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If you have neck pain, it can range from mild tenderness or a dull ache to sudden, severe pain. You may only experience neck pain when you move in a certain way or perform specific activities. This pain may come and go, or it may be chronic and nearly disabling.
Dignity Health provides an expertise in orthopedic treatment in the Bay Area, offering patients care for neck pain.
You may notice these symptoms along with neck pain:
Neck pain can be a sign of a serious, life-threatening condition, such as meningitis or heart attack. Call 9-1-1 for neck pain with these symptoms:
The most common cause of neck pain is muscle strain or spasm, which can affect the bones, joints and nerves in your spine and other parts of your neck and shoulders.
The most common causes of neck pain include:
To diagnose your neck pain, your doctor will consider your symptoms, a physical examination of your neck, and your ability to move your neck in various directions. An imaging test (such as an X-ray or MRI) may be necessary to confirm the diagnosis and create a treatment plan. Your doctor also may order additional tests to check nerve function and determine the source of inflammation.
An effective treatment strategy for most cases of neck pain includes medication to reduce pain and inflammation, and exercises to stretch and strengthen the neck and shoulder area. In some cases, surgery is sometimes necessary for conditions that affect the spinal nerves.
To find a more effective treatment for your neck pain in San Francisco, Santa Cruz, Redwood City or surrounding areas, use our Find a Doctor tool to locate an orthopedic specialist near you.
Dignity Health serves patients across the Bay Area with diagnosis and treatment for neck pain and other orthopedic symptoms and conditions.