Neck & Back Pain
Neck pain and back pain are unfortunately very common in our society. In general, they are more common in sedentary individuals, especially those who work at a desk or computer station. Fortunately, the prognosis for patients with neck pain is excellent, as well over 90 percent of patients with neck and back pain improve with conservative (non-surgical) treatment.
Neck & Back Pain Causes & Diagnosis
There are many conditions that can cause neck and back pain. To formulate an appropriate diagnosis, it is important to take a thorough history, perform a physical exam and obtain imaging studies, such as X-rays and an MRI. Some diagnoses include:
- Mechanical Conditions
- Strain
- Sprain
- Annular Tear (disc tear)
- Herniated or Bulging Disc
- Degenerative Conditions
- Degenerative Disc Disease
- Facet Arthropathy (joint pain)
- Spinal Stenosis
- Inflammatory Conditions
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Ankylosing Spondylitis (chronic inflammatory arthritis)
- Infectious Conditions
- Discitis
- Osteomyelitis
- Traumatic Conditions
- Fracture
- Subluxation
- Dislocation
- Oncologic Conditions
- Benign or Malignant Spine Tumor
- Metastatic Spine Tumor
- Congenital Conditions
- Klippel-Feil syndrome
- Idiopathic Conditions
- Unknown causes
- Psychogenic Conditions
- Psychiatric disorders with manifestation of neck or back pain
Where Neck Pain Begins
Where Lower Back Pain Begins
Muscle Strain of the Upper Back (Trapezius Strain)
Neck & Back Pain Treatment Options
Treatments for neck or back pain, like those for many medical conditions, can be conservative (non-operative) or surgical. Conservative, noninvasive treatments are generally the first treatments recommended to patients since most conditions affecting the spine are self-limited and improve or completely resolve with these treatments. Spinal injections and surgical treatments are only considered if the diagnosis is amenable to surgery and non-operative treatments have failed. Rarely, some spinal conditions are more serious (myelopathy, severe stenosis, fractures, cancer, etc.) and require immediate surgical management.
Conservative Treatments
- Rest or Activity Reduction
- Medications
- Topical (Ice packs, heat, ointments, etc.)
- Orthotics (Back brace, corset, etc.)
- Core Exercises
- Massage
- Physical Therapy
- Dry Needling
- Modalities, including ultrasound, phonophoresis (ultrasound to apply drugs) and iontophoresis (a kind of electrical stimulation used to administer medication)
- Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS)
- Facet Joint Injections
- Epidural Steroid Injections (Cervical)
- Lumbar Epidural Steroid Injections
