Neck Pain Treatment Doctor in Westchester

Cervical spondylosis is the gradual wearing down of the discs, cartilage, ligaments, and bone in the neck. It is extremely common with age and is usually described as a normal process rather than a disease – most people over a certain age have some degree of it on imaging, and many have no symptoms at all.

As the discs lose fluid they become thinner and stiffer, and the space between the vertebrae narrows. When that narrowing starts to crowd a nerve root or the spinal cord itself, symptoms follow: neck pain and stiffness, and sometimes pain, numbness, or weakness radiating into the shoulder, arm, or hand.

A disc herniates when part of the soft inner core pushes through a tear in the tougher outer ring. The displaced fragment can bulge into the limited space of the spinal canal and press on a nearby nerve.

A herniation that is not touching a nerve may cause little or no pain. One pressing on a nerve typically causes pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness following the path that nerve travels down the arm. Many cervical herniations settle over weeks to months without surgery.

As cartilage in the small joints of the spine wears away, bone begins rubbing against bone. The body responds by laying down extra bone along the edges of the vertebrae – these growths are bone spurs, or osteophytes.

Bone spurs frequently cause no symptoms and are found incidentally on imaging. They become a problem when they grow into the space occupied by the spinal cord or a nerve root.

Osteoarthritis is a progressive condition in which joint cartilage degenerates faster than it would with normal aging. In the neck it affects the small facet joints between the vertebrae, producing stiffness, aching, and sometimes the clicking or grinding sensation people notice when they turn their head.

Whiplash is the most familiar example: an abrupt jerking motion, often in a car accident, overloads the discs and soft tissue of the neck. Contact sports are another common source. Trauma can also cause instability, where the vertebrae no longer hold their normal relationship to each other.

An older injury can also contribute years later, by accelerating the wear in a particular segment.

Less common, but significant when present. The neck can lose its normal alignment, in some cases progressing to chin-on-chest deformity where the head drops forward and cannot be raised. Deformity of this kind is an area of Dr. Kim’s particular expertise. More on spinal deformity surgery.

Once the problem has been identified, surgery begins with removing whatever is causing the compression – the disc material, bone, or deformity producing the symptoms.

In some cases the affected vertebrae are then fused to improve the stability of the spine, using a bone graft. In some cases metal plates are also fixed to the vertebrae for further stabilization. Where preserving motion at that level is preferable, a disc replacement may be used instead of a fusion.

Fusion joins two vertebrae so they no longer move relative to each other, stabilizing a painful or unstable segment. Disc replacement removes the damaged disc and substitutes an artificial one, preserving motion at that level.

Which is appropriate depends on your diagnosis, the level involved, and the condition of the surrounding spine. It is one of the main things to discuss at your consultation.

Recovery depends on the procedure and on you, and your specific restrictions will come from Dr. Kim rather than from a general guide. Patients are commonly asked to avoid heavy lifting in the early weeks and not to drive until cleared. Movement is encouraged early, and physical therapy usually follows.

Contact the office promptly if you develop a fever, expanding redness at the incision, increasing pain, or a change in drainage, as these can indicate infection.

For ordinary neck pain with no radiating symptoms, several weeks of conservative treatment is reasonable before escalating. But pain that radiates into the arm, or any numbness or weakness, is worth having evaluated sooner rather than later – particularly if it is getting worse.

Almost certainly not. The large majority of neck pain is treated without an operation. A consultation is about establishing an accurate diagnosis first; surgery is one option among several and is recommended only once the alternatives have been given a genuine chance.

Frequently, yes. Many cervical herniations settle over weeks to months with physical therapy, activity modification, and anti-inflammatory medication. If symptoms persist or you develop progressive weakness, that is the point to be evaluated.

Age-related wear in the neck – discs thinning, cartilage wearing, bone spurs forming. It is extremely common and often causes no symptoms at all. It becomes a clinical problem when the changes start to crowd a nerve or the spinal cord.

No. Dr. Kim sees patients at HSS in Manhattan, and at offices in Uniondale and Water Mill. Travel information for Westchester patients is here.

Yes, and it is common. Bring your imaging, your records, and the surgical plan you have been given.

Call 212-774-2837 Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 5:00pm ET. Have any prior imaging and records ready if you can, and mention any previous spine surgery when you call.