When it comes to spine pain, it seems like the lower back gets all the attention. But the top of your spine—including the neck area—is equally vulnerable to experiencing the nagging, stabbing pain that leads many people to search the internet for help.
At Kalra Brain & Spine, we believe it’s especially important to talk about nagging pain in the neck and back as we are spending more and more time with our heads bent low over computers and smartphones. This unnatural position can place a great deal of strain on the muscles, ligaments, joints and intervertebral discs in the neck. The result? Nagging pain.
What’s Causing My Nagging Neck Pain?
Some causes of neck pain are beyond our control, such as sports injuries or car accidents. And physically demanding jobs, with repetitive lifting, pulling, pushing, bending sideways and twisting, can also come with a greater risk of neck and back problems.
But there are some chronic conditions that can also cause neck, back and even arm pain. These include radiculopathy, herniated discs, degenerative disc disease and even scoliosis. Let’s take a closer look at each.
Radiculopathy. Commonly known as a pinched nerve, radiculopathy occurs when the nerve root in the neck or back becomes compressed. The result is inflammation of the nerve root. Symptoms of radiculopathy include numbness, weakness, tingling and pain.
Learn more about radiculopathy
Herniated Disc. A herniated disc occurs when the soft inner portion of the disc (the rubbery cushion between the vertebrae in your spine) is pushed out through the exterior border. A herniated disc can occur in the neck or the back and often is the result of trauma or excessive strain.
Learn more about herniated discs
Degenerative Disc Disease. This is a condition in which a damaged disc causes pain. A wide range of symptoms and severity is associated with degenerative disc disease. Unlike other tissues of the body, the disc has very low blood supply. Once a disc is injured, it cannot repair itself, and a spiral of degeneration can set in.
Learn more about degenerative disc disease
Scoliosis. Scoliosis is a curvature of the spine often noted to create the shape of a “c” or an “s” due to the spine twisting. Scoliosis occurs in both adults and children, although it manifests most often just before the growth spurt of puberty. Symptoms can vary but often include pain and muscle spasms.
Kalra Brain & Spine: Your Trusted Resource for Nagging Pain
At Kalra Brain & Spine, it is our daily honor to provide the most advanced, evidence-based care to our patients. Treatment plans vary depending on the condition, and are often multidisciplinary and always directed toward non-operative management, including physical therapy, injections and lifestyle modifications whenever possible.
In cases where surgery is the best option to offer the pain relief an individual needs, the treatment is customized to each patient, and Dr. Kalra uses the latest technology and techniques to provide the most minimally invasive procedure possible.
North Texas’ Trusted Neurosurgeon
When world-class training meets hometown values deeply rooted in family and community, the result is the kind of medical care you’ve always hoped for. And that’s just what you’ll experience with Dr. Ricky Kalra. Dr. Kalra is the founder and chief surgeon at Kalra Brain & Spine and serves as Chief of Surgery at Presbyterian Hospital and Director of Neurosurgery at Medical City Frisco.
Locally awarded and recognized many times over, Dr. Kalra is as respected by his peers as he is loved by his patients. Dr. Kalra is honored to have been recognized as a Best Doctor in Dallas in D Magazine every year since 2017. He has also been featured in Living Magazine’s Top Healthcare 2019, Local Profile, Dallas Morning News and “Good Morning Texas”.
You may have also seen his name in a number of recent articles about a recent patient’s story or weighing in on Simon Cowell’s surgery recovery.
At Kalra Brain & Spine, the most important thing to know is you’re in good hands. Dr. Kalra has helped countless people get out of pain and regain their lives. Check out Baine’s story about how Dr. Kalra helped him finally find relief from years of nagging pain.
If you have unexplained pain (even if you’ve seen other doctors and still have not found relief), we’d love to meet with you to see if we can help. Schedule an appointment today.