Neck Pain Might Not Be a Neck Problem

Many people are experiencing chronic pain, and it turns out that your neck may not be the main issue. About one in four adults in the U.S. deal with chronic pain, but surprisingly, many avoid seeking help, often out of fear that they might need surgery.

Recent research indicates that around 42% of individuals are relying on over-the-counter pain relievers without really understanding the root cause of their discomfort. At the Orlando Health Spine Center, experts are trying to raise awareness about this common issue.

Dr. Brian Brathwaite emphasizes that the source of pain could be different from where it’s actually felt. For instance, numbness and tingling in the fingers might stem from pinched nerves anywhere along the arm, not just in the neck.

Similarly, hip or knee pain can originate from those joints, but it could also be due to pinched nerves in the back sending signals down to the legs.

“Distinguishing between different causes of pain is essential for providing the right treatment,” Brathwaite stated.

A case in point is Rita Brendamour, a retired lawyer. At 66, she became hesitant to seek medical help due to her fear of surgery. Instead, she self-treated with anti-inflammatory drugs and ice, and even tried massaging the painful areas with hardballs.

When those methods didn’t yield results, she turned to Dr. Brathwaite, who diagnosed her with arthritis and degenerative disc disease, pinpointing her neck as the problem area. After receiving a steroid injection, her pain and numbness improved dramatically within just two days.

“It was a miracle,” she exclaimed. “I can now do things I didn’t think I could do anymore.”

For Brathwaite, identifying the exact causes of a patient’s pain is the first crucial step toward recovery. Detailed testing, including MRIs and CT scans, can reveal fundamental issues that help prevent severe pain from becoming chronic and debilitating.

Fortunately, many patients don’t need invasive treatments to feel better. Less aggressive options often suffice. These may include physical therapy, chiropractic care, massage therapy, dry needling, and both topical and oral medications.

Dr. Brathwaite points out that if conservative treatments don’t bring relief, injection therapy could be the next step. This could involve injecting directly into painful muscles, inflamed joints, or utilizing epidural steroid therapy for pinched nerves. Ablation therapy is another option that uses heat to disrupt pain signals.

If none of these approaches provide lasting relief, surgery may be discussed, but it’s noteworthy that only a tiny fraction—less than 1%—of patients at Orlando Health end up needing spinal surgery.