Neck Pain Specialist

What is neck pain?

Your neck is the most flexible part of your spine, supporting the weight and movement of your head. Neck pain includes any discomfort you feel in your neck or head. The pain may range from dull muscle aches to sharp shooting pain that travels into your arms or head.

Neck pain rarely develops from a serious health condition but may be a source of chronic discomfort that affects your quality of life. At Permian Basin Pain Management, Dr. McGehee specializes in providing safe and effective care for patients suffering from chronic or severe neck pain. 

What causes neck pain?

Neck pain may develop from an injury or disease that affects one or more of the components that make up your cervical spine. Common causes of neck pain include:

Herniated disc

Between each bone of the spine (vertebral body), lies a disc. A disc is composed of the outer ring, the annulus, and the soft gel-like inner core, the nucleus. Think of a jelly filled donut when you think of a disc. 

An acute injury or degeneration can cause the nucleus to protrude (herniate) out into the spinal canal. This herniated disc material can in turn rub on or pinch a nerve root as it is exiting the spinal canal. 

The most common symptoms occurring from this include burning, tingling and numbness wherever that nerve travels. Sharp pain and muscle weakness are generally signs of a herniated disc. 

If the herniated disc is located in your neck, you may experience symptoms in your arm all the way down to your fingers. If the disc herniation is in your low back, the pain can radiate or run all the way down your leg to as far as the foot. A herniated disc can also be commonly referred to as a disc protrusion or slipped disc.

Spinal stenosis

Spinal stenosis is a condition in which your spinal canal narrows, most commonly due to long standing degeneration. This can potentially cause back pain as well as other nerve-related problems (sciatica and weakness).

Spinal Arthritis and Spondylosis

Spondylosis is a common degenerative condition associated with aging. This condition can affect the neck, mid-back, and lower back. Spinal arthritis is a form of spondylosis that affects the spine’s facet joints.

How is neck pain treated?

At Permian Basin Pain Management, Dr. McGehee takes a conservative approach to the treatment of neck pain, offering effective and cutting-edge therapies that provide long-term relief.

Treatment options for neck pain include:

• Epidural steroid injection
• Selective nerve root block
• Facet joint injection
• Medial branch nerve block
• Radiofrequency ablation
• Spinal cord stimulation

Dr. McGehee conducts comprehensive evaluations to find the source of your neck pain so he can design the most effective treatment plan.

To get help for your neck pain, call Permian Basin Pain Management today.