Neck pain can be debilitating to live with, more so when the pain turns chronic. According to the Mayo Clinic, neck pain is one of the main causes of disability, and about half of people dealing with it will continue experiencing pain frequently.
Premier Med Group can help you with chronic neck pain management in New Jersey. The doctors in our directory can diagnose the source of your pain and help you find a solution so you can get back to living pain-free.
Types of Neck Pain
Neck pain comes in many forms. Minor pain comes and goes, but chronic neck pain, or cervicalgia, persists for over three months with minimal relief. Some of the types include:
- Dull or sore: Dullness or soreness will affect a general area rather than a specific spot in the neck.
- Numbness and tingling: If this kind of pain radiates down your arm or to your back, it’s a sign of something serious.
- Sharp and stabbing: Stabbing pain will feel like something sharp jabbing into your muscles.
- Stiffness: Persistent neck stiffness reduces your range of motion and may lead to pain in other areas as you overcompensate to function normally.
What Causes Chronic Neck Pain?
The neck is a complicated part of the body, meaning a lot can go wrong with it. Chronic neck pain can be the direct result of an injury or be caused by another condition leading to cervical spine discomfort. Many of these causes can start as minor pain but eventually lead to chronic pain.
Arthritis
Arthritis is a common source of chronic neck pain that you may not notice until long after it starts. Turning your head to the side will be difficult, and you may have headaches.
Cervical Degenerative Disc Disease
The discs in your neck and spine will degenerate over time as a normal part of aging. However, when they degenerate too quickly, you could develop arthritis, pinched nerves, or place too much pressure on joints.
Cervical Spinal Stenosis
This occurs when the spinal canal narrows due to degeneration in the vertebrae. Cervical foraminal stenosis is a similar issue that affects the holes inside the vertebra. Narrowing is usually caused by bone spurs and herniated discs.
Falling
Falling usually leads to serious injuries causing pain for a short time, but it may sometimes lead to chronic pain. The outcome of your fall will depend on the impact and the treatment you sought
Fracture or Break
Broken or fractured bones in the neck can cause chronic pain if you don’t seek treatment right away, or if your neck is severely injured.
Herniated Disc
Herniated discs occur when the nucleus pulposus, or the inner layer of the disc, leaks out. Pain occurs when the disc presses against nerves or causes inflammation in each vertebra. Herniated disc pain can be excruciating.
Inflammation
Often caused by arthritis, inflammation can put pressure on your vertebra and cause muscle tension in the neck that won’t go away. If left untreated, it can become increasingly painful to live with.
Poor Posture
The Brazilian Journal of Physical Therapy reports that poor posture is one of the main associations with neck pain. If you work at a computer or look up or down all day, you may end up with chronic neck pain. Sleeping in the wrong position may also cause ongoing pain.
Psychological Factors
Though chronic neck pain is a physical problem, there are psychological risk factors that can increase your pain. Untreated anxiety, depression, and long-term stress may cause you pain.
Repeated Movements
Just as staying still in poor posture can cause neck pain, so can moving around too much. If you frequently look or move in the same direction, you could cause strains and pains that become chronic the more you move.
Whiplash
Whiplash occurs when your head is suddenly moved forward and then backward. It typically happens in car crashes or on roller coasters that jolt you around too quickly.
How To Treat Chronic Neck Pain
From 1996 to 2016, US residents spent $134.5 billion on neck and lower back pain treatment, according to a report published by JAMA. There are several types of neck pain relief strategies that can help people recover from their pain significantly if not completely. The treatment you need will depend on your injury, lifestyle, and preferences.
At-Home Treatments
At-home treatments provide temporary relief between medical appointments. Solutions may include:
- Pain medications
- Rest
- Heat and ice packs
- Improve posture
- Stretching
Most of these are considered safe to do on your own, but always speak with your healthcare professional to determine safe medication and activity levels. Your doctor may prescribe higher doses of pain medication if over-the-counter options don’t help.
Injections
Injections offer fast short-term relief to provide you with enough strength and mobility to pursue other treatment options. Types of injections include the following:
- Epidural steroids reduce inflammation around herniated discs.
- Nerve-targeting injections remove pain signals.
- Trigger point injections break up knots in your muscles.
Physical Therapy
Physical therapy is often one of the best treatment methods since it helps stretch out and strengthen muscles to prevent further injury. You can use physical therapy with other treatment options.
Contact Premier Medical Group Today
If you’re suffering chronic neck pain in New Jersey, reach out to Premier Med Group. Our doctors accept most insurance plans, including workers’ compensation, no-fault, and personal injury protection (PIP). Same-day appointments may be available at your chosen location.
Call us today at (908) 904-1900.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Chronic Neck Pain Be Fixed?
You can treat chronic neck pain with physical therapy, injections, medication, and other methods. Pain management and muscle strengthening are typically the go-to methods for treatment.
What Does It Mean When You Have Constant Pain in Your Neck?
Constant neck pain may be a sign of poor posture, muscle strain, nerve pain, herniated disks, or other conditions. Pain lasting more than three months is considered chronic.
How Do You Deal With Unbearable Neck Pain?
Stretching, massages, pain medication, and heat or ice are fast ways for temporary relief from unbearable neck pain. Seek chronic neck pain treatment like physical therapy for long-term relief.
