The cervical vertebrae in your neck are often the source of neck pain. The neck is particularly vulnerable to injury due to its exposed position and wide range of motion.
Back and neck pain can be excruciating. This condition can come on quickly and strongly or develop gradually over time. Long-term pain might linger for several weeks to years, and it can either be constant or sporadic.
What Causes Back and Neck Pain?
Even with today’s technology, pinpointing the exact source of back and neck pain remains a challenge. All or some of the following may be to blame for back and neck pain:
- Incorrect use, such as repetitive or heavy lifting, overuse, or excessive activity
- Bruises, wounds, or sprains
- Stress on the muscles and ligaments that support your spine or the effects of aging can lead to vertebral degeneration
- Infection
- Tumors and bone spurs are examples of malignant development
- Increased weight on your spine and disc pressure caused by obesity
- A lack of muscle mass
- Tension in the muscles
- Strain vs. strain
- Torn ligaments and muscles
- Arthritis and other debilitating joint conditions
- Smoking
- Pinched nerve and protruding or ruptured (slipped) disk
- Compression fractures with osteoporosis
- Congenital abnormalities of the vertebrae and bones present at birth
- Aortic aneurysm, for example, is a type of abdominal ailment
At What Point Should I Contact My Doctor?
If you are experiencing any of the following symptoms, it’s important to contact your doctor:
- Loss of bladder or bowel control, and weakness in both legs. Symptoms like these necessitate prompt intervention.
- Intractable, persistent, and unrelieved back or neck discomfort
- Post-injury or post-fall pain
- Leg or arm ache, tingling, or numbness
- Fever
- Weight reduction without the purpose of shedding pounds
What is the Treatment for Back and Neck Pain?
To treat back and neck pain, many doctors will recommend surgery or strong medication. However, most people with back pain do not want to take time off work to recover from surgery or rely on long-term medication prescriptions. At Modern Pain Solutions in Granada Hills, California, we specialize in non-surgical, drug-free treatment for back and neck problems.
Our treatment focuses on the muscles, tendons, and ligaments that support the spine and its joints. The main goals are to reduce pain and stiffness, strengthen muscles, and restore mobility.
We offer a range of minimally invasive treatments, including:
- Epidural Injections for Pain: These injections are used for both therapeutic and diagnostic purposes, helping to alleviate pain and inflammation in the spinal nerves.
- Diagnostic Facet Injections: These injections help identify the source of pain in the facet joints of the spine.
- Facet Radiofrequency Ablations (Rhizotomy or Neurotomy): This procedure uses heat generated by radio waves to target specific nerves and provide long-lasting pain relief.
Our medical staff will conduct a thorough examination to identify the underlying causes of your back or neck pain. Based on the results of your initial evaluation and ongoing spinal monitoring throughout your course of treatment, they will design a personalized therapy plan to alleviate pain, expand range of motion, strengthen muscles, and ultimately restore your function.
At Modern Pain Solutions, we aim to help you get back to your old self, providing effective pain relief and improved spinal health under the expert care of Dr. Jungjae Lim.