Neck pain is extremely common in the United States, with nearly 1 in 3 adults experiencing it at some point in their life. Neck pain can greatly affect almost every aspect of your daily life; how you see the world around you, how you play with your children, and how you express affection, to name a few. While for more people this is a chronic health problem, there are ways to lessen the effects of constant neck pain. A pain management doctor could be exactly what you need to get a grip on your aching neck. There are several different treatments for neck pain, including but not limited to:

Steroids

Many people get regular steroid injections for neck pain relief. A steroid injection, such as cortisone or prednisone, can help to reduce or eliminate neck pain for up to 2-3 months. If you are looking for a non-surgical treatment option, steroid injections are one of the easiest treatments that offer the longest-lasting relief. 

Stretches

It may seem simple and too good to be true, but your pain management doctor may show you a few simple stretches that you can do daily to help with your chronic neck pain. The neck is a place where many people hold stress and tension in their muscles, and a simple stretch each day could help you to relieve some of that tension. They may not treat your symptoms entirely, but stretches might help you to lessen your neck pain by some small amount. 

Nerve Blocks

A nerve block can be permanent or temporary. A temporary nerve block is an injection of powerful anesthetics into the nerves that control the area where you are experiencing your neck pain. They will usually make all of your pain go away for around 24-36 hours. A permanent nerve block is a surgical procedure where the nerves that cover your neck will either be damaged or destroyed, which blocks the nerves from telling your brain you are in pain. A nerve block of either type is a more aggressive treatment for neck pain than some other methods. 

In conclusion, there is a treatment option for you. Talk to your pain management doctor for more information on how to make your chronic pain go away. In a world with so many treatment options, you do not need to go through the pain you experience every day. Talk to your doctor for more information.