Sometimes extreme pain in the neck makes neck movement difficult and affects one's overall routine. 

Consistent neck pain requires medical consultation and one needs to undergo neck pain management treatment. In order to learn about neck pain management, we talked to Dr. Dipty Mangla. She is a Pain Management Physician at Mainland Pain Management. She offers effective neck pain treatment in New Jersey.  By incorporating those insights in this article, we are going to detail the cause of neck pain and its effective treatments.

Understanding Neck Pain

Neck pain is a common medical condition that ranges from mild discomfort to severe, debilitating pain. It typically originates from structures in the neck and can be caused by various factors. Understanding neck pain involves considering its causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention.

Causes of Neck Pain

Neck pain is caused by various factors. Six common causes of them are as follows:

Poor Body Posture

Poor body posture, particularly when sitting or standing for extended periods with the head and shoulders in a forward position, can lead to neck pain. This posture puts stress on the muscles and ligaments in the neck. Over time, it can cause muscle imbalances and strain, resulting in discomfort and stiffness in the neck.

Muscle Strain

A muscle strain occurs when the muscles in the neck are stretched or torn due to overuse, sudden movements, or repetitive activities. It can result from activities like carrying heavy objects, sports injuries, or maintaining an uncomfortable position for an extended period. Muscle strain can lead to localized pain and restricted neck mobility.

Spinal Stenosis

Spinal stenosis is a condition in which the spinal canal narrows, causing pressure on the spinal cord or nerve roots. When it occurs in the neck (cervical spinal stenosis), it can lead to neck pain, as well as symptoms like numbness, weakness, or tingling in the arms and hands. The narrowing of the spinal canal may be caused by factors like arthritis or bone spurs.

Infection and Inflammation

Infections, such as viral or bacterial meningitis, or inflammatory conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, can cause neck pain. Infections can lead to inflammation of the tissues in the neck, which results in pain and other symptoms. Inflammation may also affect the joints and discs in the cervical spine.

Injury

Neck pain can be the result of various types of injuries, including sports injuries, falls, and accidents. Injuries to the neck can lead to soft tissue damage, bruising, and, in severe cases, fractures of the vertebrae. The pain from an injury may vary in intensity and may be associated with other symptoms like swelling and bruising.

Whiplash

Whiplash is a specific type of injury that often occurs in car accidents or situations where the head is suddenly jerked forward and backward, resembling the cracking of a whip. This rapid movement can damage the soft tissues of the neck, including muscles, ligaments, and tendons. Whiplash can result in neck pain, stiffness, headaches, and, in some cases, long-term symptoms.

Impact of Neck Pain on the Body

Severe neck pain impacts other body parts as well. Some of these impacts are as follows:

• Sharp pain in the back
• Numbness in the leg
• Stiffness of the spine
• Headache
• Shoulder pain
• Numbness of the arms.

Diagnosis of Neck Pain

One should get a medical and physical examination from a pain management physician if neck or back pain occurs. Additionally, MRIs and X-rays of the afflicted areas could be performed by the doctor. This makes the view more comprehensive.  MRI will help to see the soft tissues like blood arteries, ligaments, and tendons. An infection, tumor, inflammation, or strain on the nerve could be diagnosed as a result of the MRI. Back and neck pain can be caused by arthritis, a condition that can occasionally be diagnosed with a blood test. 

Treatment for Neck Pain

Epidural

An epidural injection involves the administration of corticosteroid medication and sometimes a local anesthetic into the epidural space around the spinal cord or a specific nerve root in the cervical spine. This treatment is often used to reduce inflammation and relieve pain associated with conditions like cervical herniated discs, spinal stenosis, or radiculopathy. The injection can help alleviate pain and discomfort by reducing inflammation and providing temporary relief.

Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA)

Radiofrequency ablation is a minimally invasive technique. It is used to relieve persistent discomfort in the neck, such as that caused by facet joint arthritis. In this procedure, a specially designed needle is introduced in close proximity to the injured cervical spine nerve or joint during RFA. The heat produced by high-frequency electrical currents obliterates the nerve's capacity to convey pain messages. RFA can help people with persistent neck pain feel better and relieve their pain for a longer period of time.

Botox Injection

When neck discomfort is accompanied by muscle spasms or myofascial pain syndrome, injections of botulinum toxin, or Botox, are utilized as a treatment option. Muscle contractions are lessened and discomfort is reduced when Botox temporarily paralyzes or relaxes muscles. In cases where muscle tension and spasms aggravate the neck pain, this treatment is especially beneficial.

Trigger Point Injection

A local anesthetic, saline solution, or corticosteroid drug is injected directly into a trigger point, which is a tiny, sensitive region of muscle, during a trigger point injection. Referred pain or pain experienced elsewhere but close to the trigger point, can be brought on by trigger points. Injections of trigger points can be used to treat trigger points that cause pain and muscular tension in the neck. For myofascial pain syndrome in particular, this treatment may be quite beneficial.

Sum-Up

Neck pain caused by poor posture or any other reason is a medical condition which in longer impacts the other body parts. This is usually associated with back pain is considered as the pain of the cervical but the back and neck are vast than that. Whenever one is down with back and neck pain it is advisable to take consultation with a pain management physician. Dr. Dipty Mangla is a leading anthologist and pain management physician in New Jersey. She at Mainland Pain Management diagnosis, the degree of the pain, and provides effective treatment of Epidural, Radiofrequency ablation, Botox injection, and Trigger Point injection. 

One can schedule an appointment with her right away and get rid of discomforting neck pain at her clinic.