FAQs on Neck Pain:

By Joseph Agnello, PT, Cert. MDT

What causes neck pain?

Your neck is made up of vertebrae and it includes an intricate maze of nerves, muscles, and bones that support your head and connects your cervical spine to the base of your skull. Any abnormalities, inflammation, or injury can cause neck pain or stiffness. Acute neck pain comes on suddenly and may result from an accident or injury. Chronic neck pain lasts much longer, sometimes over the course of several months or years.

What are the common causes of neck pain?

Your neck is made up of vertebrae and it includes an intricate maze of nerves, muscles, and bones that support your head and connects your cervical spine to the base of your skull. Any abnormalities, inflammation, or injury can cause neck pain or stiffness. Acute neck pain comes on suddenly and may result from an accident or injury. Chronic neck pain lasts much longer, sometimes over the course of several months or years.

What are the common causes of neck pain?

The team of expert physical therapists at Agnello Spine & Sports Physical Therapy treat acute and chronic lower back pain due to a variety of different causes. Some of the more common causes of lower back pain are: 

• Trauma or injury: A sudden impact or a blow to the neck or shoulders can cause neck pain.
• Posture: Constant slouching or poor posture puts pressure on the spine and causes pain. It can also happen when you work at a desk for too long without changing position, sleeping in a bad position or sudden jerking the neck, commonly called as Whiplash.
• Disc problems: As you age, disc degeneration or herniated discs can create chronic neck and back pain. This is known as spondylosis or osteoarthritis of the neck. This constricts the space between the vertebrae and adds stress to the joints in your neck.
• Jaw problems: Neck pain can also develop as the result of jaw problems, like teeth grinding or temporomandibular joint (TMJ or TMD) syndrome.
• Spinal stenosis: This happens when pressure on created on the spinal cord due to the narrowing of the spinal column.
• Arthritis: This chronic condition causes inflammation, swelling and bone spurs in the neck area, which creates persistent pain.

How is neck pain diagnosed and treated?

As with any problem in your spine, you should seek help at the first signs of neck pain. Neck pain isn’t always a serious problem, but if you have sudden pain from an injury or chronic pain that has lasted longer than a few weeks, treatment at Agnello Spine & Sports Physical Therapy can help. With over 20 years of experience, Joe Agnello, PT understands how your spine functions and the far-reaching effect it can have on your entire musculoskeletal system. It starts with relieving your symptoms and helping you recover flexibility and mobility in your muscles and joints.

To diagnose your neck pain, Joe Agnello performs the following: 

• A thorough review of your symptoms and pain patterns, using the McKenzie system
• A physical examination including a functional analysis of your spine
• A functional evaluation of your core and individual strength which may include muscle strength tests, joint motion tests, sensory and neurological tests, coordination tests, balance tests, flexibility tests, postural assessment and movement analysis. 
• A check of your medical history
• Diagnostic imaging, including ultrasound

Once he targets your problem, Joe Agnello has several tools at his disposal to provide you with both short-term relief and long-term management, including: 

• Ultrasound or fluoroscopically-guided injections for pain and inflammation
• Manual medicine and adjustments
• Functional rehabilitation, including lifestyle changes
• Regenerative medicine, including platelet-rich plasma and stem cell therapy
• Prescription medications, only when needed
• At-home exercise plan to strengthen your neck
• Surgical referral, if necessary

What results can I expect?

Recovery from neck pain is different from one individual to the next. The expert team at Agnello Spine & Sports Physical Therapy can adjust your treatment plan as you go along, to ensure the best results. Many patients experience immediate relief from pain and can recover a full range of motion over time. Without the need for surgery or drugs, physical therapy makes it possible to be completely free from neck pain.

Rest assured, Joe Agnello shares your goals for healing and works diligently to help you find relief from your acute or chronic neck pain. Don’t let neck pain get in the way of enjoying life. Call Agnello Spine & Sports Physical Therapy or book an appointment online to get back in action.