NECK PAIN DOCTORS IN CHICAGOLAND

Leaders in Non-Surgical Neck Pain Treatment

Car accidents, poor posture, and even how we use our smart phones all contribute to a very real and very modern day problem: the case for ongoing neck pain.

The double-board certified and fellowship-trained physicians at MAPS are uniquely positioned to handle all forms of chronic and acute neck pain and to help patients improve. Our practice specializes in helping patients achieve long-term decreased pain with minimal emphasis on surgery and maximum emphasis on results.

If you experience neck pain, don’t wait another day. Contact the team at MAPS to schedule an appointment:

What Is Neck Pain?

Did you know that neck pain impacts over 200 million people across the globe? Characterized as discomfort between the base of the skull and top of the shoulders, neck pain can be caused by anything from injuries to medical conditions. Over time, chronic neck pain can limit mobility and negatively affect quality of life. Here are some of the most common symptoms:

• Stiffness or tightness in the neck muscles
• Dull, aching pain
• Sharp, shooting pain that radiates to the shoulders or arms
• Limited mobility or difficulty turning the head
• Tingling or numbness in the arms or hands
• Weakness in the shoulders or arms
• Tenderness or soreness when touching the neck
• Headaches

What Causes Neck Pain?

Neck pain can be caused by a variety of factors, including the following:

• Muscle strain: Things like poor posture, slouching over a computer and sleeping in the wrong position can strain your neck muscles.
• Injury: Injuries or trauma, such as sports accidents or whiplash from a car accident, can cause neck pain.
• Degenerative conditions: Medical conditions such as arthritis or cervical disc degeneration can lead to pain and stiffness.
• Herniated discs: The discs in your cervical spine may bulge or rupture, pressing on nearby nerves and hurting your neck.
• Nerve compression: Conditions such as spinal stenosis can compress nerves and cause pain.
• Infections: In rare cases, infections can impact the neck and cause pain and inflammation.
• Back pain: Many people with back pain also experience pain around the neck.

Where Is Your Neck Pain Located?

The location of your pain is crucial for diagnosing the underlying cause and achieving long-term neck pain relief. Most people feel pain in one or more of the following areas:

• Upper Neck (Cervical Spine) Pain: Pain in this region is often related to muscle strain, whiplash injuries or conditions like herniated discs. In addition to pain, you may experience throbbing headaches.
• Mid-neck Pain: Discomfort or pain around the middle of your neck is commonly associated with degenerative conditions such as arthritis. It’s also linked to poor posture and slouching.
• Lower Neck: Pain in the lower neck can result from injuries, herniated discs and pinched nerves. Many people also experience pain that radiates to the arms.

What Neck Pain Conditions Do We Treat?

Ready for relief? At MAPS, we offer a wide range of minimally invasive, non-surgical treatments. Our neck pain doctors specialize in the following:

• Whiplash
• Injuries and trauma
• Muscle strains
• Inflammatory conditions
• Tech neck (pain caused by slouching/desk jobs)
• Neck pain related to poor posture
• Neck pain related to back conditions

Neck Pain Diagnosis

Before we can recommend a neck pain treatment, we have to understand the root cause. To diagnose your pain, we’ll start by asking about your medical history, lifestyle and symptoms. We’ll also perform a physical exam to assess your neck’s strength, range of motion and reflexes. In some cases, we might suggest imaging or laboratory tests to visualize the cervical spine and rule out causes such as infections or inflammatory conditions. By accurately diagnosing your condition, we can develop a targeted, effective treatment plan.

Chicago’s Leaders in Minimally-Invasive Neck Pain Treatments

We are leaders in conservative treatment for neck pain. For each patient we undergo an extensive analysis of symptoms and conditions, as well as medical history to determine a course of action. Most treatments will include or be a combination of responsible medication management, physical therapy, an injection-based protocol, or minimally-invasive procedures such as:

Injection-Based Therapy

Many patients respond positively to our injection-based treatments which offer the benefit of rapid pain relief as well as the benefits of being non-surgical. This may include:

• Trigger Point Injections: Target tight muscle knots (or trigger points) in the neck
• Facet Joint Injections: Target small joints in the cervical spine to alleviate pain caused by conditions like arthritis
• Cervical Epidural Injections: Target the epidural space around the spinal nerves to alleviate pain caused by conditions like herniated discs and spinal stenosis

Minimally Invasive Procedures

We are leaders in interventional pain procedures that use the latest in medical technology to intercept pain signals from reaching the brain. Rather than masking symptoms with medication, many patients find long-term relief from procedures such as:

• Radiofrequency Ablation: Uses heat generated by radio waves to target nerve fibers that transmit pain signals
• Spinal Cord Stimulator Implantation: Sends electrical impulses to block pain signals
• Kyphoplasty: Involves inflating a balloon in a fractured vertebra to restore stability in the back and neck region
• Vertebroplasty: Injects cement into a fractured vertebra to stabilize it and relieve pain
• Disc Decompression: Involves removing part of a herniated disc to reduce pressure on nearby nerves

Responsible Medication Management

While the opioid crisis has made a negative impact on reducing the pain of Americans, there is still a place for responsible medication management that is closely monitored and observed if it provides a benefit to our patients. Our physicians may recommend:

• Ethical Pain Medicine Management: Responsibly delivers medication in a way that respects patient autonomy and reduces the risk of unwanted side effects
• Intrathecal Pumps: Implants a device that delivers medication directly into the cerebrospinal fluid to relieve neck pain
• Over-The-Counter Medications and Supplements: Combines professional treatment plans with non-prescription pain medications to maximize relief

Physical Therapy

Many of our patients find positive results when they couple their neck pain treatment with a physical therapy program. Our physicians work with primary care physicians as well as experienced, qualified physical therapists to ensure our patients benefit from a comprehensive neck pain treatment program.

Bracing & Support

While it’s a challenge to move when a patient is in pain, bracing and rehabilitative support can help provide better outcomes in many back pain treatment scenarios. Bracing gives stability to the bones and ligaments in the spine, while rehabilitation strengthens the muscles and helps redevelop balance as part of a back pain treatment program.

Cryoneurolysis

Cryoneurolysis is an innovative procedure that uses extreme cold to target specific nerves in the neck. First, a probe is gently inserted into the skin. Then, bursts of freezing cold are administered through the probe, disrupting nerves that transmit pain signals. Not only is this treatment minimally invasive, but it also offers quick, long-lasting results.

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