Why is Everything a Pain in the Neck?

An estimated one in three people are affected by neck pain once a year, according to the National Institutes of Health. It can be a result of a serious injury or over-exertion, the normal aging process or arthritis, or something as simple as sleeping in an uncomfortable position. Although most cases of neck pain do not require surgery, Bayhealth Neurosurgery Medical Director Dawn Tartaglione, DO, FACOS, breaks down the common questions and facts about neck pain and steps you can take.

• What should I try first? Some people find relief from neck pain and better function and flexibility with yoga or other forms of exercise, physical therapy, or non-traditional treatments such as chiropractic care, acupuncture or osteopathic manipulative therapy. Your primary care clinician can help guide you in pursuing these treatment methods, refer you to a physical therapist, or recommend medications such as anti-inflammatories or muscle spasm treatment.
  
  
• What if I’m not better? If neck pain lasts more than six weeks without improving with any therapy or exercise, or if it’s accompanied by tingling, numbness or pain that shoots down the arm, diagnostic imaging may be the necessary next step. Your doctor can order an X-ray, CT or MRI, depending on your condition. “X-rays and CT scans show the bones, alignment of the spine and spaces between the bones, with the CT providing much more detail,” said Dr. Tartaglione. “An MRI will show the details of the soft tissues in the neck which aren't visible in an X-ray or CT scan and can help detect problems like herniated discs or damage to ligaments.”
  
  
• When should I see a specialist? Imaging results can reveal what’s going on inside your neck and spine area to determine future treatment considerations, in consultation with your doctor. This may mean a referral to a pain management physician or a referral to see a neurosurgeon. “There is no neck surgery that will take away all neck pain,” said Dr. Tartaglione. “However, when your symptoms are severe and match up with your diagnostic image findings and there is a high chance that a surgical intervention will treat the problem that bothers you most, it may be time to consider neurosurgery.”

There are many factors that go into determining whether a neck surgery, also known as cervical spine surgery, is recommended, explained Dr. Tartaglione. For those who are considered good candidates for surgery, she and her Bayhealth Neurosurgery team work individually with patients to thoroughly discuss the surgical options available and what to expect. As the first in the state to offer robotic spine surgery with the ExcelsiusGPS® and the 7D Surgical FLASH™ Navigation System, Bayhealth neurosurgeons use innovative tools that make neck and spine surgeries less invasive and safer with faster recovery times.

If you’re suffering from persistent neck pain speak to your primary care clinician to determine if a referral to Bayhealth Neurosurgery is right for you. The Bayhealth Neurosurgery practice is located at 540 S. Governors Ave., Suite 100, Dover, DE 19904 and can be reached at 302-526-1470.