Neck Pain
The cervical vertebrae extend from the cranium (skull) down to the upper torso. A set of bones, muscles, and ligaments support the head and allow for movement. Between the bones are cervical discs that act as shock absorbers. Other components within the neck structure include blood vessels, thyroid gland, trachea, larynx, lymph nodes, and more.
Neck pain or stiffness usually occurs when there are anomalies within the cervical vertebrae. Our team at Katalyst performs custom pain management therapies to get patients back to normal.
Causes of Neck Pain
Pain in the neck area can result from many diseases and disorders, some of which can be surprising. They include muscle strain, whiplash, a herniated disk, arthritis, a pinched nerve, and so forth. It can also come from inflammation and infections in various parts of the neck.
Below, we explain how some of these problems lead to pain in the neck.
Muscle Tension
Muscle tension and strain often results from poor posture. Sleeping with the neck in the wrong position or working at a desk for extended hours without the position can also be a cause.
Injury
Due to its role in supporting the head, the neck is highly susceptible to injuries, especially in accidents. The sudden jerking of the head (whiplash) in contact sports, automobile accidents, and falls can force neck muscles and ligaments outside their normal range. A fracture in the cervical vertebrae can damage the spinal cord, potentially paralyzing the lower body.
Herniated Cervical Disk
Trauma or injury can make a cervical disk to protrude, a condition referred to as a herniated cervical disk. Pain in the neck can result due to the slipped bone adding pressure to the nerve roots or spinal cord.
Osteoarthritis
For many people, joints wear with age. Osteoarthritis causes the cartilage that cushions your bones to deteriorate. When this occurs in your cervical vertebrae, the disks get damaged, causing pain and reduced joint motion.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
This autoimmune disease can cause joint damage and pain throughout the body. It causes bone spurs and swelling of the joints. Your neck can hurt if it affects the cervical vertebrae.
Meningitis
This condition results from the inflammation of the tissue surrounding the brain and the spinal cord. Symptoms of meningitis include a headache, stiff neck, and fever. The disease is a medical emergency.
Heart Attack
Symptoms of a heart attack include sweating, shortness of breath, pain in the neck, arm and jaw pain, nausea, and vomiting, among others. A hurting neck doesn't always imply an impending heart attack. But if you experience a combination of the above symptoms, call an ambulance immediately.
Pain Management Therapies at Katalyst
Neck pain manifests itself in different ways, and every patient requires proper diagnosis and a custom treatment plan. It can come along with muscle pain, headaches, throat pain, difficulty in swallowing, fever, tingling of the arms, stiffness, tenderness, and so on.
Sometimes, turning the head worsens the condition. Pinched nerves in the neck can trigger shoulder pain and arm numbness.
When you come to Katalyst, we first find out the root cause of your pain and administer the most appropriate science-based treatment for your condition. Below are some of our techniques for relieving neck and full-body pain.
Spinal Facet Joint Pharmaceutical and Biologic Medicine Injections
The treatment promotes mobility and reduces pain by boosting the health of nerves, tissues, and joints. With high precision, the procedure places the medication directly on the affected joints of the spine. It stops the transmission of pain signals from the vertebrae to the brain.
Large and Small Joint Pharmaceutical and Biologic Medicine Injections
This therapy addresses arthritis and cleans the chemical debris known to cause joint pain. Performed under local anesthesia, it restores the correct separation between joints.
Epidural Pharmaceutical and Biologic Injections
These injections have decades of success in pain management through inflammation reduction, decompression of painful nerves, and stimulation of the healing process. With the aid of x-ray technology, the doctor places therapeutic medications at precise points around the spinal cord to repair damaged nerves. It also eases pain by healing the damaged tissues.
Chesterfield Regenerative Medicine and OrthoBiologic Services
Katalyst helps to relieve your pain so you can regain mobility quickly with regenerative medicine. The treatments address the core source of the pain, but not the symptoms as opioids and many other pharmaceutical products do.
Even if your doctor has suggested surgery, consider visiting Katalyst before consenting. Treatments like Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) are more effective than physical therapy and injections like cortisone.
Are you suffering from joint pain in St. Louis and the rest of the Chesterfield area, Missouri?
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