It’s not uncommon to experience neck pain after spending most of your day hunched over a desk. Neck pain usually resolves on its own with at-home care. If your neck pain is chronic, and you can’t get relief from traditional treatments, Keith Schmidt, MD, at Ascension Comprehensive Pain Management Program can help. He’s an interventional pain management specialist and offers advanced treatments to relieve your neck pain. To schedule an appointment, contact the office in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, by phone or online today.
request an appointmentWhat causes neck pain?
Neck pain is a common pain complaint that may develop from poor posture, injury, overuse, or an underlying condition. Some of the most common causes of neck pain include:
- Sprain or strain
- Herniated disc
- Pinched nerve
- Cervical stenosis
- Degenerative disc disease
- Arthritis
- Whiplash
Though neck pain is rarely a symptom of a serious health condition, your pain can turn into a chronic problem that affects your day-to-day activities.
Dr. Schmidt is a triple board-certified pain management specialist with a reputation for helping patients achieve pain relief when other doctors fail.
What can I expect during a neck pain consultation?
When you see Dr. Schmidt for a neck pain consultation, you can expect a thorough evaluation to find the root cause of your pain, so you get the most effective treatment.
During your exam, Dr. Schmidt reviews your symptoms, including the pain you feel and the activities that worsen your pain. He also discusses your medical and neck pain treatment history.
To better understand the cause of your neck pain, Dr. Schmidt may request diagnostic tests such as blood work, an X-ray, or an MRI.
How is neck pain treated?
Dr. Schmidt develops individualized treatment plans for neck pain based on the underlying cause, the severity of your symptoms, and medical history.
Some of the innovative treatments he offers to alleviate neck pain include:
Epidural
An epidural is an injection Dr. Shmidt places in the epidural space in your spine at the site of the nerves causing your pain. He may include a steroid in your epidural to reduce inflammation.
Radiofrequency ablation
During radiofrequency ablation, Dr. Schmidt uses heat energy to destroy the nerve responsible for your pain.
Cervical facet block
Your facet joints connect the vertebrae in your spine. Over time, these joints degenerate, which may lead to bone spurs that pinch or irritate a nerve.
A cervical facet block is an injection that contains an anesthetic and steroid. Dr. Schmidt may recommend a cervical block to determine the underlying cause of your pain and relieve your discomfort.
Spinal cord stimulator
A spinal cord stimulator is a medical device Dr. Schmidt implants in your body. The device sends a mild electrical current to the nerves in your cervical spine, which alters the pain signals to your brain to provide long-term relief.
To get relief from your neck pain, contact Ascension Comprehensive Pain Management Program by phone or schedule an appointment online today.
Neck Pain Treatment in Hoffman Estates, IL
Dr. Keith Schmidt provides expert neck pain treatment for patients in Hoffman Estates, Schaumburg, Arlington Heights, Palatine, and throughout the northwest Chicago suburbs. With triple board certification in anesthesiology, pain medicine, and interventional pain medicine, Dr. Schmidt identifies the precise cause of your neck pain and develops a targeted treatment plan.
Interventional Treatments for Neck Pain
When conservative treatments aren’t providing sufficient relief, Dr. Schmidt offers advanced procedures including:
- Cervical epidural steroid injections — reducing inflammation around compressed cervical nerves
- Cervical facet joint injections — diagnosing and treating facet-mediated neck pain
- Cervical radiofrequency ablation — providing long-lasting relief by disrupting pain signals from cervical facet joints
- Trigger point injections — relieving muscle knots and myofascial pain in the neck and upper back
- Medial branch blocks — diagnostic procedures to pinpoint the source of your neck pain
Dr. Schmidt’s comprehensive approach also addresses lifestyle factors that contribute to neck pain, including posture, ergonomics, and stress management — helping you achieve lasting relief.
Don’t let neck pain limit your life. Schedule an appointment with Dr. Keith Schmidt today or call (847) 981-3630.
Frequently Asked Questions About Chronic Neck Pain
When should I see a doctor for neck pain?
See a doctor if neck pain lasts more than 4 to 6 weeks, radiates into the arm, comes with numbness or weakness, follows a significant injury, or interferes with sleep. Earlier evaluation often shortens the overall course of treatment.
What causes chronic neck pain?
The most common sources are cervical facet joint arthropathy, disc-related pain, cervical radiculopathy (pinched nerves), occipital neuralgia, and post-traumatic neck pain (whiplash). A careful exam and targeted imaging help identify which of these is driving your specific pain.
Can poor posture cause neck pain?
Posture and movement patterns are one factor among several. Long hours of forward head posture — common with phone and computer use — can contribute to neck strain. Addressing posture is part of comprehensive treatment, but it’s rarely the only thing that makes a difference for established chronic neck pain.
What treatments work for chronic neck pain?
Cervical facet pain responds well to cervical medial branch blocks and radiofrequency ablation. Cervical disc-related pain may respond to cervical epidural injections. Occipital neuralgia often responds to occipital nerve blocks. The right treatment is determined by which structure is producing the pain.
Is neck pain related to headaches?
Often, yes. Cervicogenic headache — headache that originates from cervical structures — is common. Occipital neuralgia produces headache pain in the back and side of the head. Treatment of the cervical source often resolves both the neck pain and the headache pattern.
When is surgery needed for neck pain?
Surgery is typically reserved for patients with significant neurological deficits, structural instability, or unrelenting pain that hasn’t responded to comprehensive conservative and interventional care. For most patients with chronic neck pain, surgery is not needed.
How is whiplash treated?
Acute whiplash usually responds to active rehabilitation, anti-inflammatory medications, and time. When pain persists beyond 6 to 12 weeks, the underlying structures (typically cervical facets) can often be identified and treated specifically with diagnostic blocks and, when appropriate, radiofrequency ablation.
What is cervicogenic headache?
Cervicogenic headache is headache pain that originates from cervical structures rather than from primary headache mechanisms. The pain often starts in the neck or back of the head and radiates forward. It’s typically one-sided and can be reproduced or relieved by specific neck movements or by anesthetic blocks of the cervical structures.
Can pinched nerves in the neck cause arm pain?
Yes. Cervical radiculopathy — irritation or compression of a nerve root in the neck — typically produces a specific pattern of pain, numbness, or weakness in the arm corresponding to the level involved. Treatment often involves cervical epidural injections or selective nerve root blocks at the affected level.
Does insurance cover treatment for chronic neck pain?
Yes. The interventional procedures used to treat chronic neck pain — cervical injections, medial branch blocks, RFA, occipital nerve blocks — are covered by major insurance plans including Medicare. Our office handles prior authorization.