The methods used to achieve neck relief depend on the cause and severity of the discomfort. Most neck discomfort can be managed using medicine like ibuprofen or acetaminophen, which are effective for treating the most common causes of neck pain – muscle strains or ligament sprains. Using over-the-counter medications will help a neck pain sufferer function somewhat normally as the strain or sprain heals.
However, the symptoms produced by some cervical spine conditions, such as a herniated disc, often require more effort to find neck relief. These symptoms are produced by the irritation or impingement of a nerve root. When nerve compression occurs within the cervical spine, the neck, shoulders, arms, hands, and fingers can be subjected to symptoms that include localized pain, radiating pain, tingling, numbness, or muscle weakness.
More often than not, the symptoms produced by a compressed nerve root within the cervical spine can be managed through a course of conservative treatment including exercise, physical therapy, pain medicine, rest, or behavior modification.
Long-term neck relief might not be possible through conservative treatment, in which case a doctor might suggest surgery as an option. Traditional neck surgery is generally associated with a long hospital stay and a lengthy recuperation. It can also involve major procedures such as vertebral fusion and disc replacement, typically accompanied by a bone graft. These procedures do not guarantee lasting relief from neck pain.
Laser Spine Institute (LSI) offers a gentle, endoscopic alternative. The surgeons at LSI perform minimally invasive, outpatient procedures to help patients achieve back and neck pain relief. Contact LSI for more information about neck relief or for a free review of your CT scan or MRI.
