The average human head weighs 10-11 pounds and sits atop the seven small vertebrae that make up your neck. When pain strikes this area, the effects can be far-reaching, making prompt treatment a priority. At Integrative Spine & Sports, Jose Juan Diaz, DO, and his team provide the solutions you need to get back to pain-free movement of your neck. If you’re dealing with neck pain and you’re in the Fort Lauderdale, Florida, area, please call or use the online booking feature.
To better understand neck pain, it’s helpful to review the anatomy of this small area. At the heart of your neck lies your cervical spine, which is made up of seven small vertebrae that are separated by discs. Surrounding your cervical spine is a host of soft tissue components that provide support and range of motion, including your:
While your neck’s primary duty is to furnish support and facilitate a range of motion for your head, it also provides passage for your spinal cord, connecting your central nervous system to the rest of your body.
Between the support your neck provides and the range of motion it allows, it’s easy to see how neck pain can crop up in this hard-working area. The most common causes of neck pain include:
When the source of your neck pain involves one of the nerve roots, the problem in your neck can cause pain, tingling, and numbness that radiate down your shoulders and arms, compounding your problem.
When you come in, Dr. Diaz sits down with you to review your symptoms and your medical history. From there, he typically orders advanced imaging, such as an X-ray or MRI, to get a closer look at what’s going on inside your neck. Once he determines the cause of your neck pain, he devises a treatment plan that best suits your unique situation.
To start, Dr. Diaz works to alleviate the discomfort, usually through anti-inflammatory and prescription medications. From there, the treatments Dr. Diaz recommends are designed to provide sustainable relief from neck pain. To accomplish this, he turns to both Eastern and Western practices, such as:
Rest assured, Dr. Diaz and his team work diligently to find a solution for your neck pain that allows you to lead a healthy and active life.
For relief from your neck pain, call Integrative Spine & Sports or request an appointment using the online booking feature.