Neck Pain
What could be causing my neck pain?
Neck pain that comes on suddenly is usually due to acute injuries such as injured discs or torn muscles. Common causes of acute neck pain include sports injuries, falls, improper lifting techniques, and overexertion.
You can also develop long-term neck pain from repetitive strain or by engaging in the activities that cause acute pain. Repeating the same movements over extended periods can irritate and inflame tissues in and around your spine, leading to neck pain and soreness that worsen when you perform contributing activities. Neck pain is also results from age-related deterioration.This includes conditions such as osteoarthritis, degenerative disc disease, spinal stenosis, spondylolisthesis, and vertebral compression fractures resulting from osteoporosis. Disc herniation can also occur due to age-related deterioration.
Other causes of neck pain like spinal abnormalities, including scoliosis, which is characterized by a left and/or curvature of the spine. In addition, spinal cord injuries, tumors, and internal diseases, such as kidney infections, can also lead to neck pain.
What is degenerative disc disease?
Disc degeneration can be caused by several factors. Degenerative disc disease (DDD) refers to the deterioration of the intervertebral discs as you age, experience trauma, or from congenital circumstances. Intervertebral discs separate the bones (vertebrae) in your spine, acting as cushions and shock absorbers. These discs also enable you to bend and twist your neck with ease.
As you get older, the intervertebral discs begin to collapse due to the loss of collagen fibers and water, affecting the space between the spinal bones. Typically, the pain from DDD is most noticeable when bending forward, sitting, and sitting while bent forward.
Degenerative disc disease may also lead to other neck problems that cause pain, such as disc herniation, spinal stenosis (narrowing in the spine), or spondylolisthesis (vertebral bone displacement).
Most people aged 40 and older experience some degree of disc degeneration, however not everyone develops pain. We treat patients based upon their physical examination, MRI results, and presentation. We do not make a diagnosis based solely on imaging.
What is slipped disc, formally known as disc protrusion and herniation?
A disc protrusion is a milder form of herniation, usually caused by microscopic injury to the outer ring of the disc (annulus). Intervertebral discs separate and cushion the space between each vertebrae. These discs have a tough exterior and a gel-like interior.
Disc herniation refers to the gel-like material in the intervertebral disc pushing against the outer ring of connective tissue that surrounds the entire disc. The displaced disc material may irritate or compress a spinal nerve or the spinal cord, resulting in pain.
You can develop disc protrusion and herniation following an acute injury, such as a car accident or heavy lifting. However, you’re more likely to sustain a disc injury as you get older due to age-related degenerative changes, making the discs more vulnerable to tears and herniations.
Can I have pain that radiates into my legs with disc herniation?
If you have disc protrusion and herniation in the neck (cervical spine), it may irritate the nerve roots that exit the spine through the foramen. This can cause pain that radiates down the front, side, or back of the neck.
What is facet joint pain?
The facet joints are small joints, about the size of knuckles, and are located on the neck of the spine. These joints take on about 15% of the spine’s weight load. When a disc herniation or degenerative disc disease (DDD) develops and the disc becomes thinner, the top portion of the facet joint moves closer to the bottom portion of the joint. Over time, this process can lead to the development of arthritis. It can be likened to developing potholes in the road. Arthritis results in exposed bone with free nerve endings that can transmit pain.
What is stenosis of the central canal and lateral recess/foramen?
Central canal stenosis refers to the narrowing of the central spinal canal, which houses the spinal cord. Lateral recess stenosis, also known as foraminal stenosis, refers to the narrowing of the space within the intervertebral foramen, which is the area where the nerve root exits the spinal column.
Central canal stenosis and lateral recess/foraminal stenosis can be caused by a number of conditions, including congenital narrowing, aging, injuries, diseases, and trauma. These conditions often result in irritation of the spinal cord and/or nerve roots, which can cause neck and arm pain.
How does BioInfinity diagnose neck pain?
The Bioinfinity Regenerative Medicine team has extensive experience diagnosing neck pain. We review your medical history, complete a physical exam, and discuss your symptoms. Imaging procedures such as an MRI, CT scan, or X-rays are often needed to all your provider to view the bones and tissues in your spine, enabling them to identify the cause of your neck pain.
