Why Does My Neck Hurt So Much?

Your neck doesn’t have as much support as the rest of your spine. It consists of seven stacked vertebrae called the cervical spine, along with supportive muscles and ligaments around it. Intervertebral discs sit between your vertebrae to absorb shock when your neck rotates and bends. 

Any of the structures within your neck can withstand injury, leading to neck pain. Whether it’s temporary or long-term, neck pain can keep you from turning your head and impede many daily tasks. 

If you’re experiencing neck pain, double board-certified pain management specialist Glenn M. Flanagan, MD, is prepared to evaluate your neck musculature to identify injuries or conditions. Naples Regenerative Institute offers evidence-based restorative therapies to people of all ages with neck pain in Naples, Florida. 

Behaviors that lead to neck pain

Sometimes, it’s clear what causes your neck pain. Whiplash injuries during car accidents, for example, commonly lead to it. But the cause of chronic neck pain can be more difficult to find. 

Dr. Flanagan routinely sees patients with loss of cervical lordosis, or reduced curvature in the portion of the spine in the neck. Normally, your cervical spine has a C-shaped curvature. But that curvature can straighten over time, making it more difficult for your neck muscles to support the weight of your head. As a result, certain muscles withstand strain and spinal complications. 

To avoid loss of cervical lordosis or to correct it if it’s already started, you should avoid neck flexion and a head-forward posture. It can be easy to fall into these positions while working at a desk or behind a steering wheel, but being mindful of your posture throughout the day can help you avoid putting your neck at risk of injury. 

Exploring solutions for your neck pain 

There are numerous injuries and conditions that can arise suddenly, like in an accident. Dr. Flanagan prides himself in finding a minimally invasive treatment for every patient experiencing neck pain. 

Many cases of neck pain benefit from therapeutic exercises, like chin tucks and pulling exercises, which strengthen the muscles that support your neck. 

Your treatment recommendations depend on Dr. Flanagan’s findings during your initial evaluation. Here are some considerations:

For whiplash injuries

Whiplash injuries happen when you strain or sprain the muscles or ligaments in your neck because of a sudden jerking motion. These injuries also destabilize your vertebral joints and discs, increasing your risk of chronic pain.

Whiplash injuries often benefit from self-healing injections such as prolotherapy, platelet-rich plasma (PRP), and bone marrow aspirate concentrate (BMAC) stem cell treatments. 

For nerve root irritation

Many neck conditions irritate the nerve roots exiting your spinal cord, causing radiculopathy, which can feel like pain, burning, numbness, or tingling. Conditions like herniated discs and spinal stenosis often benefit from PRP injections or low-dose epidural steroid injections. 

For muscle spasms

Muscle spasms in the neck are common. These involuntary muscle contractions are painful and often due to musculoskeletal injuries.

Dr. Flanagan uses trigger point injections with local anesthesia to relieve the spasms and improve blood circulation. Additional treatments, like prolotherapy and PRP, can restore strength and blood flow to injured muscles. 

Naples Regenerative Institute also offers Multiwave Locked System (MLS®) Laser Therapy, a new minimally invasive treatment to reduce musculoskeletal pain and inflammation. This therapy may reduce spasms, radiculopathy, and neck pain caused by whiplash. 

Visit us today

To schedule an appointment at Naples Regenerative Institute for neck pain, call the office or click the online booking button at your earliest convenience.