Are you suffering from neck pain in Dallas? Are you wondering why you have neck pain or are curious to find out how to stop it?The Comprehensive Spine Center of Dallas has answers to all your questions and more! Our first-rate Dallas neck pain doctors know all there is about managing neck and shoulder pain in Dallas, and love helping our customers get the answers they need to relieve their pain fast.Read on to learn about the potential causes of your neck pain and find out the steps you can take today to relieve it.
Many people experience neck pain at some point in their lives—and there’s a reason why. Your neck is a complex structure—made up of your spinal cord as well as many, many muscles, nerves, arteries, and veins. This makes it especially vulnerable to many types of injuries and conditions, the most common of which include:Muscle strains - Neck pain occurs most often as a result of muscle strains. Strains occur from overuse—such as from too many hours hunched over your computer or smartphone, or from reading (or sleeping) in bed with poor posture.Worn joints - Your neck joints can wear down as you age. Osteoarthritis—the common degeneration of joint cartilage caused by old age—a common cause of neck pain.Injuries - It’s common for neck and head injuries to cause neck pain. Whiplash is an especially common neck injury that occurs when the head is jerked backward and then forward—common in auto-accidents and sport-related injuries.Diseases - Some diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, meningitis or cancer have also been shown to cause neck pain.
While there are many ways to treat moderate to severe neck pain (more on that below), most neck pain is usually mild, for which many self-care treatment options exist. To start, you can try over-the-counter pain relievers (such as ibuprofen—like Advil—or acetaminophen—like Tylenol) to help relieve your pain.You can also try alternative ‘heat and cold therapy’ for neck pain—which has been shown to reduce mild inflammation. Simply apply an ice pack (or ice wrapped in a towel) to where you feel the pain for 20 minutes. Then take a warm shower or use a heat pad to heat the area for another 20 minutes. You can alternate between hot and cold several times a day until the pain subsides.
If self-care doesn’t alleviate your neck pain, many other treatment options exist. You can speak to a Dallas neck pain doctor to either prescribe prescription pain meds—such as muscle relaxants or tricyclic antidepressants for pain relief, as well as recommend a physical therapy program that’s close to you. Physical therapy for neck pain will typically involve meeting with a physical therapist who can teach you a combination of stretches and neck-strengthening exercises to help alleviate your pain and prevent it from recurring.If you neck pain is more severe, a neck pain doctor can also provide more aggressive forms of therapy—such as Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), Traction, or Short-Term Immobilization. They may also recommend Steroid Injections—whereby they inject corticosteroid medications into your cervical spine or your neck muscles to help with the pain. Surgery may also be an option for relieving either nerve root or spinal cord compression, as well.
Our patients often ask us, “What’s the best way to treat neck pain in Dallas?” expecting a straightforward answer like “take this medication” or “do this regimen.” While it’s true that medication and therapy can be effective ways to treat neck pain, a simple solution to a (potentially) complex problem isn’t encouraged. If you’re experiencing moderate, severe, or chronic neck pain, it’s best to consult with a neck pain doctor in Dallas who can recommend a holistic treatment plan based on your condition.True to our name, the Comprehensive Spine Center of Dallas provides truly comprehensive pain management for neck pain in Dallas. We’ll help relieve your neck pain by providing a treatment plan that’s designed for you—with your health, your needs, and your medical history in mind.Schedule an appointment to get started treating your neck pain today!