Neck pain refers to any discomfort you feel in or around your neck (cervical spine). The pain may range from a mild aching sensation to severe pain that radiates down your arms. 

Your neck is the most flexible part of your spine, helping you turn your head in a wide range of directions. The flexibility of your cervical spine and the need to support the weight of your head makes the neck more susceptible to injuries and conditions that cause neck pain. 

Though neck pain isn’t always the sign of a serious illness, if your pain is severe or affects your quality of life, the team at Southern Idaho Pain Institute can help.

You can develop neck pain from an acute injury, poor posture, or a degenerative condition that affects the structure of your spine as you get older. Common causes of neck pain include:

• Sprains and strains
• Whiplash
• Bulging or herniated disc
• Bone spurs
• Radiculopathy (pinched nerve)
• Spinal stenosis
• Degenerative disc disease
• Cervical arthritis (spondylosis)
• Fractures

Mental stress can also cause neck pain. 

The specifics of your neck pain evaluation at Southern Idaho Pain Institute depend on your needs. The team focuses on finding the underlying cause of your neck pain to provide the most effective treatment.

During your neck pain evaluation, your provider asks detailed questions about your pain, including when the pain started, the location of your pain, and your symptoms. 

They also review your medical history and conduct a physical examination, paying close attention to the structure and function of your spine. 

The team may request imaging studies, such as X-rays, an MRI, or a CT scan, to confirm or rule out the cause of your neck pain. You may also need a cervical discography.

The Southern Idaho Pain Institute team customizes your neck pain treatment plan based on the underlying cause.

Neck pain treatments the team at Southern Idaho Pain Institute may recommend include:

• Activity modification
• Analgesics
• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
• Posture therapy
• Physical therapy
• Epidural injection
• Radiofrequency ablation
• Nerve block
• Facet joint injections
• Trigger point injections
• Spinal cord stimulator
• Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy

The team at Southern Idaho Pain Institute often recommends minimally invasive treatments, such as an epidural injection or radiofrequency ablation (RFA), to ease neck pain. They perform procedures at their state-of-the-art ambulatory surgical center.

With the right treatment, you can get relief from neck pain. For expert pain management from a skilled team, call Southern Idaho Pain Institute or schedule an appointment online today.