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Having occasional neck pain, especially after doing strenuous physical activity, sitting for a long time, or waking up from a bad sleeping angle, isn’t unheard of and doesn’t usually raise an alarm. In fact, research has shown that neck pain is common in people who work in desk jobs or occupations that require sitting and leaning for hours at a time.
Valley Medical’s pain management doctor in Minneapolis warns, however, that if the neck pain has been around for quite some time and still doesn’t subside with rest, you might be suffering from the following neck pain related diseases:
The spinal discs sit between each vertebra. They act as shock absorbers, allows spinal flexibility, and facilitates bending and twisting movements of the spine. As you age, the discs suffer from wear and tear and lose their integrity. If the cervical (neck) spine is affected by degenerated discs, patients usually feel a nagging or disabling pain in the neck that may travel to the arms and hands.
The neck has an extensive range of motion, making it prone to injuries such as neck strain. A strain develops in tissues that can move and contract. On the other hand, a sprain affects musculoskeletal structures that are immovable. Neck strain happens when the muscles and tendons supporting the neck become injured, leading to pain and decreased range of motion.
To prevent neck strain, our pain management doctor in Minneapolis encourages patients to use proper body mechanics when lifting heavy objects, avoid repetitive neck movements, and observe proper posture.
Also called cervical spondylosis, cervical osteoarthritis is often caused by the natural wear and tear of spinal structures that come with aging. The discs, which act as a shock absorber and cushion between the vertebrae, wear out and become ineffective in carrying out their function. Thickening of the ligaments and bones and narrowing of the spinal canal occur, which lead to neck pain and stiffness, headache, limited cervical range of motion, and a grinding feeling when moving the neck.
Stenosis is a medical term for abnormal narrowing. In patients with spinal stenosis, the spinal canal, which is the space where the nerves and spinal cord pass through, becomes narrowed and compresses the structures inside. If the narrowing occurs in the cervical spine, patients may experience neck pain that radiates to the shoulders and arms.
Osteoarthritis is the most common cause of spinal stenosis and usually affects people who are 50 years and older. Experts in Valley Medical pain clinic in Woodbury warn that although the symptoms of this condition develop gradually, they will get worse over time, if not managed properly.
Is your neck pain affecting your quality of life? Consult our pain medicine experts in Valley Medical and Wellness Clinic. We have convenient locations in Burnsville, Minneapolis, and Woodbury to serve you better.
Our involvement begins with a comprehensive evaluation to create a treatment plan suited to your specific needs. Then, we select from a variety of therapies and medication to manage your care as you work towards recovery. It is our continued care management, which changes with your needs, allowing you to progress and achieve your treatment goals.
If you have any additional questions, or you would like to find out more about our available pain management options, please contact us by calling at (612) 444-3000.
