Neck Pain and Injury

Herniated discs can occur anywhere in the spine, but are most often found in the low back, or lumbar region of the spine. They result when the jelly-like discs that sit between each spine bone (vertebra) and allow it to move and act as shock absorbers suffer a loss of integrity in the outer ring. This can be due to wear and tear or an injury.

If you are experiencing sharp, shooting back from the buttocks down the back of one leg, it is likely being caused by a herniated disc. Other symptoms can include:

• Numbness or tingling in a leg or foot
• Weakness in a leg or foot
• Loss of bladder or bowel control (this is a medical emergency – call 911)

Treatment of herniated discs will be based on an individual patient’s specific symptoms, needs and desires, following a natural progression from conservative to invasive treatment. This can include:

• Rest and activity modifications
• NSAIDs like ibuprofen
• Physical therapy
• Steroid injections
• Surgery, such as a microdiscectomy

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Often also referred to as degenerative joint disease, neck arthritis forms over time and results in pain and inflammation when joints move.

Neck arthritis may be the cause if you have any or some of the following symptoms:

• Pain
• Loss of range of motion
• A “grating” or “locking” sensation
• Joint swelling (often occurs over time)

For patients experiencing early stages of neck arthritis, weight loss or activity modifications, acetaminophen, NSAIDs, physical therapy and steroid or viscosupplementation injections are all good options. Eventually, some people do opt for surgery.

At OrthoNebraska, your treatment plan is developed collaboratively between you and your care team, including a discussion of the risks and benefits as they pertain to you individually.

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Watch: Cervical Facet Joint Syndrome

A neck injury is a type of spinal cord injury that may result when a fall or traumatic injury such as a car accident fractures or dislocates the vertebrae bones in your spine.

Symptoms resulting from damage to the spinal cord in your neck might include pain when moving your back or spine, partial or complete loss of feeling and muscle control (paralysis) and problems with bowel or bladder control.

A detailed diagnosis is really important, even if your symptoms are minor, because damaged nerves tend to recover quickly or not at all. Seeing a specialist in treating spinal cord injuries who will put together a detailed treatment plan for your situation can make a big difference when it comes to the final outcome and recovery from a spinal cord injury.

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Infections can happen anywhere after surgery, including in the spine. Any time a foreign body, such as an implant to replace bone or screw to hold in in place, are introduced, there is a slight risk of infection.

The symptoms associated with infection are:

• Redness
• Warmth
• Inflammation
• Stiffness
• Pus or drainage
• Loss of range of motion
• Fever
• Chills

Infections are considered a medical emergency, so you should see a provider immediately if you suspect it. Left unchecked, infections can completely destroy bone and surrounding tissue. If resulting from a surgery, a second procedure will be required to clean out the infection and antibiotics will be described.

OrthoNebraska, as a specialty hospital, has really low infection rates due to our focus on orthopedic-specific infection control.

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Spine fractures can result from minor injuries such as a fall or sports collision or from higher energy events like car accidents. The severity of the fracture often follows the force of impact.

There are three types of fractures which will be diagnosed based on the fracture pattern:

• Extension
• Flexion
• Rotation

While symptoms will vary based on the fracture pattern, the general theme is back pain that is made worse by movement.

Nonsurgical treatment typically consists of long-term bracing (at least six weeks), and can be successful when there is not much collateral damage. Sadly, that is not often the case, and surgery is typically recommended if any of the following are present:

• Multiple bone fragments
• Bones are bent or angled due to the injury
• Severe loss of vertebral body height
• Spinal cord, nerve or posterior ligament damage

At OrthoNebraska, your treatment plan is developed collaboratively between you and your care team, and includes a discussion of the risks and benefits as they pertain to you individually.

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There are two types of spine tumors.

• Osteoblastoma (non-cancerous)
• Chordoma (cancerous)

Both are relatively rare, so general spine pain is more likely to be caused by something else. However, headaches and muscle spasms may be more of an indicator of tumors than other causes of back pain. For a definitive diagnoses, medical imaging such as an MRI is typically necessary, unless the tumor is easily visible. Spine tumors are slow to grow, so symptoms usually gradually worsen over time.

Treatment for these conditions is nearly always surgery and in the case of chordoma, sometimes accompanies by chemotherapy or targeted radiation therapy. The OrthoNebraska team will work collaboratively with you to determine your needs, risks and the appropriate treatment plan.

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Sprains and strains are often caused during sports activities or daily tasks. Sprains are ligament injuries and strains are muscle or tendon injuries.

Most acute (sudden) injuries of this type can be treated using the RICE method:

• Rest
• Ice the injury site for 20 minutes at a time, several times a day
• Compression bandage
• Elevate the injury site above your heart

However, moderate sprains usually result in a pretty loose joint. While rarely requiring significant treatment, bracing or other equipment may be helpful. Severe sprains are torn ligaments, which typically require medical attention. They may be treated by home exercises or physical therapy or in the case of tears, surgery would sometimes be recommended. At OrthoNebraska, we believe in working together to arrive at a treatment plan that balances the risks and benefits.

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