Neck pain is a prevalent condition that can impair a person's ability to complete daily activities and routines. While some neck discomfort is brief and resolves quickly, persistent neck pain can last months or years without therapy. Some people find relief with easy treatments like rest, physical therapy, pharmaceuticals, or hot and cold therapy, while others require more intensive treatment to alleviate their symptoms.
Neck pain treatment options include both non-surgical and surgical techniques.
Non-surgical Options
In certain circumstances, basic treatment, drugs, and nonsurgical procedures can relieve chronic neck pain, allowing people to continue their typical activities.
1. Rest and Proper Posture
Sometimes, simply resting an injured neck can relieve discomfort. Keep your neck in the most comfortable posture that produces the least pain. You can also roll up a towel and place it under your neck to keep it and your head straight and in a neutral posture.
Keep your neck and head upright and straight to maintain a good sitting posture. This can help ease and prevent neck pain. Avoid slouching or slumping while sitting on your couch or in chairs, and try to only sit in chairs that provide adequate back support. If you work with a computer, keep it at eye level and avoid leaning backward or forward on your desk.
2. Medications
Chronic neck pain can also be managed with over-the-counter medicines. Pain relievers like acetaminophen and aspirin, as well as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like naproxen and ibuprofen, can help reduce neck pain. The greatest treatment for neck pain varies by individual, so the trick is to choose the one that works best for you. Remember any other medications you are taking and any side effects, and consult your doctor to establish which medications are safe to use.
3. Radiofrequency Ablation
Cervical Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA) is a noninvasive and relatively painless nerve-blocking procedure. During this neck pain therapy, radiofrequency radiation generates heat, which causes a lesion on the nerves, disrupting and blocking pain signals from reaching the brain. RFA often lasts longer than anesthetic nerve blocks, blocking pain for nine months to a year.
Surgical Options
Surgery may be required if you have recurrent discomfort, numbness, weakness, or tenderness in your hands, arms, or shoulders.
1. Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion
An anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) operation involves removing an injured disc from the front of the neck. They will then surgically fuse the two vertebrae to keep the spine stable following surgery. This is the most popular type of neck surgery.
2. Artificial Disc Replacement
A surgeon performs cervical artificial disc replacement surgery (ADR), which involves removing and replacing a damaged disc with an artificial disc. The primary goal of ADR surgery is to reduce nerve compression while maintaining motion. This treatment can help qualifying individuals keep more of their natural spine motion than a standard fusion would.
When a disc degenerates, herniates, or collapses, ADR surgery can help relieve the discomfort. A damaged disc leaves limited room for the spinal cord and nerve roots to function, resulting in numbness, tingling, weakness, and persistent pain. When a surgeon replaces a degenerating disc with an artificial one, the artificial disc releases pressure and allows nerves to recover so that they can function normally again.
While the ADR technique does not increase neck range of motion, it can assist a patient in maintaining the natural motion and biomechanics of their cervical spine. This allows patients to move their necks in the same way they could before the disc degenerates.
This technique is most suited for people with symptoms extending beyond the neck. This is because it alleviates spinal cord compression and nerve root inflammation symptoms.
3. Laminectomy
A laminectomy can relieve neck pain that interferes with daily functioning after other medical therapies have failed. During a laminectomy, a surgeon will remove all or part of the lamina, which is the section of the vertebra that covers the spinal canal. Removing the lamina lowers pressure on the nerve roots or spinal cord, which can alleviate pain caused by a herniated disc, tumor, narrow canal, or injury.
A laminectomy can help you maintain more of your neck's natural flexibility. However, if you also need a spinal fusion, your flexibility may be limited.
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