Neck pain is something people will experience at least once in their lifetime, and in some cases, it can go away on its own. However, for the vast majority of Americans with neck pain (50-85 percent), symptoms do not completely resolve on their own. Neck pain that has turned chronic can severely impact the quality of life.
A doctor that specializes in diagnosing and treating brain and spine conditions – a neurosurgeon – can treat neck pain at its source. When it comes to your health, you should be your own advocate. If you are wondering whether it’s time to see a doctor for neck pain, be on the lookout for these four signs.
#1 Persistent Pain Lasting Several Weeks or More
Pain that lasts several weeks or months will likely not go away without medical intervention, most especially if your neck pain originated from a traumatic incident, such as a fall or a vehicular accident. Delaying treatment could lead to long-term problems. Patients with neck problems in the early stages who seek treatment tend to have better treatment outcomes. Delaying treatment will cause unnecessary discomfort and will likely require more extensive treatment for relief.
#2 The Inability to Move Your Neck
If you are unable to turn your head from side to side without feeling pain, it’s best to have your neck evaluated by a neurosurgeon. You may have damaged the soft tissues in your neck, which, in turn, can affect the vertebral column. You may also have a herniated cervical disc. Regardless of the cause, the inability to move your neck can cause you to refrain from activities you enjoy. It may even prevent you from working. It can significantly reduce your quality of life.
#3 It Does Not Improve with Physical Therapy and Steroid Injections
Physical therapy is a conservative treatment for neck pain, while steroid injections are a minimally invasive approach. When combined, patients should experience relief from neck pain, reduced inflammation, and improved flexibility and range of motion. However, if both methods do not help improve your neck pain, you may need more sophisticated treatment by an expert.
A neurosurgeon is highly experienced in spine procedures such as discectomy (the removal of herniated disc), spinal fusion (fuse together two vertebrae to prevent motion), and artificial disc replacement (replacing a damaged disc with an artificial one), which can all help relieve neck pain.
#4 Neck Pain Keeps You Up At Night
Sleep is your body’s time to heal, repair, and restore energy. Being unable to sleep due to neck pain can increase health risks. A neurosurgeon can relieve your pain and help you get the quality sleep you need.
Neurosurgeon Near Me in Lone Tree, CO
At Front Range Spine and Neurosurgery, we can get to the root of your neck pain and provide expert treatment for immediate and lasting relief. Our board-certified neurosurgeons have decades of experience treating spinal conditions. One of our neurosurgeons, Dr. Michael Rauzzino, is widely recognized in the medical community for his surgical skills and pioneered minimally invasive techniques used in spinal surgeries today.
Find out your options for neck pain treatment. To request an appointment with one of our neurosurgeons, call us at (303) 790-1800 or use our appointment request form. For your convenience, we have offices in Lone Tree, Parker, Colorado Springs, and Aurora.
