New Jersey Pain, Spine, and Sports Associates
Faheem Abbasi, MD
Pain Management & Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation located in North Brunswick, NJ & Hazlet, NJ
Neck pain affects more than 14% of adults, ranking it the fourth-most common musculoskeletal pain condition. Whether you suffered a recent neck injury or you struggle with chronic pain, you’ll find the treatment you need from fellowship-trained pain specialist Faheem Abbasi, MD, at New Jersey Pain, Spine & Sports Associates. Don’t put up with ongoing neck pain: Call one of the offices in North Brunswick, Hazlet, or Elizabeth, New Jersey, or schedule an appointment online today.
Book OnlineNeck Pain Q & A
What causes neck pain?
Your neck is vulnerable to soft tissue injuries such as pulled muscles and ligaments. You can easily strain a neck muscle if you have poor posture, hold your head in a bent position too long (looking at electronics), or suffer a sports injury.
Whiplash injuries are another top cause of neck pain. Depending on the severity of the whiplash, you could also end up with damaged nerves and vertebrae.
As you get older, degenerative changes occur in the spine, causing painful conditions such as:
- Disc herniation
- Osteoarthritis
- Thickened ligaments
- Degenerative disc disease
- Bone spurs
- Spinal stenosis
Neck pain that’s caused by one of these degenerative conditions often ends up pinching one or more of your spinal nerves.
What other symptoms might I have along with neck pain?
Neck pain often comes along with headaches and difficulty moving your head. Pinched nerves cause pain and tingling that travel along the nerve, going down your arm and possibly into your hands.
In severe cases, radiculopathy can result in numbness or muscle weakness that affects your ability to use your hands and grasp objects.
How is neck pain treated?
Dr. Abbasi begins by learning about your symptoms and medical history. Then he completes a thorough physical exam and decides if you need imaging or other studies to diagnose the underlying cause of your pain.
Neck pain treatment starts with the most conservative therapy that’s appropriate for your condition. That could mean immobilizing your neck, anti-inflammatory medications, and gentle exercises to relax the muscles, to name a few possible treatments. Some patients may need a trigger point injection to relax a muscle knot.
When your pain persists despite conservative care, Dr. Abbasi recommends interventional treatments. Epidural injections, facet blocks, medial branch blocks, and radiofrequency nerve ablation are four possible treatments that significantly ease your pain and can provide long-lasting results.
Minimally invasive spine surgery is another treatment choice to consider. The team has extensive training and experience performing procedures such as a discectomy to treat a herniated disc, a laminectomy or other procedures to decompress nerves, and spinal fusion or an artificial disc replacement to restore stability.
If you need help with neck pain, don’t wait to call New Jersey Pain, Spine & Sports Associates or to book an appointment online.