

7. Clicking or popping sensation in the neck: Some people with pain symptoms in the side of the neck may experience a popping or popping sound when the neck is moved.

8. Weakness or change in sensation in the hands or fingers: When a nerve is compressed or damaged in the cervical spine, there may be a change in sensation or weakening in the hands or fingers.

What are the scenarios

Options for the development of pain in the side of the neck depend on the cause of pain symptoms. Here are some possible scenarios:

1. Self-restraint and improvement: If pain symptoms are caused by muscle tension or poor posture, with correct posture and rest, the pain may decrease or disappear with time.

2. Self-treatment: In the case of mild muscle tension, minor sprains, or minor injuries, pain symptoms can be relieved with self-treatment methods such as cold or heat, rest, stretching exercises, and anti-inflammatory drugs.

3. Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation: Chronic or more severe lateral neck pain may require professional intervention in the form of physiotherapy, massage, exercises to strengthen the neck muscles and improve mobility.

4. Drug treatment: In some cases, drugs may be prescribed to relieve pain, reduce inflammation, or relieve muscle spasms. Such drugs may include anti-inflammatory drugs, muscle relaxants, or analgesics.

5. Injections: In some situations where there is severe pain or inflammation, injections such as blockades or steroid injections may be required to relieve pain symptoms.

6. Surgery: In rare cases where pain symptoms are caused by serious structural problems, such as a herniated disc or nerve compression, surgery may be required to address the underlying cause of the pain.

Pain in the side of the neck

Pain in the side of the neck can be associated with various diseases and conditions. Here are some of them:

1. Cervical osteochondrosis: A degenerative disease of the spine in which the discs between the vertebrae become less flexible and strong. This can lead to pain in the neck, including the side.

2. Cervical spondylosis: A degenerative disease of the cervical spine characterized by wear and tear and changes in the joints and discs of the cervical spine. It can cause pain in the neck, including the lateral region.

3. Radiculopathy: Compression or irritation of the nerve roots of the cervical spine. This can be caused by a herniated disc, spondylosis, or other pathologies. Radiculopathy can cause neck pain that radiates to the side of the neck and related areas of the body.

4. Diseases of the neck: Arthritis, arthrosis and other diseases of the joints of the neck can cause inflammation and pain in the neck, including the lateral region.

5. Muscle tension and spasms: Tension and spasms of the muscles of the neck, including the lateral muscles, can lead to pain in the side of the neck.

6. Trauma: Traumatic injuries to the cervical spine, such as sprains, dislocations, or fractures, can cause pain in the neck, including the lateral region.

7. Malignant tumors: Rarely, malignant tumors of the cervical spine or surrounding tissues can cause pain in the neck, including the lateral region.

Contact the right specialist right now

Olga Alekseevna Kulikova

Experience 10 years

Therapist

Cardiologist

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Tests to be done

Various tests may be required to determine the cause of lateral neck pain and determine the appropriate treatment. The following are some common examination methods that a doctor may recommend:

1. Medical History and Physical Examination: Your doctor will discuss your medical history in detail and ask you questions about the nature of the pain, associated symptoms, and possible causes. A physical examination will also be performed, including checking neck movements, assessing strength and reflexes in the hands and fingers.

2. Cervical Spine X-Ray: An X-ray can help identify structural changes in the spine, such as degenerative changes, osteoarthritis, or fractures.

3. Computed tomography (CT): CT scans provide more detailed images of spinal structures, which can be helpful in identifying disc herniation, joint changes, or other abnormalities.

4. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): MRI provides detailed images of the soft tissues, discs, nerve structures, and joints of the cervical spine. It can be useful for diagnosing disc herniation, nerve compression, tumors, and other pathologies.

5. Electromyography (EMG): EMG measures the electrical activity of muscles and can help identify nerve or muscle damage in the cervical spine.

6. Lab Tests: In some cases, your doctor may order complete and biochemical blood tests to rule out systemic disease or inflammation.

Treatments

Ways to relieve lateral neck pain may depend on the cause of the pain symptoms. Here are some common methods that can help relieve pain:

1. Rest: Give your neck enough time to rest and recover. Avoid physical activity, which can aggravate symptoms.

2. Applying cold or heat: Applying a cold compress (an ice pack wrapped in a cloth) to the affected area may help reduce inflammation and reduce pain. You can also apply heat compression (hot heating pad or hot towel) to relax tight muscles and relieve pain.

3. Medications: Some medications may be recommended for lateral neck pain. For example, anti-inflammatory drugs such as low-dose non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (eg, ibuprofen) or drugs that relieve muscle spasms (eg, muscle relaxants) can be used. However, you must consult your doctor or pharmacist before taking any medication.

4. Physical Therapy and Exercise: Special exercises and physical therapy can help strengthen neck muscles, improve flexibility, and relieve pain symptoms. A doctor or physical therapist can recommend specific exercises and treatments that are appropriate for your condition.

5. Massage: A professional neck and upper back massage can help relieve tension and improve blood circulation in the area, which can lead to less pain.

6. Avoiding bad posture and tension: Maintain good posture and avoid prolonged sitting in incorrect posture. Make sure your workspace is well organized to minimize stress on your neck and spine.

Which doctor to contact

For pain in the side of the neck, you can contact the following specialists:

1. To a general practitioner: A general practitioner can conduct an initial assessment, determine the nature of the pain and, if necessary, refer you to other specialists for further examination and treatment.

2. Orthopedist: An orthopedist specializes in diseases and injuries of the musculoskeletal system, including the spine. He may conduct an examination and recommend further investigations or treatment.

3. Neurologist: A neurologist deals with the diagnosis and treatment of diseases related to the nervous system. Neck pain can be associated with nerve root compression or other neurological problems, so a neurologist can conduct a detailed examination and prescribe appropriate treatment.

4. Osteopath or Chiropractor: An osteopath or chiropractor specializes in manipulative therapies to restore normal spinal function and relieve pain.

5. Physiotherapist: A physiotherapist can assess the condition of the neck and develop a personalized program of exercises, massages, and other physical treatments to relieve pain and improve function.

Depending on the symptoms and the suspected cause of the pain, your doctor may recommend a consultation with other specialists such as a rheumatologist, neurosurgeon or oncologist. It is important to see a doctor for an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment.