Neck or cervical pain is a daily challenge for 1 in 5 Americans. Neck pain can be caused by chronic issues such as poor posture or an acute neck injury (caused during an accident).
Many patients ask, "should I worry about neck pain?" Due to the complexity of the neck and the spinal cord, a neck injury should be taken seriously. Vail-Summit Orthopaedic & Neurosurgery has a team of expert cervical spine and neck doctors to provide an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan to get you on the road to recovery. Our neck specialists include:
Common Neck Pain Symptoms
Depending on the type of neck injury, home care is often the first step when treating neck pain. Most cervical pain improves with conservative care such as rest, hot/cold therapy, pain and anti-inflammatory medication, and improved posture habits.
However, our team of neck specialists recommends seeking professional treatment if specific systems persist, such as:
Decreased mobility of the neck
Muscle spasms/tightness
Worsening pain
Persistent headache
Additionally, patients experiencing the following symptoms should schedule an appointment with a neck doctor immediately:
Unmanageable pain
Pain down arms and legs
Tingling, weakness, numbness
Restrictive stiffness
VSON’s experienced team of neck doctors utilizes state-of-the-art diagnostic technology to identify and treat neck injuries.
Neck Injury Conditions
The most common causes of neck pain include:
Cervical radiculopathy - pinched nerve in the neck
Cervical spinal stenosis - degeneration of joint
Cervical herniated disc - displacement of a disc
Cervical myelopathy - compression of the spinal cord
The team of neck doctors at Vail-Summit Orthopaedics & Neurosurgery is highly-experienced in treating all neck conditions.
Treatments for Neck Pain
Together, the patient and physician will determine the best treatment plan. When indicated, neck surgery may be the optimal treatment plan to eliminate pain. Most frequent surgical treatments include:
Anterior Cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) - Relieves pressure to the nerve by removing the disc or bone spur matter causing the pinched nerve in the neck. The spinal fusion portion of the procedure provides stability to the neck.
Anterior vertical corpectomy and fusion (ACCF) - Like the ACDF, ACCF treats spinal cord compression. The fusion portion of the procedure is more complex. As such, the ACCF procedure requires a longer recovery period.
Artificial disc replacement (ADR) - Pain from a pinched nerve in the neck can be treated by removing the damaged disc and replacing it with an artificial implant. ADR has the benefit of maintaining range of motion and flexibility to the neck.
Neck Doctors at Vail-Summit Orthopaedics & Neurosurgery
If you have questions about neck pain or need a treatment plan for your neck injury, contact the Vail-Summit Orthopaedics & Neurosurgery team of neck doctors today. Our team provides world-class care and is committed to keeping you active.