It can be hard to hold your head high when you constantly suffer from neck pain. A crick in the neck, or a stiff and aching neck can make your day miserable. If you suffer from chronic neck pain, it can seriously affect your work, free time, and everyday life.

If you’ve been plagued by chronic neck pain, there's no need to continue to suffer in silence. Read on to learn more about what chronic neck pain looks like, the causes behind it, and treatment options available to you. Chronic pain does not need to rule your life.

Symptoms

Neck pain is one of the most commonly experienced types of physical pain. Studies show that 14-22 percent of the general population report having chronic neck pain.

Symptoms associated with chronic neck pain include:

Stiff neck

Constant pain in any area of the neck

Headaches, dizziness, and lightheadedness

Throat pain

Tingling or weakness in the arms

Sharp shooting pain

Limited range of motion

Difficulty swallowing

Swelling of the lymph nodes

Facial, shoulder, or back pain

If you have pain and symptoms that last three to six months or more you may be experiencing chronic neck pain.

Causes

So what causes chronic neck pain? Neck pain can be caused by a number of conditions and diseases. Common causes of both acute and chronic neck pain include:

Neck strain

Poor posture

Poor positioning of the neck while sleeping

Acute neck injury

Pinched nerves

Herniated discs

Inflammation causing infections

Degenerative disc disease

Osteoarthritis

Spinal stenosis

Muscle conditions such as fibromyalgia

Getting to the root of your chronic pain symptoms will help your orthopaedic specialist best formulate a plan for treatment and pain management.

Treatment

When it comes to chronic pain, treatment seeks to meet three main goals:

Reduce pain

Increase function in day to day life

Decrease reliance on medication and other pain management procedures

Unfortunately, due to the nature of chronic conditions, a cure is not always possible. However, pain management can help make day to day life comfortable again.

Non Surgical Treatments

Non surgical treatments for managing chronic neck pain include:

Ice and heat therapy

Physical therapy to strengthen muscles that stabilize and support the neck

Check out our blog for pain reducing stretches you can do at work

NSAIDs and prescription pain medications

Steroid injections

Lumbar puncture which is a spinal tap that can accurately diagnose, and subsequently treat conditions

Surgical Treatments

Depending on the cause of your chronic neck pain, surgery may be necessary. Your orthopaedic specialist will approach treatment through less invasive means before considering surgery. Surgical treatment for chronic neck pain may include disc fusion or decompression surgery.

To learn more about MidAmerica Orthopaedics and the different treatment options available to you, request an appointment online or call (708) 237-7200. MidAmerica Orthopaedics serves various areas such as Chicago, Tinley Park, Palos Hills, Mokena, Evergreen Park, New Lenox, Oak Lawn, Orland Park, and more.