Neck Pain

Neck pain is a common complaint as you age, but if you’re constantly waking up with stiffness and pain, you may need more than a massage and a good night’s sleep. At Atlantic Advanced Spine and Neurology Institute, with offices in Bethlehem, Lilburn, and Braselton, Georgia, the team uses evidence-based treatments to relieve chronic neck pain. Call the office nearest you to schedule an appointment or reach out online.

What is neck pain?

Your neck or cervical spine runs from the bottom of your skull to the top of your shoulders. It has many vertebrae, muscles, tendons, nerves, and ligaments that help support and rotate your head. Because the neck supports so much weight, it’s easy to injure it when you twist, jerk, or overstretch it.

There are many reasons you can experience acute or chronic neck pain, but one of the most common comes from problems with the cervical discs in your spine.

What are cervical discs?

The neck contains six intervertebral discs that rest in between the bony vertebrae in your spine. These discs act as shock absorbers for the vertebrae. They also provide cushion and flexibility that allows you to turn and rotate your head and neck comfortably.

Spinal discs have a soft center called the nucleus and a more fibrous outer ring called the annulus. Over time, the cervical discs in your neck can deteriorate and degrade, making them prone to injury and pain. 

In some cases, the nucleus can even push through small cracks in the annulus and put pressure on nearby nerves. This common condition is called a herniated cervical disc.

What does neck pain feel like?

Neck pain affects everybody differently, but some of the most common signs that you have an injury or degenerative condition include:

• Dull ache
• Pain that radiates through your shoulders
• Stiffness
• Chronic headaches
• Soreness
• Sharp, localized pain

Pain in the cervical spine can also cause weakness in your arms and hands.

What causes neck pain?

Neck pain can develop from something as simple as a muscle strain or sleeping in an uncomfortable position. More serious causes of neck pain are:

Herniated disc

A herniated cervical disc happens when the soft nucleus in your disc pushes through the tougher annulus, irritating nearby nerves.

Cervical spondylosis

Cervical spondylosis is a general term to describe the wear and tear that occurs in your cervical discs as you age.

Injury

A sudden injury, such as a sports injury or whiplash from a car accident, can badly bruise and even fracture the vertebrae in your neck.

Spinal stenosis

Spinal stenosis is the gradual narrowing of the spinal column. Over time, spinal stenosis can put pressure on your spinal cord and nearby nerves.

What are the treatments for neck pain?

If rest, ice therapy, and therapeutic exercises and stretches don’t relieve your neck pain, the Atlantic Advanced Spine and Neurology Institute may recommend a more permanent solution.

While steroid injections can temporarily relieve pain and reduce inflammation on the nerves in your neck, the cervical disc that’s causing you pain may require replacement or fusion.

Another option to reduce neck pain is to remove the damaged cervical disc and fuse the vertebrae to prevent re-injury.

Your provider may also recommend stem cell injections, which trigger your body’s healing response to repair damage and reduce pain in your neck.

If you’re suffering from neck pain, call the expert team at Atlantic Advanced Spine and Neurology Institute or request an appointment online.