Many of us will suffer occasional pain and stiffness in the neck, sometimes from poor posture or a minor sports injury. Treating the pain with over-the-counter pain relievers, hot or cold compresses, and sometimes simple rest will usually take care of the pain.
When neck pain continues for months, though, it’s considered chronic, and it’s time to see a doctor. A number of conditions can cause chronic neck pain, and you’ll need a professional’s expertise to diagnose what’s causing your pain and determine your best treatment options.
Common causes of chronic neck pain include the following:
- Degenerative disc disease. This happens when discs—structures filled with a jelly-like inner layer that cushion the vertebrae in your neck—start to wear down. As we age, they will gradually begin to dry out so they’re not as effective at cushioning the vertebrae. If this condition gets back enough, surrounding nerve can become irritated.
- Herniated disc. This happens when you get a tear in a disc’s outer layer, which allows the jelly-like inner layer to leak out. This leaked material can press against a nerve, causing pain in the neck.
- Osteoarthritis. There are joints in the neck, called facet joints, which are normally protected by a layer of cartilage. Over time, the cartilage can begin to wear down so that the bones in the joints are rubbing against each other, which can be painful. This condition is also sometimes called spondylosis. Sometimes people will also develop bone spurs—little bony growths—that press on a nearby nerve.
- Foraminal stenosis. The condition affects the foramina, which are openings in the vertebrae through which nerve roots coming from the spinal cord leave the spinal canal. If the foramina become narrowed, the nerve roots get irritated. This can cause radiating pain in the shoulders, arms, and fingers. Where the radiating pain is felt will depend on which nerve or nerves are being pinched.
- Spinal stenosis with myelopathy. Stenosis means an opening or passageway in your body has narrowed. With spinal stenosis, that means the spinal canal has narrowed, possibly because a herniated disc or bone spurs are pushing into it. If it becomes too narrow, the spinal cord—which sends signals from the body to the brain and the brain to the body—can become compressed, preventing nerve signals from getting through clearly. The result is myelopathy, which can mean weakness or coordination problems in the arms, legs, hands, or feet.
These are just some of the potential causes of chronic neck pain. The treatment your doctor suggests will depend on what’s causing the pain, how severe it is, your overall general health, and other factors. Multiple treatment options exist, including physical therapy, cortisone or anesthetic injections, anti-inflammatory drugs, muscle relaxants, acupuncture, and surgery.
For more information on neck pain causes and treatments, or to make an appointment with the doctors at NeuroMicroSpine, please call (850) 934-7545 or click here to request an appointment. We hope to see you soon!
The information contained in this article is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace or counter a physician’s advice or judgment. Please always consult your physician before taking any advice learned here or in any other educational medical material.