Neurosurgery & Spine Consultants

Neck Pain

Will Surgery Make My Neck Pain Better or Worse?

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Will neck surgery make my pain better or worse?

It’s a common question. In fact, there used to be a common adage that it’s wise to avoid spine surgery at all costs. This is ill-advised, of course, as there are—and long have been—situations in which surgery is the best option for relieving debilitating spine pain. Also, spine surgery has advanced considerably, resulting in a much better risk-to-benefit profile.

Yet, the question regarding surgery for neck pain remains an important one, and we hear it frequently.

Surgery will only provide effective relief for specific kinds of problems.

Whether or not surgery will improve your neck pain depends on several factors.

First and foremost, surgery of the spine involves risks. Like any surgery, those risks have to be weighed against the potential benefits of surgery. Surgery can be very effective at relieving neck pain (including radiating pain that originates in that part of the spine), but it isn’t recommended in most cases.

That’s because surgery to relieve neck pain is only recommended for severe, debilitating pain, and then only if there is an identified, correctible problem. This means two things:

  • There must be a definitive diagnosis
  • The problem diagnosed must be something that surgery can correct

Surgery for neck pain relief is an option of last resort.

Even with a diagnosis of a surgically correctible problem, surgery for neck pain is an option of last resort. It is only recommended after all other approaches to relieving pain have failed. If rest, medications and physical rehabilitation are ineffective at resolving or reducing your neck pain, and you’re a good candidate for surgery, then surgical intervention will be considered for a correctible problem.

Generally, surgery is only appropriate for neck pain linked to spinal instability or nerve compression. This includes:

  • Pain caused by a pinched nerve root due to bone spurs or caused by a ruptured disc
  • Pain caused by pressure on the spinal cord due to spinal stenosis
  • Pain caused by pinched nerves due to vertebral grinding as a result of degenerative disc disease

Maximize your chances for pain relief with appropriate surgical expertise.

As mentioned, there is always risk associated with surgery, including risk of additional pain. The goal—the key—is to maximize your odds for effective pain relief.

So, surgery to relieve neck pain is only appropriate—and will only relieve pain—when it’s a correctible problem, after all other options have failed, and if you’re a good candidate. In addition, the outcome of spine surgery is highly dependent on the skill of the surgeon. With nerve compression and spinal stability as the problems appropriate for surgery, seriously consider that only neurosurgical spine surgeons are fully trained in nerve-related surgery and are the only surgeons able to perform the complete array of spine surgeries.

If you’re experiencing debilitating neck pain or upper-extremity pain related to the cervical spine, relief is possible, up to or including surgical solutions. Contact Neurosurgery & Spine Consultants for expert evaluation, diagnosis and, if needed, experienced neck surgery in San Antoniowith minimal risk and optimal outcomes. Call 210-255-8953today.

Minimally Invasive Pain Management for Neck Pain

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It could hit you in the form of muscle tightness or spasms, or cause headaches so severe that concentrating at work is impossible. Whether your neck pain is a result of a recent accident, a decades-old sports injury or one of today’s most common sources: Use of our favorite tech devices, neck pain can disrupt your activities and even your life.

You may have tried over-the-counter or prescription medications, applied store-bought rubs or essential oils or even undergone physical therapy, but your neck pain never really goes away. So, what can you do?

Self-managing your neck pain

There are many ways you can relieve stress and pain in your neck, including participating in the abovementioned physical therapy, which many insurance providers cover. A physical therapist will evaluate your neck to gage your range of motion and flexibility, noting your pain points. Then he or she will work to revitalize your injured or overused muscles, ligaments or tendons through stretching and strengthening exercises. You may also receive heat, ice or electronic stimulation to help relieve your neck pain.

Other self-care remedies include massage, daily stretching and gentle exercises such as yoga and tai chi.

However, should you need a more advanced and guided method to manage your neck pain with the support of board-certified experience, Neurosurgery & Spine Consultants is here to help. Although “surgery” is in our name, and we do offer trusted, minimally invasive surgical techniques, surgery is always considered a last resort.

Trusted, minimally invasive pain management for your pain is close by

To reduce or eliminate neck pain, help you gain flexibility and get you back to doing the things you love, Neurosurgery & Spine Consultants’ nonsurgical neck pain management options could be the solution you’ve been looking for.

We are proud to be board-certified neurosurgeons and pain specialists who are also compassionate and attentive specialists. With years of specialized training and a focus on individualized treatments, we’ve helped thousands of South Texans overcome chronic neck pain and other cranial and spinal conditions.

To schedule an appointment at one of our four San Antonio locations, call 210-255-8935 or click here to use our online form.

5 Reasons Why Your Neck May Be Hurting

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Neck pain is a common health problem around the world, both in terms of personal health and overall well-being. It can be the result of stress, overuse, poor posture or a number of degenerative diseases.

5 reasons why your neck might be hurting

Common conditions that cause neck pain include:

  • Degenerative disc disease – Degenerative disc disease occurs when the rubbery discs between the vertebrae in the spine deteriorate or break down. Approximately one-third of people aged 40-59 have evidence of this disease.
  • Neck strain – Neck strain is an injury to the muscles and tendons that support and move the head and neck. Anywhere from 16-75 percent of the world population experience neck pain.
  • Osteoarthritis – Osteoarthritis, the most common type of arthritis, is a degeneration of joint cartilage and the underlying bone. Approximately 12 percent of people aged 21 and older have osteoarthritis.
  • Cervical spondylosis – Cervical spondylosis is age-related wear and tear on the spinal discs in the neck. Between 12-17 percent of people suffer from symptomatic cervical spondylosis and it is higher in females than males.
  • Spinal stenosis – Spinal stenosis is a narrowing of the spaces within your spine, which can put pressure on the nerves that travel through it. It affects between 8-11 percent of the population and is most prevalent after age 50.

Other common reasons for neck pain

Neck pain can also have causes that aren’t related to an underlying disease. If you struggle with persistent neck pain it could also be the result of the following factors:

  • Prolonged stretching and straining (looking up or down)
  • Sleeping in an uncomfortable position
  • Poor posture
  • Stress
  • Chiropractic manipulation
  • Neck injury (e.g., whiplash, herniated disc, pinched nerve)
  • Wearing heavy necklaces

If you’re looking for effective solutions for either sudden or chronic neck pain, call Neurosurgery & Spine Consultants at 210-255-8935 for expert neck pain treatment in San Antonio. We offer a full spectrum of highly effective, minimally invasive and nonsurgical pain treatments.