It’s a common occurrence for many people in Las Vegas, Nevada, to experience a sore neck at some point in their lives. Most of the time, it will last only a few days and then go away on its own with no treatment. But if you’re experiencing chronic pain, you might want to consider seeing your Las Vegas neck pain specialist as soon as possible. You could have serious health problems that need treatment before they become irreversible damage.
Cervical Radiculopathy
Cervical or neck pain is often caused by a condition known as cervical radiculopathy. Neck pain is due to conditions that irritate the nerve roots of the cervical spine (neck), which send information from the brain to different parts of the body.” Neck nerves are covered with a sheath made up of cells called Schwann cells, which protect the nerve from any inflammation or irritation. If they become inflamed or irritated, it can cause a great deal of discomfort and pain in the neck.
Herniated or Bulging Discs
Another common cause of neck pain is a herniated or bulging disc in the cervical spine. A disc in the neck can ‘bulge,’ or press out when it becomes too full of soft gel-like fluid, which then squeezes out when the discs are squeezed together by the weight on your head.”This condition is often treated with a combination of medication, physical therapy, and exercise to help strengthen the neck muscles.
Spinal Stenosis
Spinal stenosis is a condition that’s pretty common as people grow older, according to the Mayo Clinic. In this case, the spinal canal narrows and squeezes nerves in your cervical spine. The symptoms of spinal stenosis can mimic those of more severe conditions such as cancerous tumors or multiple sclerosis.
Degenerative Disc Disease
Degenerative disc disease usually occurs in older adults and results from wearing collagen and other tissues that protect the discs. When these tissues begin to wear out, the soft discs become less resilient and lose their ability to absorb shocks. They can even break or rupture.”The condition can be treatable with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, physical therapy, and home exercises.
Spondylolisthesis
Spondylolisthesis, the most common spinal condition in adults under age 50, can cause slippage of one vertebra over another because of a defect that causes the disc to create a protrusion into the bone canal.”This condition is usually treated with medication, physical therapy, and surgery, depending on the severity of the problem.
Osteoarthritis
A common cause of neck pain in older adults, osteoarthritis can cause a great deal of discomfort as the bones and joints within the spine begin to wear down. In this condition, there’s a progressive degeneration that occurs as collagen breaks down and wears away from the discs.”The resulting lack of cushion between the vertebrae can cause a great deal of pain and discomfort.
Neck pain can be debilitating, but luckily there are several potential causes for it. If you’re experiencing chronic discomfort or severe symptoms that don’t go away on their own after a few days, consult your doctor immediately to find the underlying cause and get it treated before more serious health problems develop. The sooner you take care of this condition, the better off you’ll be in the long run.
