Getting Help When Life is (Literally) a Pain in the Neck

Living with neck and back pain can make your life miserable. Not being able to maintain a healthy level of fitness due to the pain it inflicts on your neck and back can create additional health implications. Sometimes, just performing basic daily tasks like getting out of bed, showering, and getting through the day feel impossible when you live with chronic back and neck pain.

Through treatments ranging from physical therapy, to minimally invasive spine surgery, to more intense options like artificial disc replacements, there are ways to regain a healthy quality of life after experiencing debilitating neck and back pain.

Get Involved in Low-impact Exercise
Your neck was made for movement, and if you stay in a stagnant state for long periods of time due to the pain, you may do more harm than good. One low-impact exercise that many health professionals recommend for neck and back pain is swimming.


Talk to Your Healthcare Provider
It can be worrisome to live with constant pain, and possibly not know the source of it. You might find a great source of comfort by discussing your condition and your worries with your healthcare provider. In most cases, your doctor will reassure you that your back and neck pain are not a symptom of a serious health issue, and will help you create a treatment plan for bringing you comfort.

Learn Pain Management Techniques
Not every suggestion you hear from a well-meaning friend or read online is helpful, or even safe for the delicate state of your neck. It is important to only use treatment options that your healthcare provider recommends. Some non-invasive neck pain treatment options include:

• Acupuncture.
• Chiropractic Support.
• Physical Therapy.
• Medication. It’s critical to check with a healthcare professional before taking any medications for neck and spine comfort, even over-the-counter or natural.

Learn Your Options if More Intense Spinal Treatments are Necessary
After you’ve exhausted non-invasive treatment options and found little improvement, or even worsening conditions, your doctor will discuss other treatment options, some of them may include:

• Non-surgical spine technology. If your pain is a result of a disc injury, non-surgical decompression solution might be the best solution for you. The treatment gently distracts and realigns the discs in your spine over the course of four to six weeks, with minimal discomfort.
• Minimally invasive spine surgery. Minimally invasive spine surgery uses highly technical medical procedures to achieve a high level of neck and back improvement while only requiring a fraction of recovery time that traditional surgical options require.
• Traditional spinal surgery. If your back and neck pain do not improve over the course of several months with other non-invasive methods, if the pain does not respond to medication, or if your back and neck pain prevent you from completing normal daily tasks, traditional spine surgery might be the best option. The extent of the surgery, the downtime required, and the recovery time involved in the surgery depends on the extent of your injury and the type of surgery involved.