Orthopedic Neck Pain Specialist in Michiana

Almost everyone has experienced waking up with a stiff neck from time to time – but when your neck pain is chronic, debilitating, or a result of an accident, you may need to seek professional treatment.

Your neck is a complex structure that includes vertebrae joints and soft tissue, which can become inflamed. Nerves and tendons also play a part in the daily use of your neck and may become injured.

What are the Most Common Neck Injuries?

Many common injuries may cause you to seek neck injury treatment in Michiana. Some injuries that our orthopedic specialists are prepared to treat include:

Whiplash
Muscle strains
Repetitive stress injuries
Sports-related injuries
Auto Injuries
Herniated discs
Damaged nerves
Vertebrae fractures
Neck sprain
Pinched nerves
Spondylosis, or arthritis in the neck
Torn ligaments or tendons

What Neck Injury Treatments Does OSMC Offer in Michiana?

Most common sources of mild to moderate neck pain heal with self-care in two to three weeks. These mild injuries often require only painkillers, heating pads, and over-the-counter medicines to improve. The orthopedic specialists at OSMC offer the following treatments for more severe neck issues:

• Medication: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen or acetaminophen may be used to treat pain. Only take these medicines as directed because overuse can cause dangerous side effects.
• Physical therapy: A physical therapist can show you how to have the correct posture and do exercises to strengthen your neck. Physical therapy may also include heat, ice, and other methods to help relieve pain.
• Neck collar: A soft collar that supports the neck and relieves pressure may help ease the pain. However, if worn for more than three hours at a time or for more than one to two weeks, a collar might do more harm than good.
• Injections: Steroid medicines can be injected near the nerve roots, the spinal joints, or the neck muscles. You can also get an injection of numbing medicine, like lidocaine.
• Surgery: If nerve roots or the spinal cord are being pressed on, surgery might be a possibility. Neck pain caused by more severe conditions, like scoliosis or severe arthritis in the neck, may also require surgery.

For more information on our treatments, schedule an appointment with OSMC in Northern Indiana or visit one of our orthopedic walk-in clinics for immediate care.

How Long Does Neck Surgery Recovery Take?

Everyone heals at different rates. Your orthopedic surgeon will provide an estimated timeline for recovery, but most patients take about a month. After this time, and after you've seen your doctor, you will most likely start physical therapy and light exercise work at home. How well you stick to the recovery plan, age, injury severity, and injury type will all affect how fast you heal.

Can I Speed Up My Recovery from Neck Surgery?

The OSMC specialists in Michiana suggest small but important changes that will help make your neck feel better faster:

• Maintain a good posture.
• Rest your arms when sitting or standing to support the side of your neck operated on, avoiding extra muscle strain.
• Do not carry extra weight like purses, backpacks, or children.

How Can I Prevent Neck Injuries?

Use your seatbelt when traveling in a vehicle, and wear protective gear while playing sports and in other potentially dangerous situations to keep your neck from getting injured. Learning the right way to move your body and not using your neck too much can also prevent neck strain.

If you start to experience neck pain, try doing less of what caused the pain and relax. "Pushing through" or continuing the activity that caused it can worsen the injury. Small changes like a new pillow or adjusting your posture can help limit your chances of injury and reduce chronic pain.

Neck Pain & Injury Care in Michiana

OSMC orthopedic doctors are skilled in diagnosing and treating conditions that affect the neck. Our specialists strive to help restore healthy tissue and reduce pain and its associated inflammatory response.

We can help alleviate your neck pain. Find out more by calling OSMC at (574) 319-7082 or book an appointment now. We look forward to seeing you at one of our five convenient locations, where we serve patients from northern Indiana and southwest Michigan.