When to Seek Expert Care for Chronic Neck Pain and Tension

Chronic neck pain is a reality for many people, especially those who work long hours sitting at the computer or those with neck injuries. Unfortunately, home care, such as over-the-counter pain relievers, and random stretches might not make much difference for your chronic neck pain and tension. 

Double board-certified pain management specialist and leading regenerative orthopedic physician Glenn M. Flanagan, MD, can help you better understand and manage your chronic neck pain at Naples Regenerative Institute in Naples, Florida. 

Dr. Flanagan specializes in today’s leading nonsurgical treatments for neck pain, including platelet-rich plasma (PRP),Bone marrow concentrate (BMAC), epidural injections, prolotherapy, MLS laser therapy, facet joint injections, and radiofrequency ablation. Read on to find out when you should consider taking the next step by contacting our office. 

Causes of chronic neck pain

Chronic neck pain is often first felt as muscle tension. The muscles in your neck can become tense for many reasons, and you might not even notice them at first.  

You might have chronic neck tension because of:

• Stress
• Grinding your teeth
• Poor posture, especially if you hunch over a desk computer all day
• Too much time looking at a cell phone or tablet
• Poor sleeping positions
• Working out incorrectly
• Injuries

You can also develop chronic neck pain after an injury to the muscles, cervical discs, facet joints or other structures in your neck. Compressed nerves may cause shooting pains.

Aging tends to make matters worse, as your neck muscles weaken and spinal discs wear down over time and you become more prone to problems like osteoarthritis and herniated discs.  

What you can do at home

Acute or short-term neck pain usually resolves after a few days of rest and home care, but chronic pain is persistent. Still, you might try a few home care strategies at first. 

Your first instinct might be to reach for any over-the-counter pain reliever. These can offer a temporary reduction in your neck pain, but only mask the underlying problem.

You might also find some relief from neck pain by alternating between a heating pad and a cold pack to soothe your sore neck muscles. 

Stress reduction techniques, like mindfulness or meditation, can also relieve some of the tension. Simply learning how to breathe properly has been shown to reduce neck and low back pain.

The best time to consult an expert 

Consider calling Naples Regenerative Institute to discuss treatments for chronic neck pain if it doesn’t respond to at-home therapies or gets worse. 

Dr. Flanagan also encourages you to talk to him about your neck pain if it regularly keeps you from work or prevents you from enjoying your favorite activities.

In rarer cases, neck pain requires urgent medical attention. Get help right away if your neck pain:

• Starts or escalates after an accident
• Comes with chills or a fever (signs of an infection)
• Comes with arm muscle weakness or numbness
• Comes with leg weakness or trouble walking
• Stops you from being able to touch your chin to your chest
• Comes with a headache, light sensitivity, and dizziness

When you visit Naples Regenerative Institute, Dr. Flanagan helps uncover the cause of your chronic neck pain. He creates an individualized care plan to help you manage your pain and prevent future neck tension. It often is helpful to see Dr. Flanagan for consultation before you’ve suffered for too long, and before the pain is too severe, to help get things moving in the right direction before you need more urgent treatments. 

If your neck pain is long-lasting and doesn’t improve with time, don’t hesitate to get in touch with an expert. Call Naples Regenerative Institute or request an appointment online today.