Neck Pain Treatments

Neck pain is a symptom of many conditions, so treating neck pain depends on what condition you have. Your doctor will work with you to create a neck pain treatment plan that fits your needs. For the best results, you may need a comprehensive treatment plan—one that includes a combination of medications, physical therapy, and acupuncture, for example.

Both the severity and cause of your neck pain will help your doctor determine which treatments are right for you.

Medications for Neck Pain
Before taking any new medications, let your doctor know about other medications you're taking and follow your doctor's specific directions. You should never mix prescription medications and over-the-counter medications without consulting your doctor.

• Over-the-counter medications: There are 2 main options for over-the counter-medications. You can use an analgesic, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol), which is a painkiller. Or you can use a medication that relieves your pain and reduces swelling—a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), such as ibuprofen (Advil), for example.
• Prescription medications: Muscle relaxants are one example of a prescription medication that can help with chronic neck pain caused by muscle spasms: They work to stop the spasms. Also, anti-depressants can treat neck pain effectively by blocking pain messages to the brain.

Spinal Injections for Neck Pain
As with medications, spinal injections can provide neck pain relief.

• Cervical epidural injections: A cervical epidural injection puts anti-inflammatory medicine into the epidural space—the space that surrounds the membrane covering your spine and nerve roots. This injection helps decrease inflammation of the nerve roots and may reduce your pain for several months.
• Trigger point injections: These injections are used in more severe cases. They target trigger points—knots of muscle that develop when muscles don't relax—with a painkiller.

Other Treatments for Neck Pain
In addition to medications and spinal injections for neck pain, there are a variety of other treatments that can address your pain.

• Chiropractic care can help treat your neck pain and prevent it from getting worse.
• Physical therapy uses multiple techniques to relieve neck pain, including deep tissue massage and various stretches to build strength, stability, and flexibility.
• Exercise, such as gentle yoga, can also provide neck pain relief by keeping your neck healthy and strong.
• Alternative treatments—acupuncture and massage are just 2 examples—can also relieve muscle inflammation and pain.

If you've tried other treatments and they weren't successful, you may consider spine surgery to address your neck pain. You and your doctor can make this decision together. The good news, though, is that the majority of people with neck pain don't need surgery to treat it.

As always, discuss all of your neck pain treatment options with your doctor before beginning any treatment plan.