Don’t let neck pain keep you down – Southern Pain and Neurological can help!

Neck pain is one of the most common ailments experienced in the U.S. Here in Southeastern Louisiana, many of the patients who walk through the doors of our clinics complain about neck pain that greatly impacts their quality of life.

Identifying the source of that pain, and effectively addressing it, can be a challenge. The neck – or cervical spine – is comprised of a network of nerves, bones, joints and muscles. Because of the complexity of the neck area, there are a number of problems that can cause neck pain.

But neck pain is just the start of it. Any irritation along the nerve pathways can, in fact, lead to pain and discomfort throughout your body, from your head down to your legs. If you suffer from neck pain that persists beyond just a few days, then this could be a sign of an underlying medical condition that needs to be addressed.

Types of neck pain we commonly see from our patients throughout New Orleans

Many of our patients complain about neck pain symptoms including:

• Stiff neck
• Sharp or stabbing pain in one spot
• Soreness or tenderness
• Pain that radiates down into the shoulders, arms, or fingers, or pain that radiates up into your head

However, there are other symptoms that are even more problematic:

• Tingling, numbness or weakness that radiates into the shoulder, arms, or fingers
• Difficulty gripping or lifting objects
• Problems walking or with balance
• Loss of bladder or bowel control

Neck pain typically develops in one of the following ways:

• Slowly, over time. Neck pain might begin as a mild inconvenience, or only pop up at the end of the day. But then it might recur with more frequency or increase in intensity.
• Following an injury. Neck pain can occur immediately following an injury (such as after a car accident or after sleeping awkwardly) or can occur days after an accident or injury.
• Suddenly, without prior symptoms. Neck pain can also certainly begin seemingly out of nowhere, without any apparent reason.

Because neck pain can come and go without much notice, it's important to know when you should seek medical attention:

People should immediately seek medical attention if they experience any of the following:

• Radiating arm or leg pain
• Numbness, tingling, or weakness in arms or legs
• Problems with balance or coordination
• Loss of bowel or bladder control
• Unintended weight loss
• Fever or chills

How Southern Pain and Neurological of Southeastern Louisiana treats neck pain in our patients

Our goal here at Southern Pain and Neurological is to help our patients improve their quality of life by minimizing, or completely eradicating, their chronic pain.

When it comes to neck pain, one of the most effective treatments we employ are nerve blocks, followed by radiofrequency.

Nerve blocks perform two functions:

• Control pain
• Diagnose the root cause of the problem

We use these nerve blocks to identify how your pain may respond to long-term treatments. If you find that the nerve blocks provide relief, then we'll likely perform radiofrequency of the same nerve in the hopes of providing longer term relief.

What are radiofrequency signals?

Radiofrequency signals interrupt the pain signal that travels from the nerve to the brain. This is an extremely effective neck pain solution that offers long-term relief.

Do you or someone you know suffer from invasive chronic neck pain? We have clinics in Marrero, Metairie, and Covington, all of which focus on providing patients with safe, and effective pain treatment solutions.

Contact our team today to learn more about your available options and to schedule a consultation. From your consultation, we'll be able to develop a more tailored pain management treatment plan customized specific to you.