Neck Pain Conditions

Most Common Neck Pain Conditions

Neck pain is extremely common and can occur in any age group. Patients will usually experience a dull ache around the neck or shoulder blades, or sharp pain or numbness in the shoulder, arm or hand. Headaches frequently occur as a result of neck pain.

Conditions that cause neck pain include:

Bulging or Herniated Discs – Pain and/or numbness usually travels into the arm or hand. Patient may experience arm tingling, numbness or weakness.
Cervical Radiculopathy – Herniated discs in the neck “pinch” nerves and cause pain and numbness in the arm.
Cervical Spinal Stenosis – Neck pain, shoulder weakness and numbness. Patients may experience loss of balance and dizziness.
Facet Joint Arthritis – Neck pain that travels into the shoulder and into the scalp. Patient may experience headaches.
Cervical Degenerative Disc Disease – Neck pain that may travel into the shoulder, arm or hand. Patient may experience stiffness and difficulty turning the head.

We offer Neck Pain Treatments in our Manhattan and Brooklyn locations. The evaluation and treatment of neck pain conditions is covered by all health insurance plans.

The physicians at Unique Pain Medicine of New York will find the reason for your neck pain, and will offer the most effective treatment to eliminate it!

Below are some some of the most common neck pain conditions. The best way to treat neck pain is with a proper diagnosis. Our team of award winning doctors will work with you to find the the root cause of your neck pain and provide the correct treatment.

Cervical Bulging / Herniated Discs

A bulging disc occurs when a weakened disc shifts outside of its normal housing between bones. Discs are made up of jelly like material. When discs herniate, this material leaks out and comes into contact with nerves, causing symptoms. This usually occurs gradually as we age, or as a result of an acute injury or trauma.

Bulging discs are common and only require treatment when they produce symptoms. Symptoms include:

Neck pain or stiffness.
Pain, tingling, numbness or weakness that radiates into the arm or hand.
Pain or weakness in the back of the shoulder blade.

Cervical Radiculopathy – Pain, numbness or weakness in the shoulder, arm, and/or fingers.

This is usually secondary to a herniated disc in the cervical spine. The nerves that exit the neck become “pinched” and inflamed. Patients often experience pain, numbness, tingling and weakness in the arm and hand. It is common for the fingers to go numb.

If cervical herniated discs are causing symptoms, they require an evaluation and possible treatment. This is important in order to prevent further progression of the disease.

How do you diagnose a cervical herniated disc?

An MRI should be ordered if a cervical herniated disc is suspected. This will reveal which discs are involved and to what degree.

How do you treat herniated disc?

Herniated discs only need treatment if they are causing symptoms. Conservative measures include rest, physical therapy, and anti-inflammatory medications. If conservative measures fail, or if pain is severe, an epidural steroid injection is attempted. If all conservative treatments fail, surgery may be warranted, although this is rare.

How long does it take for a herniated disc to heal?

Pain from a herniated disc may take from a few weeks to several months to improve, depending on the treatment course selected and the degree of nerve involvement.

How do you know if you have a herniated disc?

If you have symptoms of a herniated disc, your doctor should order an MRI, which will confirm the diagnosis.

What causes a herniated disc?

Herniated discs can occur slowly due to age related changes, due to trauma or accident, from a sports injury or lifting heavy weights, or from being over-weight.

Can a herniated disc in the neck heal itself?

It is not likely for a herniated disc to heal itself. However, old herniated discs usually do not cause any symptoms unless the nerves around the disc become inflamed.

Can a cervical bulging disc cause headaches and dizziness?

Yes, bulging discs in the neck can cause headaches and dizziness. This is secondary to arthritis of the cervical spine.

Can a herniated disc be fixed without surgery?

Yes! In fact, surgery is rarely warranted. Physical therapy, rest, anti-inflammatory medication and injection therapy will usually resolve the episode.

Is a bulging disc serious?

A bulging disc is not a life-threatening condition, but it can cause severe pain, immobility, and decreased quality of life.

Treatments for Cervical Radiculopathy and Herniated Discs include:

Physical Therapy
Anti-inflammatory medications and nerve pain medication
Cervical Epidural Steroid Injection – an injection of steroid medication into the cervical epidural space. This greatly decreases pain, swelling and inflammation in the cervical spine. This is a potentially surgery saving procedure.

What is a cervical epidural steroid injection?

Patients typically feel a noticeable improvement within a few days, although some experience relief even sooner. The goal is to calm the irritated nerves so they can function normally again, reducing pain that travels into the shoulders, arms, or hands.

During the procedure, the doctor uses imaging guidance—usually fluoroscopy—to ensure the medication is placed accurately around the affected cervical nerves. This improves both the safety and effectiveness of the injection.

Epidural steroid injections are also helpful because they can delay or completely avoid the need for surgery. Many patients find that once the inflammation settles, physical therapy and normal daily movements become much easier.

Although complications are rare, patients may feel mild soreness at the injection site for a few hours. Most people return to work and normal activity the same day, making this a convenient and practical treatment option for cervical disc-related pain.

Treatments for Cervical Radiculopathy and Herniated Discs include:

Physical Therapy
Anti-inflammatory medications and nerve pain medication
Cervical Epidural Steroid Injection – an injection of steroid medication into the cervical epidural space. This greatly decreases pain, swelling and inflammation in the cervical spine. This is a potentially surgery saving procedure.

Cervical Degenerative Disc Disease

Cervical degenerative disc disease occurs when the discs in the neck lose hydration and height over time. These discs act as cushions between the vertebrae, so when they wear down, they can no longer absorb shock effectively. This can lead to stiffness, pain, and irritation of nearby nerves.

As the discs degenerate, the surrounding joints may also become arthritic. Bone spurs can form as the body tries to stabilize the spine, but these spurs can narrow the space where nerves exit the spine. This narrowing, known as foraminal stenosis, is a common cause of radiating pain into the shoulders and arms.

Conservative treatments are the first step. These include anti-inflammatory medications, physical therapy focused on posture and strengthening, and activity modification. Many patients improve with these approaches, especially when combined with ergonomic adjustments at work or home.

When symptoms persist despite conservative care, targeted interventions like cervical epidural steroid injections can provide relief. By reducing inflammation around irritated nerves, these injections often help patients regain mobility and reduce radiating arm pain. They can be repeated if needed and may prevent the need for surgery.

Long-term management focuses on maintaining good posture, strengthening the neck and upper back muscles, and avoiding repetitive strain. Regular exercise and proper workstation setup can significantly slow the progression of cervical DDD and reduce flare-ups.

What causes cervical degenerative disc disease?

There are many causes, but the most common include normal aging, trauma, obesity, smoking, genetic and rheumatologic.

What kind of doctor treats cervical disc degenerative disease?

Pain management doctors can successfully treat this condition, help manage symptoms and prevent progression.

Treatments for Cervical Degenerative Disc Disease include:

Cervical Epidural Steroid Injection
Medial branch block / Facet injection
Radiofrequency ablation
Physical Therapy
Anti-inflammatory medications

Facet Joint Arthritis

Cervical facet joint arthritis or arthropathy is a common cause of neck pain and neck stiffness due to degeneration and arthritis in the cervical spine. The neck pain associated with this condition usually does not radiate into the arms. This condition sometimes causes headaches, as the nerves that travel into the head are affected. The pain is usually described as dull and achy, and it may be difficult to turn your head to the affected side. The pain can radiate into the back of the shoulder blade. Range of motion is typically decreased. This can occur in professionals who spend a lot of time in front of a computer.

Can facet joint arthritis be cured?

While facet joint arthritis cannot be cured completely, there are various treatment options that would greatly reduce pain and inflammation.

What causes facet joint arthritis?

Age related wear and tear, prior sports injury or trauma, and obesity are common causes.

Is postpartum back pain serious?

While usually not life-threatening, postpartum back pain can be debilitating. Proper treatment should resolve this condition.

When should you see a doctor for tailbone pain?

You should see a doctor if the pain is severe, lasts more than two weeks, and if you develop fever/chills or any other signs of infection.

Treatments for Facet Joint Arthritis include:

Medial branch block / Facet injection – Injection of local anesthetic around the facet joint. Patient should experience almost immediate pain relief.
Radiofrequency ablation – Heat is applied to the nerves that cause pain. This provides relief for a period of 6 months to 1.5 years.
Physical Therapy
Anti-inflammatory medications

Cervical Spinal Stenosis

Cervical spinal stenosis occurs when the space inside the spinal canal in the neck becomes too narrow. This narrowing puts pressure on the spinal cord and the nerves that travel into the shoulders, arms, and hands. It usually develops gradually over time.

Most cases are caused by age-related changes in the spine. As discs lose height and hydration, surrounding joints thicken and bone spurs can form. These changes can reduce the available space for the spinal cord. In some people, thickening of ligaments in the spine also contributes to the narrowing.

What is the treatment for cervical spinal stenosis?

The treatment starts with anti-inflammatory medication, physical therapy, and cervical epidural steroid injection. Treatment is usually successful in alleviating the inflammatory response and leads to a resolution of symptoms. Surgery can usually be avoided.

What can happens if cervical spinal stenosis is left untreated?

The narrowing can lead to compression of the spinal cord and if progression is severe, this can lead to paralysis.

Is cervical spinal stenosis progressive?

Cervical spinal stenosis is not always progressive, but in certain individuals, it can become progressive and lead to nerve damage. Proper follow up is important, especially if there is a change in symptoms.

Is surgery necessary for severe cervical spinal stenosis?

Yes, if there is moderate to severe compression of the spinal cord and the patient is symptomatic.

Treatments for Cervical spinal stenosis include:

Epidural steroid injection
Surgical decompression

Neck Pain and Headaches

Neck pain and headaches frequently occur together. Headaches can originate from the small nerves in the neck. The cause of the headache must be properly established in order to provide the most optimal treatment. If traditional migraine treatments are not working, its possible that the cause of the headache is cervicogenic. Cervicogenic headaches are concentrated in the back of the head. The treatment for cervicogenic headaches is very different than traditional migraine treatment. Our doctors are trained to identify the exact location of the headache and will provide the most effective treatment that is specific to your condition.