Neck and Back Specialist

What causes neck pain?

The seven small vertebrae that form your neck support your head’s weight and movement. As a result, your neck is especially vulnerable to soft tissue injuries. Neck sprains and strains are frequently caused by whiplash injuries, sports accidents, and poor posture. 

You can develop neck pain if you spend too much time holding your head at an angle while looking down at your smartphone, tablet, or computer.

Your neck is also susceptible to daily wear-and-tear that causes degenerative problems as you get older, including:

• Herniated discs
• Degenerative disc disease
• Facet joint arthritis
• Spinal stenosis
• Bone spurs

These conditions often cause pain as they pinch the nerves running through your neck.

What symptoms develop in addition to neck pain?

In addition to the pain caused by tight or knotted muscles and damaged ligaments, pinched nerves cause pain in your neck, as well as pain and tingling that radiates down your arms and into your hands. 

Nerve damage may also cause a burning sensation, and in severe cases, it may lead to arm weakness or numbness.

How is neck pain treated?

During your first appointment, the team reviews your medical history and performs a thorough evaluation of your neck. They check your posture and range of motion, and also perform a manual exam of the muscles and joints before creating a customized treatment plan. 

To begin, your treatment may include therapies such as:

• Passive and active exercises
• Ergonomic and body-mechanics training
• Joint mobilization
• Steroid injections
• Ice and heat therapy

If your neck pain doesn't resolve with these conservative treatments, the team may recommend neck surgery. However, they always turn to surgery as a last resort. 

If you suffer from neck pain, call Orthopaedic Associates or schedule an appointment online so you can start the physical therapy you need to alleviate your pain.

What causes back pain?

Back pain can develop following an injury or accident, or if you make repetitive movements for long periods. Most back injuries happen because of the way you use your back. For instance, exceeding your fitness level when exercising or playing sports, or moving awkwardly.

Tripping, falling, and using poor lifting techniques are also common causes of back injuries. Auto accidents can often result in damage to your back or neck. These types of injuries typically cause acute pain, as a muscle tear or bulging disc starts pressing on the nerves in your spine.

You might develop back pain because of issues like poor posture. Spine disorders can also cause chronic back pain.

What spinal disorders cause back pain?

Some of the most common spine disorders likely to cause back pain include:

• Osteoarthritis
• Spinal stenosis
• Osteoporosis
• Spondylosis
• Degenerative disc disease
• Sciatica
• Spondylolisthesis

Some people are born with conditions that lead to back pain. One of the most widespread congenital back conditions is scoliosis, which causes an unnatural curvature in your spine.

Acute injuries can happen because of a deterioration in the spine; for example, an intervertebral disc that hardens due to degenerative disc disease is more likely to rupture and cause a herniated disc.

What should I do if I have back pain?

If you have mild symptoms and you know why your back is hurting, you can try home remedies. Avoid vigorous exercise or movements that aggravate the pain, but don’t stop moving. Being immobile is likely to make the problem worse, so it’s better to exercise gently.

You could use mild heat or apply over-the-counter topical treatments to ease the pain and help the healing process. Oral painkillers and anti-inflammatory medications could also help. 

If your symptoms don’t improve in a few days, you get worse, or your pain is severe, you should call Orthopaedic Associates for advice.

How is back pain treated?

Initial treatments for back pain at Orthopaedic Associates are likely to involve conservative approaches. These could include:

• Heat treatments
• Ice or cold therapies
• Therapeutic massage
• Ultrasound therapy
• Electrical stimulation
• Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy
• Back braces 
• Manual manipulation
• Steroid injections

If these initial treatments aren’t relieving your symptoms, the Orthopaedic Associates team might suggest an operation for your back pain. For example, you might need lumbar decompression surgery if you have a problem like pinched nerves from a herniated disc.

Other options include spinal fusion, which joins vertebrae together, or replacing a damaged disc with an artificial one. Kyphoplasty and vertebroplasty can help repair compression fractures in the spine caused by osteoporosis.

Microdiscectomy involves the removal of a damaged disc, while foraminotomy enlarges the holes (foramen) in your spine to allow more room for your nerves.

Find out about these options and the other advanced treatments available for back pain by calling Orthopaedic Associates today, or book an appointment online.