While the answer to this question may seem obvious, it’s helpful to understand the underlying structures to give you an idea of the many ways neck pain can crop up. At the heart of your neck is your cervical spine, which is made up of seven small vertebrae that link your head to your body.
Helping out with this connection are muscles, tendons, ligaments, and discs that play no small role in the function of your neck.
What are the most common causes of neck pain?
Your neck is a complex area that contains a number of different components, all of which can be compromised, leading to neck pain. To give you an idea of the many conditions that lead to neck pain, here’s a list of the most common culprits:
- Whiplash
- Cervical herniated disc
- Degenerative disc disease
- Chronic muscle strain or sprain
- Arthritis (rheumatoid and osteoarthritis)
- Cervical stenosis (narrowing of the spinal canal)
- Compression fractures
- Acute fractures or trauma
In less common cases, neck pain can be brought about by cancer or meningitis.
How is neck pain diagnosed and treated?
Because of the wide range of possible causes of neck pain, Dr. Chowdhury first sits down with you to review your symptoms and your medical history. From there if indicated, he orders advanced imaging, such as X-rays, CT scans or MRI, to get a better look at what’s going on inside your neck.
If you’ve been struggling with chronic neck pain, and advanced imaging isn’t providing the answers you need, Dr. Chowdhury may turn to a discography to determine whether your disc is the source of your pain.
Once Dr. Chowdhury has a diagnosis, he tailors a treatment plan to your unique situation, with pain relief as his primary goal. To accomplish this, he may turn to:
- Anti-inflammatory and/or pain medications
- Bracing
- Physical Therapy
- Epidural injections
- Nerve blocks
- Botox injections
- Trigger point injections
- Facet joint injections
- Radiofrequency ablation
- Spinal Cord Stimulation
- Surgery
To find relief, interventional pain management specialist Dr. Chowdhury offers the most advanced and effective treatments to remedy acute or chronic neck pain. If you’re suffering from neck pain and you’re located in Dublin or Marion, Ohio, call or use the online scheduling tool to request an appointment.