Neck Pain

Neck Pain services offered in Anchorage, AK


If you have stiffness, tenderness, or pain in your neck, help is within reach at Alaska Pain to Wellness Center in Anchorage, Alaska. Pain management specialists Greg Wilkinson, PA-C, M.Ed, Steve Johnson, MD, and their skilled team treat neck pain to help you feel better, so you can resume your favorite activities. Call the office to learn more or schedule an appointment online today.

Neck Pain Q&A

What is neck pain?

If you have a disease or injury that affects tissues in your spine, neck, or surrounding tissues, you could develop neck pain. Common symptoms you might have because of a musculoskeletal problem in your neck include:

  • Warmth
  • Reduced range of motion
  • Dull ache
  • Swelling
  • Stiffness
  • Redness
  • Numbness
  • Tingling
  • Burning pain
  • Sharp, shooting, or radiating pain
  • Muscle tightness, tension, or soreness
  • Pain when driving or working at a computer
  • Headaches

The neck discomfort could be mild and go away over time or last a while and require medical intervention.

What are the common risk factors for neck pain?

Common causes and risk factors that may contribute to your neck pain include:

  • Pinched nerves
  • Herniated discs
  • Spinal stenosis (narrowed spinal canal)
  • Bone spurs
  • Cancer
  • Meningitis (inflammation of the spinal cord’s protective membrane)
  • Arthritis
  • Nerve compression
  • Osteoporosis
  • Whiplash injuries
  • Poor posture
  • Scoliosis (abnormal spinal curvature)
  • Muscle strains
  • Worn-down joints

Many neck injuries result from being in a car accident, playing sports, falling, lifting heavy objects, or sustaining physical trauma.

Prevention measures that reduce the risk of neck pain include taking breaks when working a computer or driving, maintaining good posture, sleeping in a comfortable position, and not smoking. Don’t tuck your phone between your ear and shoulder or carry heavy bags on your shoulder.

How does my doctor diagnose the cause of my neck pain?

To determine the cause of your neck pain and effectively treat it, a pain specialist at Alaska Pain to Wellness Center reviews your medical history, lifestyle habits, accident history, and symptoms.

They complete a physical exam to further evaluate your neck’s structure and function. Your provider might order a blood test, nerve tests, a CT scan, an MRI, an ultrasound, or another imaging procedure to confirm the source of your pain.

How is neck pain treated?

Your neck pain treatment plan could include:

Home remedies

Resting, wearing a neck brace, or using ice or heat packs are home remedies that help reduce neck pain.

Physical therapy

Your Alaska Pain to Wellness Center specialist might suggest you try physical therapy sessions to strengthen painful tissues and achieve long-lasting relief.

Injections

The Alaska Pain to Wellness Center team offers epidural steroid injections, trigger point injections, and other pain-relieving injections that reduce neck pain.

Ultrasound-guided nerve hydrodissection 

The Alaska Pain to Wellness Center providers offer ultrasound-guided nerve hydrodissection, a cutting-edge treatment for neck pain. It’s an injection of a solution that separates painful nerves from surrounding tissues.

Electrical nerve stimulation

Electrical nerve stimulation, available at Alaska Pain to Wellness Centre, emits electrical impulses into your skin to achieve nonsurgical nerve pain relief. 

Intrathecal pain pump implant

Your pain specialist places an intrathecal pain pump under your skin to release medicine gradually into your body and reduce ongoing discomfort.

Medical cannabis

The Alaska Pain to Wellness Center team helps you obtain medical cannabis, if you’re a candidate for this pain-relieving treatment, to reduce ongoing neck discomfort.

Radiofrequency ablation

Radiofrequency ablation uses radio waves and heat to destroy painful nerves responsible for neck pain. Your Alaska Pain to Wellness Center specialist numbs the treatment area and inserts a needle, along with radiofrequency energy, into targeted tissues to reduce pain. 

Spinal cord stimulation

Your Alaska Pain to Wellness Center specialist uses an implantable spinal cord stimulator to deliver electrical energy into your spinal cord to reduce pain signals to your brain.

To learn more about the neck pain treatments available at Alaska Pain to Wellness Center, call the office or use the online booking tab today.