Neck

Although whiplash is one of the more well-known forms of neck injury and the associated pain, more often, chronic neck pain is due to a less dramatic cause, such as wear and tear over an extended time period. People who are older often experience neck pain as a symptom of arthritis or degenerative cervical (neck) disc diseases, which can occur as the soft cushion-like discs in the cervical spine start to break down due to wear and tear. Though, there are many complex soft tissues, like muscles, ligaments, and tendons as well as nerves, within your neck that can also become damaged or irritated. In addition to these injuries and conditions, the neck also must continuously support the whole weight of the head. This puts additional strain on the neck and the components within it, which can contribute to the pain and inflammation.

When You Should Visit a Neck Doctor Near You

Symptoms offer clues to your condition, whether they occur in your daily life or on an acute basis. If you have noticed any of the following sensations, physical disturbances, or limitations in your range of motion, you should make an appointment with a doctor to have them assessed:

• Disruption of sleep due to pain
• Inability to turn your neck without pain
• Joint pain or swelling in the neck and shoulders
• Kinked or twisted neck
• Pain due to rapidly twisting
• Pain radiating from the neck to the head
• Pain radiating from the neck to the shoulder
• Pain when nodding or shaking your head
• Persistent headaches
• Pinched nerves
• Sensory disturbance or sensitivity of the arms and legs
• Stiffness of the neck and shoulders, especially in the morning
• Weakness, numbness, and dizziness

If you are currently experiencing any of the issues from the listing above, you may be suffering from one of the following injuries or conditions that can be effectively and efficiently treated, with or without surgery, by our expertly trained neck doctors or surgeons after diagnosis:

• Arthritis
• Cartilage damage
• Cervical spondylosis
• Cervical stenosis
• Compressed nerves
• Degenerative disc disease
• Fractures and dislocations
• Herniated discs
• Osteoarthritis
• Other cervical spinal issues
• Whiplash

Experience Excellence at Southern California Orthopedic Institute

Deciding on the best doctor or surgeon to treat your neck pain is important, and there is much to consider when choosing a neck specialist for your individual back, neck, and spine needs.

At Southern California Orthopedic Institute, you can be confident knowing our fellowship-trained and specialty-trained neck doctors are knowledgeable medical specialists with focused training and experience in back, neck, and spine problems. With this advanced training and extensive experience, our neck specialists will treat your individual condition with the highest level of expertise.

From our pain management and physical medicine and rehabilitation specialists (or physiatrists) to our specialty-trained spine surgeons, our back, neck, and spine specialists are skilled in delivering a wide range of neck treatments, procedures, and surgical techniques for a number of back, neck, and spine conditions and injuries. Our experts employ conservative measures before discussing surgery and will develop a surgical plan tailored to your needs when necessary.

You can make an appointment online or call (818) 901-6600 or (661) 328-5565 for our Bakersfield location. We have convenient locations in Van Nuys, Bakersfield, Valencia, Simi Valley, Westlake, Beverly Hills, Burbank and Porter Ranch.