Neck pain can make it difficult to work, sleep, drive, exercise, or comfortably turn your head. Some patients experience localized soreness and stiffness, while others develop pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness that travels into the shoulder, arm, or hand.
Our pain management team helps identify the likely source of your symptoms and recommend treatment options based on your condition, medical history, and goals.
Click on the tiles below to jump to the common neck pain and cervical spine we treat:
Symptoms can vary depending on which cervical nerve is affected and may worsen with certain neck positions or movements.
Treatment options may include:
The goal is to determine whether nerve inflammation or compression may be contributing to your symptoms and select a treatment that targets the affected area. Your provider may also review prior imaging or recommend additional diagnostic steps when needed.
The facet joints are small joints located along the back of the cervical spine. These joints support movement and stability in the neck, but they can become painful due to arthritis, age-related changes, injury, or ongoing mechanical stress.
Cervical facet pain may cause aching or stiffness in the neck, pain near the base of the skull, discomfort across the upper shoulders, or symptoms that worsen when turning or extending the neck. Some patients also experience headaches related to irritation in the upper cervical joints.
Treatment options may include:
Medial branch blocks may be used to help determine whether specific facet joints are contributing to your pain. When a diagnostic block provides meaningful temporary relief, cervical radiofrequency ablation may be considered to provide longer-lasting disruption of the pain signals from those joints.
Whiplash and other neck injuries can occur after motor vehicle accidents, falls, sports injuries, or sudden forceful movements. Symptoms may begin immediately or develop over the hours or days following the injury.
Post-traumatic neck pain may involve muscles, joints, discs, nerves, or several structures at the same time. Patients may experience stiffness, reduced range of motion, muscle tightness, headaches, shoulder pain, or symptoms that travel into the arm.
Treatment begins with a pain-focused evaluation to identify the structures most likely contributing to your symptoms.
Treatment options may include:
The recommended approach will depend on your pain pattern, physical exam, prior imaging, and whether your symptoms appear to be coming from muscles, joints, or irritated cervical nerves.
Myofascial neck pain develops when muscles and surrounding connective tissues become irritated, tight, or sensitive. Painful trigger points may form in the neck, upper back, shoulders, or nearby muscles and refer discomfort into other areas.
Patients may experience:
Treatment options may include:
Trigger point injections are placed directly into painful or contracted muscles. The goal is to reduce muscle irritation, improve movement, and address focal areas that may be contributing to ongoing neck discomfort.
Cervical dystonia is a neurological movement disorder that causes involuntary contractions of the neck muscles. These contractions may cause the head to twist, tilt, pull forward, or move into an uncomfortable position.
Some patients experience intermittent spasms, while others have sustained muscle contractions that contribute to pain, stiffness, fatigue, and difficulty holding the head in a neutral position. Symptoms may interfere with driving, working, sleeping, or completing routine activities.
Treatment options may include:
If jaw pain, clenching, or facial muscle tension is contributing to your symptoms, targeted treatment may help reduce inflammation, muscle tightness, and pain.
Your evaluation may include a physical exam, a review of your symptoms and medical history, and a discussion of whether imaging, prior records, or additional diagnostic steps are needed to better understand your condition and recommend appropriate next steps.
We may ask about:
Your provider may also evaluate your range of motion, muscle tenderness, strength, reflexes, sensation, and signs of nerve irritation.
From there, we can discuss which treatment options may be appropriate for your specific diagnosis and goals.
Not all neck pain comes from the same source. A pinched nerve, arthritic facet joint, injured muscle, or movement disorder may require a different treatment strategy.
Our approach focuses on:
