30-Second Blog “Snapshot:”
- The cervical spine (neck) is made up of seven essential vertebrae, which not only protect the spinal cord, but they also allow for movement in all directions.
- Because the cervical spine is a complex structure, it’s increasingly susceptible to trauma from daily activities and varying levels of force.
- The chronic pain treatment specialists at Southwest Spine and Pain Center discuss what patients can do to manage their cervical neck pain.
There are many lifestyle choices and environmental factors that could lead to the development of cervical neck pain. Additionally, vertebrae within the cervical spine are delicate, which means they are prone to degeneration and damage. Therefore, when it comes to seeing a doctor for your cervical neck pain, it’s important you see one who can effectively diagnose the cause of your pain and provide an array of cervical neck pain treatment options.
During your initial appointment with a chronic pain treatment specialist at Southwest Spine and Pain Center, he or she will ask you a few questions to determine your cervical neck pain diagnosis. Although the cervical spine is relatively resistant to injury, there are times where injury can cause certain painful, incapacitating symptoms. This is also true for patients who have cervical neck pain due to natural wear and tear, or degeneration.
Your chronic pain treatment specialist will also review your symptoms with you. The cervical spine is a fascinating structure because damage to a certain vertebrae can produce varying symptoms. See below:
C1, C2, C3 Vertebrae – headaches, difficulty breathing, pain
C4 Vertebra – shoulder pain, upper arm discomfort
C5 Vertebra – weakness in the upper arms, forearms, and wrists
C6 Vertebra – weakness or pain in the triceps and hands
C7 Vertebra – weak hand grip, tingling, pain in the upper back
For the most part, patients with cervical neck pain experience pain, numbness, tingling, headache pain, and weak functioning of the arms and hands.
Cervical Neck Pain Treatment
Of course, cervical neck pain treatment depends on the cause and symptoms. Nevertheless, most patients benefit from the following cervical neck pain treatment options:
- Physical therapy
- Bracing
- Pain medications
- Cervical epidural steroid injections
- Selective nerve root blocks
- Minimally invasive surgery
These cervical neck pain treatment options help reduce discomfort and restore functionality. Your chronic pain treatment specialist may recommend a combination of treatment options, especially since a multi-disciplinary approach is often more effective when treating cervical neck pain. To learn more about cervical neck pain treatment options, visit our Treatments section or call one of our locations today to set up an appointment!
If chronic pain is impacting your life, don't wait to schedule an appointment at Southwest Spine and Pain Center. With multiple locations across the state of Utah, the pain management specialists at Southwest Spine and Pain Center are dedicated to helping those who suffer from chronic pain live the life they want to! To schedule an appointment, visit our locations tab!
The advice and information contained in this article is for educational purposes only, and is not intended to replace or counter a physician’s advice or judgment. Please always consult your physician before taking any advice learned here or in any other educational medical material.