Sources of neck problems
Eight in 10 Americans will experience back or neck pain at some point in their lives, but finding the source of this pain remains key in returning people back to their normal activities. Spinal abnormalities fall into two categories: mechanical and neurological.
Mechanical abnormalities, often caused by poor habits or health, place stress on the muscles of the vertebral column and are responsible for most back and neck pain. The goal of treating mechanical abnormalities is maximizing the health of the spine by stabilizing its biomechanical parts.
Neurological abnormalities involve nerve root pain or injury, spinal cord compression, sciatica or tumors. Because the pain generator may not be obvious, the goal of diagnosing neurological abnormalities is to observe patterns of nerve damage by using peripheral nerve root blocks, facet blocks or discography.
Non-surgical treatments
Most commonly, the symptoms are temporary and can be treated successfully with nonsurgical care (such as medication, physical therapy, manipulations and acupuncture). Meditation under supervision is now an emerging alternative.
Work-stress-related neck pain is typically traceable if the pain occurs in the morning and increases through the day in office but lessens when back home. It is often relieved by a combination of learning to free the mind from office load once back home, and going on a cell-phone-off holiday with the family.
When surgery is needed
Neck pain that develops slowly (often over a number of years) and tends to occur during or after certain activities or neck positions is frequently caused by cervical foraminal stenosis. This type of spinal stenosis is caused by wear or aging related changes in the joints of the neck (facet joints) or at the margins of the discs. These changes may be diagnosed by either an MRI or a CT scan with a myelogram.
Risks
As with any surgery, there are general and specific risks associated with spinal surgery. General risks include possible complications with the heart, lungs, excessive bleeding or infection. The specific risks to spinal surgery include a feeling of numbness and tingling, or continued pain around the affected area of the spine.
Benefits
Since neck surgery is advised only exceptionally when all methods fail to alleviate the problem, the largest benefit of neck surgery is that in a persistent situation, this is the fastest method of getting back to normal work mode and receive the best level of comfort.
Specialists in Houston
Lan K Nguyen MD – Non-Surgical Spine Specialist (281) 955-7577.
Andrew P Kent and Thomas J Cartwright, P.A, 17270 Red Oak Dr. Suite 200, Houston
Mischer Neuroscience Institute has back pain specialists ready to help you. They will help you understand your back pain treatment options – both non-invasive treatments and minimally invasive back surgery.
These include:
Michele M. Johnson, M.D.
Dr. Baraa Al-Hafez
Dr. Paul Boone, M.D.
Dr. Joseph C. Hsieh, M.D.
Dr. Daniel Kim, M.D., FACS
Dr. Scott Shepard, M.D.
Dr. Geoffrey P. Zubay, M.D., F.A.C.S.
