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• Chronic Neck Pain

Chronic Neck Pain

Neck pain that lasts longer than three months is considered chronic neck pain. It is different from acute neck pain, which occurs suddenly and usually is caused by muscle strain or ligament sprain. Long-term pain originating from the neck should not be ignored, as it can be a sign of upper spinal degeneration or other problems within the cervical vertebrae.

Chronic neck pain caused by a compressed cervical nerve root can be intermittent or constant, localized or radiating into other portions of the upper body. It can be symptomatic of several degenerative conditions, such as cervical spinal stenosis, cervical spondylosis, herniated disc, bulging disc, degenerative disc disease or other conditions.

If you experience chronic neck pain, you should consult your doctor and be prepared to answer questions about the duration and severity of your symptoms. In addition to asking those questions, medical professionals may also use the following methods to diagnose neck pain causes:

• A physical exam
• A neurological exam
• Blood testing
• Spinal imaging, such as MRI, CT scan or X-ray
• Other tests, such as a bone scan, electromyography (EMG), discogram or myelogram

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Depending on the diagnosis, most neck pain symptoms can be managed through a non-surgical, or conservative, course of treatment. This can include physical therapy for neck pain, over-the-counter or prescription pain medicine, anti-inflammatory injections or other forms of treatment. If the conservative approach does little to diminish the pain or increase your mobility, your doctor may suggest surgery as an option.

Fortunately, there is an alternative to traditional open-neck or open-back surgery. The award-winning surgeons at Laser Spine Institute (LSI) can treat chronic neck pain using minimally invasive, outpatient procedures that can help you quickly regain your life. Contact LSI for a free review of your CT scan or MRI, or to learn how our gentle, endoscopic techniques can help you rediscover a life without pain.

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