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• Treat Neck Pain

How to Treat Neck Pain

Millions of people across the world suffer from neck pain, though very few know how to treat neck pain. The neck and upper back are referred to as the cervical region of the spine. This area is extremely important because the neck not only supports the head, but it also enables a range of head movements and protects the spinal cord’s connection to the brain.

Traveling Symptoms

When learning how to treat neck pain, it is also important to remember that the spinal nerves passing through the cervical vertebrae control a diverse set of muscles and reflexes in the upper body. This means that, even though you may be suffering from a spine condition in the area of your neck, you may actually feel the pain in your arms or fingers. There are seven vertebrae in the cervical region of the spine—let’s look at what functions each level controls:

• C-1 and C-2 - these are commonly called the atlas and the axis vertebrae; the atlas supports the head and connects to the axis, which is how the skull and the spine are joined together. These two vertebrae are not separated by an intervertebral disc. Symptoms of damage to the nerves in this area can result in anything from a headache to paralysis.
• C-3 - this vertebra is next to spinal nerves that control the diaphragm.
• C-4 - this vertebra surrounds spinal nerves that control muscles of the upper body, such as the biceps and the deltoids. If you have sustained disc damage in this region, you may feel neck pain or experience muscle weakness that radiates from the upper back down through the arms.
• C-5 and C-6 - these vertebrae surround nerves that send signals to and from the wrists. Damage to these nerves can result in pain, general weakness, and loss of feeling, accompanied by a decrease in wrist mobility.
• C-7 - these spinal nerves send and receive sensory impulses from the triceps, which are the muscles on the back of the upper arm. You may feel localized pain, tingling, or traveling pain if these nerves are compressed.
• C-8 - the last vertebra of the cervical region surrounds the spinal nerves that control the hands. Damage in this region may result in a “pins-and-needles” feeling, which is similar to the feeling you have when your hand “falls asleep.”

Outpatient, Endoscopic Procedures for the Neck & Back

Click Here to see how you can get your life back in 5 days

If you have experienced any of these symptoms, you may have damage or degeneration in the cervical area of your spine. The experts at Laser Spine Institute (LSI) offer the latest technologies in treating cervical spine conditions like herniated disc, bulging disc, spinal stenosis, and many more. Contact us today about our minimally invasive, endoscopic procedures that have helped tens of thousands of people rediscover a life without pain. We also can provide you with a free review of your CT scan or MRI.

Please note: Laser Spine Institute currently does not perform endoscopic procedures on the thoracic spine.