Neck pain, also known as “Cervicalgia” in the medical community, can produce serious pain and discomfort to patients. Sometimes, this pain can continue to radiate outwards into the head, arms, and body. The intensity and length of the pain depends on the source of the cervicalgia. This condition can result from several different problems in the spine. Neck pain affects nearly 30% of american adults. Of those with cervicalgia, nearly 50% suffer from chronic neck pain. Research estimates almost 20% to 70% of adults will experience cervicalgia that interferes with their daily activities during their lifetime. Women (5.7%) become more susceptible to neck pain than men (3.9%) 

Symptoms of Cervicalgia

Cervicalgia can cause a sharp, stabbing pain or a dull, persistent pain around the neck dependinig on the size and severity of the injury. Common symptoms include stiffness, spasms, and muscle pain. Cervicalgia can also impair neck movement and radiate pain, tingling and numbness into the arms.

Other symptoms include:

• Muscle weakness in the neck
• Nausea, headache, and dizziness
• Burning or aching sensation in the neck
• Tenderness in the shoulder
• Tightness in the upper back
• Hearing difficulties
• Loss of bowel or bladder control

Epidural Steroid Injections

Steroidal medication injected into a painful joint space can help soothe pain in arthritic joints. Injecting corticosteroids into an arthritic joint will not provide permanent relief on its own,  it can dramatically reduce inflammation and pain. The effects can last anywhere between 1 week to 1 year. Injections for joint pain are usually one of the steps taken before resorting to surgery. In some patients, steroid injections can reduce pain to the point where patients are able to participate in Physical Therapy, which in turn can strengthen the surrounding muscles and eliminate the need for further treatment.

Physical Therapy

Our Physical Therapists can help manage pain, reducing the need for opioids and sometimes avoiding surgery entirely.

Physical therapy can improved mobility, increase trauma recovery, increase recovery from stroke or paralysis, reduce the risk of falling by increasing muscle strength and improve equilibrium.