Experience Pain-Free Living with Lake Physical Medicine

Neck Pain Q & A

What causes neck pain?

The neck is a complicated system of joints, muscles, nerves, and bones which collaboratively support and move your head while protecting your spinal cord.

Since the neck is so complex, neck pain can emerge for numerous reasons that may be related to other conditions. Pain can travel from the cervical spine area of the neck through the nervous system into the arms, legs, and back, leading to even broader health issues.

The most common neck pain symptoms are stiffness (limited mobility), tenderness, sharp pain, and tingling. If you experience these symptoms and they don’t go away, contact Dr. Boylan.

Neck pain can be caused by:   

• Strains and sprains
• Poor sleep position
• Poor posture
• Injury
• Whiplash
• Arthritis
• Headaches and migraines
• Fibromyalgia

Who is at risk for neck pain?

Neck pain can occur at any age. It’s most common in adults, and many Americans experience prolonged neck pain at some point or another in their lives.

If you have poor posture or experience an injury, you may be at risk for long-term neck pain. Others at risk for neck pain include car accident victims, athletes, and workers who repeat certain motions over and over.

If you have any of these risk factors, Dr. Boylan works with you to create a plan to prevent and alleviate further neck pain.

What treatments are offered for neck pain?

Numerous medical and therapeutic procedures can treat neck pain. Depending on the source of the neck pain, some treatments are more appropriate to ease your pain than others.

Typically, Dr. Boylan recommends a combination of physical therapy and injection therapy, when necessary. Physical therapy for neck pain involves exercising, stretching, and strengthening the neck muscles to improve flexibility and posture and reduce pain.

If you experience chronic neck pain, an epidural injection may be appropriate. Epidural injections deliver anti-inflammatory drugs for pain relief that can last several months.

The team at Lake Physical Medicine works with you to determine the most effective treatment for neck pain and help you on your road to recovery.