Neck Pain

LA Pain Doctor

Pain Management Specialists located in Metairie, Laplace, Harvey, New Orleans, and Luling, LA

If you’re like most, you probably spend little time thinking about your neck until an issue arises, at which point it may be difficult to think of anything else. Neck pain is an area of specialty for Firas Hijazi, MD, and Satvik Munshi, MD, and the team at LA Pain Doctor, serving the communities of Metairie, LaPlace, Harvey, and New Orleans, Louisiana. Don’t accept ongoing neck pain as inevitable when there are treatments that can help. Schedule your appointment online or by phone today.

Neck Pain Q & A

What could be causing my neck pain?

When many people think about neck pain, they envision a whiplash injury. Whiplash is the term used to describe a sudden and involuntary back-and-forth movement of the neck. It can occur in a car accident or while playing sports.

While whiplash is one cause of neck pain, there are many other problems that can lead to significant discomfort. Some examples include:

Sudden head and neck movements while exercising
Sleeping in a position that places strain on your cervical spine
Meningitis
Rheumatoid arthritis
Osteoporosis
Spinal stenosis
Herniated cervical disc
Fibromyalgia
Tumors
Certain infections

This is far from a comprehensive list. Many conditions can cause neck pain, some of which are serious health issues on their own.

How can my doctor determine the cause of my neck pain?

Your practitioner will complete a thorough diagnostic work-up before creating your customized treatment plan. That process begins with a frank discussion about your overall health, history of neck pain, lifestyle, and symptoms.

A gentle physical exam follows. Your doctor will use hands-on techniques to check for tissue abnormalities and test the range of motion of your cervical spine.

Imaging can provide additional insight into the structures of your neck. X-rays, magnetic resonance imaging, or computerized tomography are all options. A bone scan might be requested to determine the health of your bone tissue.

What treatment options can relieve neck pain?

Drug therapy can help manage neck pain. Some drugs work by reducing inflammation, while others relax your muscles or mask the discomfort. While medications can be part of your journey, every effort is made to find a long-term solution that does not rely on medications.

Cervical steroid injections are another option, and work by delivering a corticosteroid into an inflamed cervical joint. The steroids relieve pain by reducing inflammation. Some injections also include an analgesic medication to relieve pain.

Nerve blocks can relieve neck pain by interrupting the pain signals that flow between your body and brain. By damaging selected nerve tissues, these injections can deliver lasting results.

Trigger point injections work by administering steroids and pain medication directly into small knots of muscle tissue. Relief is usually immediate. Even Botox® injections can help by preventing painful muscle contractions.

If you’d like to learn more about these and other treatment options, book a visit at LA Pain Doctor online or over the phone today.