Neck Pain

Almost half of adults have frequent or chronic neck pain. If moving your neck makes you wince, or if neck pain causes problems for your regular routine, interventional pain and sports medicine physician Shady Hassan, MD, can help. 

At Hassan Spine & Sports Medicine, with locations in Old Bridge, Jersey City, and South Plainfield, you’ll find complete care for neck pain, so don’t wait to click the online scheduler or call the office nearest you.

Neck Pain Q&A

What causes neck pain?

Neck pain has many causes, including:

Bulging cervical disc

Discs are the gel-filled cushions between your spinal vertebrae, and they lose moisture over time, which leads to stiffening. Sometimes this can cause bulging in the outermost disc layer. The disc can protrude into the spinal canal, irritating the nerves and causing pain.

Herniated cervical disc

When discs develop cracks in their outer shell, the gel within the disc can squeeze out. Usually, a herniated disc is more painful than a bulging disc because the extruded contents push out farther into the spinal canal to aggravate your nerve roots.

Cervical disc degeneration

Cervical disc degeneration, also called neck arthritis or cervical spondylosis, can develop when the neck discs thin over time. This can cause vertebrae to connect, bone-on-bone, causing neck pain.

Neck trauma or injury

Neck trauma and injury can occur in many ways, including sports injuries and auto accidents. The neck damage can range from sprains and strains to fractures and other more severe problems.

Cervical radiculopathy

Cervical radiculopathy occurs when a nerve in your neck is pinched in the spot where it splits off from your spine. This nerve compression often causes not only neck pain but also shoulder pain and arm pain, or radiating pain.

Although it’s uncommon, tumors and infections may also cause neck pain.

When should I see the doctor for neck pain?

Some causes of neck pain, such as mild strains or tension, usually abate within a couple of days. If your neck pain continues for more than a couple of weeks, and at-home care like over-the-counter medication, ice packs, and moist heat don’t help, call Dr. Hassan as soon as possible. 

Of course, if you suffer a severe traumatic neck injury of any type, it’s important to call the sports medicine and pain management experts at Hassan Spine & Sports Medicine immediately.

How is neck pain treated?

At Hassan Spine & Sports Medicine, Dr. Hassan starts with an exam and testing to identify the neck pain trigger. He works with you to create a carefully customized treatment plan, one that focuses on nonsurgical and minimally invasive relief instead of invasive surgery. Some of the many different options for neck pain treatment include:

• Epidural injections

• Facet joint injections

• Radiofrequency ablation

• Intradiscal steroid injections

• Peripheral joint injections

• Regenerative medicine: Stem cell or platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections
  

If you have lingering neck pain, you may need minimally invasive surgery, such as kyphoplasty or surgical spinal decompression, to achieve permanent relief. Dr. Hassan uses the most innovative state-of-the-art techniques to give you the fastest results and maximum recovery success.If you have debilitating neck pain, Hassan Spine & Sports Medicine has solutions. Call the office nearest you or book an appointment through online booking now.