neck pain

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Mild to severe neck pain is a common complaint among men and women of varying ages. Discomfort in the neck and shoulders can arise from strained or overworked muscles, poor posture, or a previous injury. Chronic neck pain may also be a sign of a more serious health condition, which is why it's important to see a medical professional as soon as possible to evaluate your discomfort. At LA Pain and Performance, our highly trained team of specialists can provide a thorough assessment of your pain and discuss different therapies and noninvasive treatments that are available to help manage your symptoms. We offer locations in the Inland Empire and High Desert and have served thousands of patients suffering from dull to severe neck pain. 

The most common signs and symptoms of neck discomfort often include:

• Muscle tightness or stiff neck
• Muscles spasms, numbness, or tingling
• The inability to rotate or move your head naturally
• Severe headaches or migraines

These concerns will vary from person to person and may be chronic in nature or arise suddenly for short periods at a time.

The most common and best understood type of pain is acute pain. Acute pain will result when tissue is injured by trauma, surgery, illness, or infection. This type of pain is generally understood and expected. It is typically sharp, shooting, aching, or burning, and it decreases as the tissue heals and the body recovers. This is pain that is "talking to you" and telling you that something is wrong.

The sudden onset of pain in the neck can occur after an injury or may appear without a known problem. If the pain is only in the tissues around the spine and does not radiate into the shoulders, arms, or hand, it is less likely to involve pressure on the nerve roots. If the pain is radiating into the limb, then this is more likely to involve pressure on the nerve. The etiology could be a strain or tearing of the supporting tissues with intense muscle spasm, a herniation of the disc between the vertebrae, or a fracture of the bony structure of the spine. Initial care will include rest, pain medications, muscle relaxants, and possibly epidural steroid injections, with trigger point injections for muscle spasms. The early use of physical therapy is important in many cases.

When a particular pain outlasts the normal healing process, it is categorized as chronic pain. Chronic pain symptoms can be caused by a variety of abnormalities in the nervous system. It can be complex, and it is often disabling. Chronic pain can greatly affect a person’s work, personal relationships, and self-esteem. The determination of a specific and accurate diagnosis is mandatory for proper treatment.

Chronic neck pain is pain experienced longer than 3 to 6 months and might result from the same sources as noted in acute neck pain. However, many times the pain may originate from an injury to the nerve tissues from chronic degeneration of the spine or may continue after surgery. Appropriate evaluation might reveal the pain source, and allow specific treatment. The anatomical reasons for pain need to be differentiated from the pain caused by nerve injury which is also known as neuropathic pain.

The cervical region or upper portion of the spine is made up of small bones known as vertebrae that line the back of the neck from the skull down to the shoulders. Between each vertebra are discs that help absorb shock between the bones. If there is any misalignment of these bones or a damaged disc (also known as a slipped disc), then mild to severe pain generally follows. Discomfort in the neck may also be caused by injury to the muscles and ligaments in the neck that occurred during contact sports, a bad fall, or whiplash from a car accident. Typically, neck pain is not a cause for serious concern and can be easily eased with medication or other therapies. However, in some cases, neck pain may be caused by osteoarthritis, which is the deterioration of the underlying cartilage and bone. If you are experiencing ongoing neck pain, we encourage you to schedule an appointment with our team at LA Pain and Performance.

In most cases, neck pain will resolve on its own within a few days. If you have been experiencing severe discomfort in your neck for more than a week, you should schedule an appointment with our team to learn about all of your options. Our medical professionals are highly trained in pain management and can assess your condition to discover the best therapy for you. Common treatments for neck pain are steroid injections, physical therapy, nerve stimulation, chiropractic, neck collars, heat and cold therapy, and medication. During your initial appointment, we can make recommendations on which treatments may help bring the most improvement for your condition.

Our body is more vulnerable to chronic conditions as we age. Find a trusted physician for pain treatment at LA Pain and Performance we provide you with the right solution for your neck pain woes. Thousands of individuals in Texas alone are plagued by chronic pain. We are committed to helping you discover the most appropriate treatments for your condition to bring the relief you need.