Chronic Neck Pain Causes and Treatments
Have you been struggling with neck pain consistently for the past three months (or longer)? If so, you may be suffering from chronic neck pain. While it’s common, this condition can be debilitating, especially if it’s left untreated.
To understand the best way to treat chronic neck pain, it’s first essential to determine its cause. In this article, we’ll discuss the potential causes and treatments for chronic neck pain to help you find the relief you deserve.
What Causes Chronic Neck Pain?
Some of the most common causes of chronic neck pain are:
- Spinal osteoarthritis: Osteoarthritis (commonly called wear and tear arthritis) can affect the facet joints of the cervical spine. This condition can lead to chronic neck pain by damaging the cartilage that cushions the spinal joints.
- Degenerative disc disease: Degenerative disc disease results from gradual strain on the spinal discs, which cushion the vertebrae. This condition can cause lasting pain in the neck due to inflammation, nerve damage, or bone spurs.
- Herniated disc: A herniated disc is a damaged spinal disc. Typically, the disc weakens or thins due to age or overuse, causing the soft disc interior to press out through a crack in the disc exterior. The damaged disc can press on nerves in the cervical spine, leading to lasting neck pain.
- Muscular pain: While muscular pain is typically acute, meaning that it resolves within a few days or weeks, it can be chronic in some cases. Poor posture, imbalanced movement patterns, and overuse can trigger chronic muscular pain in the neck.
Chronic Neck Pain Treatments
Some cases of chronic neck pain are effectively resolved with a combination of conservative treatments, such as physical therapy, lifestyle adjustments, acupuncture, massage therapy, and medications. If these treatments fail after several months or years, surgery may be suggested.
Regenerative therapies like stem cell and PRP therapy can stimulate the body’s healing process, allowing it to restore damaged tissue in the neck. These therapies may be used as an alternative to surgery for some patients, granting them a lower risk of complications and a shorter recovery.
If you’re experiencing chronic neck pain, browse the Regenerative Medicine Now database to find a qualified regenerative physician in your area.
