Neck Pain

Neck and shoulder pain can be classified in many different ways. Some people experience only neck pain or only shoulder pain, while others experience pain in both areas.

Causes of neck pain include:

• Abnormalities in the bone or joints
• Trauma
• Poor posture
• Degenerative diseases
• Tumors
• Muscle strain

Symptoms that may occur with neck pain include neck tenderness, neck muscle spasm, and neck stiffness. Symptoms associated with serious causes of neck pain include arm weakness, leg weakness, arm numbness, leg numbness, loss of bladder control, loss of bowel control, and an inability to walk.

Initial treatment will involve thorough medical history and physical exam, including the patient’s symptoms. To help detect the source of the neck pain, Robert Louis, MD conducts a neurological exam and may request for diagnostic imaging to find the exact location of disc degeneration causing the symptoms of Neck Pain.

Computerized tomography (CT Scan): CT scan may aid in determining the exact location of disc causing the nerve root and spinal cord compression.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI):Advanced cases of Cervical Osteoarthritis show abnormal signal within the spinal cord on MRI imaging. In case of atrophy of the spinal cord due to nerve cell loss, also referred to as myelomalacia, surgical outcomes may not be as promising.

X-ray: Application of radiation to produce a film or picture of a part of the body can show the structure of the vertebrae and the outline of the joints.

Electrodiagnostic studies: Electromyography (EMG) and nerve conduction velocity (NCV) are sometime used to diagnose neck and shoulder pain, arm pain, numbness, and tingling.

Initial treatments for neck pain are usually medications, surgery, therapy, and non-surgical, such as injections. Surgery may be needed for relieving nerve root or spinal cord compression.

Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery

Robert Louis, MD specializes in minimally invasive spine surgery, wherein he incorporates his education, experience and training in cutting edge technology and instrumentation.