Neck Pain from a Spine Surgeon’s Perspective
Through the myriad of abnormalities encountered by spine surgeons, neck pain is one of the most perplexing. The nature, onset, and location of the pain all provide information as to…
Complementary and Alternative Treatment for Neck Pain: Chiropractic, Acupuncture, TENS, Massage, Yoga, Tai Chi, and Feldenkrais
Of the multitude of treatment options for the management of neck pain, no obvious single treatment modality has been shown to be most efficacious. As such, the clinician should consider…
Thoracic Outlet Syndrome
Of the many clinical entities involving the neck region, one of the most intriguing is thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS). TOS is an array of disorders that involves injury to the…
Conservative Treatment for Neck Pain: Medications, Physical Therapy, and Exercise
This article offers conservative treatment strategies for patients suffering from musculoskeletal causes of neck pain. Basic pharmacology is reviewed, including that of opioids, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, adjuvants, and topical analgesics….
Cervical Radiculopathy
With regards to spinal disorders, neck pain is one of the most common presenting symptoms, only second to low back pain. When pain radiates down the arm and is associated…
Evaluation of the Patient with Neck Versus Shoulder Pain
Neck and shoulder pain are common complaints among the general population, being the second and third most common musculoskeletal complaints, respectively, after back pain in the primary care setting. Differentiating…
The Anatomy and Pathophysiology of Neck Pain
Neck pain should not, and must not, be confused with cervical radicular pain. Equating the two conditions, or confusing them, results in misdiagnosis, inappropriate investigations, and inappropriate treatment that is…
History, Physical Examination, and Differential Diagnosis of Neck Pain
Neck pain is a common and costly problem in Western society. Nearly two-thirds of the US population will experience neck pain at some point in their lives, and at any…
Management of Neck Pain
Allen Sinclair Chen, MD, MPH, Guest Editor With variable pain generators and differing responses to treatment, neck pain can pose a challenging problem for both patients and providers. Diagnostic evaluations,…
