Recognizing Serious Neck Symptoms

Most neck pain responds to care at home with over-the-counter medication, rest, heat and cold, and basic stretching and exercise. If you experience loss of strength in your arms or hands or shooting pains in your shoulders and arms along with your neck pain, this may be a sign of a more serious issue.

Neck Pain That Shoots Down the Arm

Neck pain that radiates down the arm (and is sometimes felt in the hands or fingers) may be caused by a cervical herniated disc. It is also possible that foraminal stenosis, a condition that causes narrowing of the spine in the neck area, is pinching a nerve and causing neck pain. People with these conditions may experience numbness or tingling in the hands or arms. These symptoms may appear suddenly or gradually.

Neck Pain Related to Regular Activities or Postures

In some cases, neck pain gradually develops over a period of years due to repeated activity like office work or long-distance driving.

This can also result in degenerative Discs and/or arthritis in the neck joints. This can be diagnosed by various imaging studies (CT, XRAY, or MRI).

Persistent Fluctuating Neck Pain

If you experience neck pain that is usually minor but occasionally gets worse and becomes severe, especially during certain activities and positions, this may indicate symptomatic cervical disc degeneration. Cervical disc degeneration itself becomes very common as people age, but often without any symptoms. There can, however, be an injury that causes symptomatic pain to occur and persist. This can be related to the frequent use of certain body parts, such as frequent use of the neck, arms, and shoulders.

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Neck Pain that Dissipates During the Day

Some people experience neck pain and discomfort in the morning and at night, but the movements of their daily routine alleviate this pain. They may also tend to feel more comfortable on sunny, warm days versus rainy, cloudy days. This may be a sign of cervical osteoarthritis or neck arthritis

How Do I Get Rid of My Neck Pain?

Neck pain can be acute or chronic and may have a variety of potential causes. For this reason, treatments for neck pain cover a broad range of options.

People who experience an acute strain often address their issues completely with home care, including rest or over-the-counter medication.

Those who experience more chronic neck pain may benefit from regular stretching, physical therapy, spinal manipulation, or the use of a soft cervical collar to support the neck. Cervical pain that does not respond to these treatments can still be addressed with injections or spine surgery. View our treatments page for more information about spine surgery and alternative treatments.

At Hunt Spine, you are what matters most. It is our duty to improve your quality of life by treating back and spine conditions, this is a duty we do not take lightly and it shows in our unique one-on-one consultation. In this consultation, we take as much time as needed to insure we plan out a specialized treatment that will yield optimal results.

Another important factor is you, the patient are fully educated on your condition and its treatment options. You will leave the consultation with a firm understanding and a treatment goal in mind. Dr. Leonel Hunt and Dr. Gabriel Hunt are dedicated to improving your quality of life. Contact us today to learn more, and schedule a consultation with some of the best spine specialists Los Angeles has to offer.

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