Pain Management Treatment Options For Chronic Neck Pain
If you suffer from chronic neck pain, then you know how disruptive it can be to your normal routine. If your current treatments have been ineffective in relieving your discomfort, then consider making an appointment at a pain management clinic. The pain specialists will pinpoint the source of your pain so that an effective treatment plan can be created for your individual needs. Here are some treatment options your pain management specialist may recommend to alleviate your chronic neck discomfort.
Physical Therapy
Your pain management doctor may recommend physical therapy to ease your chronic neck pain. It is not only effective at reducing pain but it also helps strengthen the surrounding structures of your neck, enhances the range of motion and flexibility of your neck, and promotes blood flow to the affected areas. Physical therapy is especially beneficial for neck pain that is caused by an injury, however, it is also useful for neck pain that is caused by other conditions such as osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, nerve compression, and disc herniations.
It is important to note, that although you may not notice a dramatic improvement in your symptoms after your initial physical session, your pain should dramatically subside as your therapy program progresses. To augment the benefits of your physical therapy, your pain management doctor may recommend applying an ice pack or a heating pad to your neck, whichever one feels most comfortable.
Prescription Strength NSAIDs
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, also known as NSAIDs are very effective in reducing chronic neck pain and inflammation. While you can obtain NSAIDs without a prescription, you may need higher doses that are only available with a prescription. Your pain management physician can write you a prescription for a larger dose of NSAIDs instead of prescribing opioid-based pain medications.
While opioid pain medications can dramatically ease your neck pain, they can produce major side effects such as drowsiness, dizziness, blurred vision, constipation, confusion, and urinary retention. In addition to side effects, opioid-based pain medications can be addictive and cause distressing withdrawal symptoms after you stop taking them. Conversely, NSAIDs, even at higher doses, are considered very safe and non-addictive and once they are discontinued, withdrawal symptoms or adverse reactions are rare.
If you are suffering from chronic neck pain, schedule an appointment at a pain management clinic. After the source of your neck pain has been identified, the pain management specialist will work with you to create a pain-relief treatment plan that will help you feel better as quickly as possible.