When Should You See a Doctor for Neck Pain?

When Should You See a Doctor for Neck Pain?

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Your spine is important and, when you’re experiencing chronic neck pain, it can be scary. How do you know when neck pain crosses the line from being “a pain in the neck” to something more serious?

Check out this quick reference guide for common causes of neck pain and when it’s time to see a doctor. 

Common Neck Pain Causes

The tricky thing about neck pain is that it can have a number of causes. Most of the time it’s temporary and could go away with something as simple as a good night’s sleep or a dose of over-the-counter pain medication. Common causes include:

  • Tension headaches: Tension headaches are an incredibly common brand of headache and they are often associated with pain and tenderness in the neck.
  • Sleep position: Sleeping in a position where your head lacks support and your neck is strained can often cause neck pain. To avoid neck pain from sleep, try sleeping on your back. You might also need a new mattress or pillow for additional support.
  • Looking up and down: People tend to hold their cellphones too low and situate their televisions too high. This can lead to looking up or down for extended periods of time, which can cause neck pain.
  • Using the phone: While pinching your phone between your ear and your might be a convenient way to hold a conversation while keeping your hands free, this practice can put strain on your neck.
  • Dehydration: The discs in your spine that separate your vertebrae need hydration. If your body is dehydrated, these spongy discs become less spongy, which can lead to neck pain.
  • Carrying heavy objects: Carrying too much weight in one hand, such as in a briefcase or purse, can put undue strain on your shoulders, back and neck.
  • Posture: Sitting in a slouched position with your head in front of your shoulders can put a greater strain on your neck.

Serious Neck Pain Causes

While neck pain often results from less-serious conditions such as slouching or dehydration, there are a number of serious medical conditions that can cause neck pain as well. If you’re experiencing serious neck pain, you may want to consider seeing a spine specialist at the Orthopedic Institute.

  • Worn joints: Just like other joints in your body, the padding between your vertebrae can wear down with age. This can cause bone spurs which can affect your joint motion and cause pain.
  • Injuries: Rear-end auto collisions can result in whiplash injury, which occurs when the head is jerked backward and then forward, straining the soft tissues of the neck. Strains or sprains to the neck after an auto accident may not be immediately evident.  Symptoms may start or intensify in the days after the accident but generally are short lived and treated with simple conservative measures such as ice, heat, over the counter anti-inflammatories, muscle stimulation or a exercise/therapy program.
  • Disease: Certain diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, cancer or other inflammatory conditions can cause pain and stiffness in the neck.  If you have persistent symptoms and family history of auto-immune diseases you may want to contact your physician.
  • Nerve compression: The disks in your spine that separate your vertebrae are soft on the inside with a tough exterior on the outside. A herniated disk occurs when the softer inside ruptures through the tougher exterior. A herniated disk in your neck may also cause pain in your shoulder or arm. Herniated disks, along with bone spurs in the vertebrae of your neck, can press on the spinal nerves or the spinal cord, resulting in pain, weakness or numbness and tingling

If you have severe, lasting pain, and signs that may indicate one of the more serious causes of neck pain mentioned above, it’s time to Stand Up For Your Spine. Learn more about our experienced neck and back team. 

5 Signs You May Need a Hip Replacement

5 Signs You May Need a Hip Replacement

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Many people managing rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, osteonecrosis and other general joint health issues struggle with whether or not they should seek hip replacement surgery. They have pain, but it can be hard to decide if the pain is significant enough to warrant a hip replacement.

Check out our list of 5 signs that it’s time to consider a hip replacement.

1. Hip Pain

The first, and perhaps most obvious, sign that you should consider a hip replacement is hip pain. Do you walk with a limp or depend upon a cane because of your hip pain? Hip pain shouldn’t interfere with your ability to live your life. If your pain affects your daily life, disrupts your sleeping habits or both, the damage may be serious enough to consider a hip replacement.

2. Limited Mobility

Simple tasks such as standing up, walking or taking the stairs can be incredibly difficult and painful for someone in need of hip replacement. Some people remain unaffected by their limited mobility, but if your hip pain limits your mobility to the point of interfering with your daily life, consider speaking with a physician about your options.

3. Stiffness

Does your hip stiffen up while sitting? Stiffness in a hip joint is a telltale sign that a hip may need to be replaced. Many patients in need of hip replacements will also experience stiffness when attempting to simple tasks, such as putting on shoes or gardening.

4. Grating or Rubbing

A grating or rubbing feeling in your hip joint, especially in combination with the other issues listed here, is another indicator that you may want to look into hip replacement. The hip joint is lined with smooth cartilage that prevents your thigh bone from rubbing against your hip bone. When you experience grating or rubbing, these bones are rubbing together, which can be painful and may be a sign that your hip joint should be replaced.

5. Nothing Else Works

Hip replacement surgery is never the first option. Before looking into a hip replacement, try other pain treatment options such as medication, injections, stretching and exercise. If these more moderate pain management approaches do not work, then a hip replacement may be your best solution.

If your hip pain doesn’t limit you from doing normal activities or you get relief from less invasive treatments, you may not need a hip replacement. If you are still unsure whether or not you should look into a hip replacement, come in to the Orthopedic Institute and speak with one of our hip specialists about your options.

Hip replacement can return you to a higher quality of life. Check out these Orthopedic Institute hip replacement success stories!