Neck & Back Pain

What is neck and back pain?

Neck and back pain is a feeling of discomfort in your spine, muscles, or other tissues in your neck or back. It might result from a disease, injury, or age-related wear and tear. If it doesn’t go away on its own, see the Interventional Pain Management Associates team for an evaluation.

What does neck and back pain feel like?

Depending on the type and cause of neck and back pain, it may feel like:

• Dull aching
• Sharp pain 
• Shooting discomfort
• Burning
• Tingling
• Numbness
• Stiffness
• Decreased range of motion
• Weakness
• Radiating pain

Your discomfort might be mild, moderate, or severe. Neck and back pain feels crippling in some cases, interfering with your ability to complete simple everyday tasks.

What are common risk factors for neck and back pain?

Common causes and risk factors often linked with neck and back pain include:

• Bulging or ruptured discs
• Muscle strains
• Ligament strains
• Narrowed spinal canal
• Osteoporosis
• Arthritis
• Older age
• Obesity
• Lack of exercise
• Improper lifting techniques
• Depression or anxiety
• Smoking
• Whiplash

You could get injured playing sports, falling, being in a car- or work-related accident, or lifting something too heavy. If neck and back pain feels debilitating or doesn’t go away on its own, see the Interventional Pain Management Associates team for an evaluation. 

How does my provider find the root cause of my pain? 

To determine what’s causing your neck and back pain, your Interventional Pain Management Associates specialist discusses your symptoms and medical history. They check your vital signs and complete a physical exam to assess your overall and joint health.

Pain-management providers might recommend you complete blood tests, X-rays, MRIs, CT scans, bone scans, nerve studies, or other diagnostic tests to determine the root cause of your discomfort and develop an effective treatment.

What are the treatments for neck and back pain?

Depending on the severity of your neck and back pain, your specialist might suggest:

Lifestyle changes

Getting plenty of rest, using ice or heat packs, and wearing a neck brace are things you can do at home to reduce neck or back discomfort. Avoid smoking as well.

Physical therapy

Physical therapy sessions increase strength and flexibility in your neck, back, and surrounding tissues to alleviate pain.

Medications

Taking medications can reduce inflammation, pain, or underlying causes of neck and back discomfort.

Injections

Injections stimulate your body’s ability to heal or reduce inflammation, thereby diminishing pain. 

Radiofrequency ablation

Radiofrequency ablation uses a very fine needle and radiofrequency energy to interfere with pain signals traveling to your brain.

Nerve stimulation

Your pain specialist can implant a nerve stimulator under your skin to deliver electrical impulses to nerves to block pain signals.

Surgery

If other treatments don’t work to relieve neck and back pain, surgery at Interventional Pain Management Specialists can correct the underlying cause of your discomfort, such as a herniated disc.

Don’t live with neck and back pain when highly effective treatments are within reach at Interventional Pain Management Associates. Call the office to schedule an appointment or book one online today.