Can a Simple Injection Help My Neck Pain?

If you can’t find relief from chronic neck pain with over-the-counter medications, the injectable therapies at Coastal Spine & Sports Medicine, PLLC, in Wilmington, North Carolina, may be your next step.

Our skilled interventional pain specialist, Francis Pecoraro, MD, DAPMR, SAAPMR, and his team offer the latest pain management therapies to ease neck pain, stiffness, headaches, and other related symptoms.

Dr. Pecoraro focuses on the least invasive treatment, so that you can enjoy symptom relief without recovery or downtime.

Why your neck hurts

Acute neck pain can stem from the overuse of the muscles in your upper spine during exercise or other physical activities. Poor posture and a sedentary lifestyle can also strain your neck muscles, leading to recurrent bouts of discomfort, stiffness, and pain.

Acute neck pain typically lasts less than six weeks and is manageable with over-the-counter anti-inflammatories and pain relievers, ice or heat therapy, and gentle stretching exercises.

When neck pain is chronic and lasts for six months or longer, it may be the result of conditions like:

• Whiplash
• Bone spurs
• Herniated disc
• Osteoarthritis
• Degenerative disc disease

Chronic neck pain may stop responding to home remedies and over-the-counter medicines. When you have progressive conditions like arthritis, pain may continue to get worse, and you might ultimately need surgery to address it.

How injection therapy works for neck pain

Coastal Spine & Sports Medicine offers several injection therapies in-office to manage chronic neck pain that interferes with your mobility and quality of life.

Dr. Pecoraro and our team perform a physical exam of your upper spine and may order imaging tests to identify the source of your pain. If ice and heat therapy and anti-inflammatories aren’t able to control your discomfort, he may recommend options like:

Facet joint injections

Facet joint injections deliver corticosteroids and a local anesthetic to the small joints in your upper spine to relieve chronic inflammation and pain associated with arthritis and other degenerative conditions.

Trigger point injections

Trigger point injections deliver pain-relieving medications and anti-inflammatories into overly tight muscles that support your upper spine.

Epidural steroid injections

Epidural steroid injections contain pain relievers and anti-inflammatories and pinpoint the space around your spine that houses your spinal nerves.

Epidural steroid injections are most effective at treating chronic neck pain that originates from nerve compression or damage.

What to expect during injection therapy for neck pain

Injection therapy is generally a simple in-office procedure that requires no preparation beforehand or downtime afterward.

We use advanced imaging technology (fluoroscopy) to guide the needle into position in your upper neck before injecting the medicine. Real-time imaging significantly improves your treatment outcomes.

Many people notice a difference in their pain level within hours of their injection. However, it can take several days to experience the full benefit of treatment. Some injections can provide symptom relief for weeks or months, depending on the condition being treated and its severity.

If your initial injection is successful, Dr. Pecoraro discusses the possibility of maintenance injections to keep your neck pain well-controlled. In the event you don’t experience pain relief from an injection, our team can recommend other pain management strategies to help you stay healthy and active.

Contact Coastal Spine & Sports Medicine today to learn more about the benefits of injection therapy. Call our office or schedule an appointment online.