Neck pain is a common problem for many women and men, caused by injury, degenerative conditions, wear and tear, or even poor posture. While surgery is one possible treatment for some types of chronic neck pain, many people can avoid surgery and find relief from noninvasive or minimally invasive treatments.
At Superior Pain Relief, Zaid Malik, MD, and his team offer patient-centered therapies for chronic neck pain to help you find long-lasting relief. Here, learn about five nonsurgical therapies that could help you.
This approach uses radiofrequency (RF) energy waves to target nerves in your neck, interrupting pain signals to your brain. RF energy emits heat, and when directed to specific nerve endings, that heat causes controlled damage that blocks pain signals in that area.
During radiofrequency ablation treatment, Dr. Malik inserts a special needle probe using diagnostic imaging to guide its placement. Once it reaches the target nerve, the probe emits RF energy in a prescribed manner based on your needs. Recovery time is minimal, and many patients find immediate relief from their painful symptoms.
These injections are commonly used to treat pain in different areas of the spine and along other nerve pathways. Cervical epidural injection treatments are designed specifically for pain in your neck — the area of your spine called the cervical spine.
During a cervical epidural injection, Dr. Malik uses a special needle to inject medication designed to relieve chronic inflammation and pain caused by herniated discs, nerve impingement, or other issues. He injects the medication into the epidural space, the area surrounding the nerves in your spine.
The injections are associated with rapid pain relief that can last for months.
Your spine is composed of a series of bones, or vertebrae, separated by joints called facet joints. Like other joints in your body, facet joints can develop painful conditions, including arthritis and other problems due to injuries or wear and tear.
Facet joint injections target these joints, delivering medications designed to relieve both pain and swelling or inflammation in and around the joint. Injections can also be used to help Dr. Malik pinpoint the precise location of your pain source.
Most patients experience symptom relief that can last for months, and like the other treatments on this list, injections can be repeated for long-term symptom relief.
Trigger point injections target painful muscle knots or trigger points, focused areas of tight, stiff, sore muscles that cause pain in your neck and other areas like your shoulders or arms. The muscles that support your neck are especially prone to painful tightness, thanks to poor posture, chronic tension or stress, or hours spent hunched over a phone or computer screen.
Trigger point injections are quick, and they provide fast relief. Injections feature special medications to relieve pain while also helping the muscle tissue relax. Plus, they can be repeated as needed for ongoing relief.
Physical therapy is completely noninvasive, instead relying on exercises, stretching, and other techniques designed to relieve pain, improve neck mobility, and support tissue healing. Therapy routines are customized on an individual basis, and regular assessments enable your therapist to adjust your treatment as needed for ongoing benefits.
In addition to on-site therapy, you have at-home exercises to help maintain your progress, along with guidance to help you develop healthy habits focused on reducing your risk of neck pain and stiffness in the future. Best of all, physical therapy can be used with any of the other techniques on this list for even better results.
Without treatment, neck pain can cause permanent nerve damage and lifelong pain and immobility. To learn how we can help you relieve your symptoms and protect your health and wellness, request an appointment online or over the phone with Dr. Malik and the team at Superior Pain Relief in Houston, Baytown, Willis, and The Woodlands, Texas.
