Neck Pain
Symptoms Of Neck Pain
Radiating Pain
Pain in the neck that spreads to the shoulders or upper back.
Muscle Tightness
Muscle tightness and spasms in the neck and shoulders.
Neck Pain Worsens in One Position
Worse pain when holding the neck in one position for a long time.
Sharp Pain
Pain can be cramping, or stabbing, and it may be persistent or comes and goes with time.
Pain when twisting the neck
Pain when twisting the neck often indicates muscle strain, joint stiffness or underlying cervical spine issues.
Dizziness
Neck pain may be associated with dizziness at times.
Causes
- Nerve Compression and/or Impingement
- Disc Bulges or Slipped Discs
- Age-Related Degeneration
- Poor Posture
- Tension in Neck Muscles
- Conditions Like Rheumatoid Arthritis, Meningitis or Tumours
Diagnosis
Accurate diagnosis by a specialist for neck pain is essential to start the right treatment method and prevent future issues that cause neck muscle pain. Doctors for neck pain perform a physical examination to evaluate neck pain, tenderness and any muscular or nerve pain. The doctor will ask about all relevant symptoms. Moreover, the neck pain treatment specialist may conduct diagnostic tests to determine the cause of neck pain and recommend treatment accordingly. These tests may include an MRI, CT Scan, Myelogram and an EMG (electromyogram and nerve conduction) test.
Neck Pain Treatment In Singapore
Physical therapy
Physical therapy including exercises, stretches, and traction or manipulation helps in providing neck pain relief. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) also helps relieve pain by sending tiny electrical impulses to the neck area.
Medication and Injections
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are often prescribed to manage neck pain. The doctor may prescribe steroid injections or PRP injections to manage pain and promote healing.
Surgery For Neck Pain
Surgery in rare cases is recommended if the surgeon suspects nerve compression or impingement that is resulting in severe pain across the neck and upper back region.
Minimally Invasive Procedures
Depending on the exact cause of neck pain, pain procedures such as Nucleoplasty Decompression and Facet Denervation may be recommended.
FAQs on Neck Pain
Few of the reasons why you may be feeling neck pain and stiffness are physical strain, muscle sprains, poor posture, slipped or herniated disc causing nerve compression, mental stress, osteoarthritis, tumours and other issues of the spine.
Contact your healthcare specialist in Singapore for chronic neck pain relief if you suffer from pain and stiffness in the neck that does not go away with home remedies.
Most of the pain develops over time and is not an emergency. However, it can point towards a serious problem in some cases including:
- Severe neck pain after a fall, accident, injury or trauma.
- Feeling of numbness, weakness and loss of motion in the arm or hands.
- Shooting pain that runs from the neck down the shoulder towards the arm and hand.
- Inability to move your arm or hands after a fall or injury.
- Your pain persists or worsens even after a week of conservative neck pain treatment at home.
- Neck pain that is accompanied by difficulty to maintain balance.
Most cases can be managed by self-care and home remedies. However, if you feel that your pain is not getting better or starts getting worse even after a few weeks despite your conservative self-care measures, then you must get yourself checked by qualified neck pain doctors for a detailed diagnosis and assessment.
Moreover, if you feel any numbness, tingling or pins-and-needles sensation in the arms or hands, or feel weakness in the arms and hands, waste no time and contact your nearest neck pain treatment doctor, Dr. Gamaliel Tan, for optimal neck pain treatment.
One of the effective ways to relieve chronic neck pain in Singapore is using hot and cold therapy. Applying heat pads relaxes the sore muscles while applying ice to the affected area helps reduce inflammation. Doing this therapy several times a day can give effective results.
Dr. Tan may order an X-ray, MRI, CT scan or other imaging tests if he feels that the symptoms cannot be diagnosed by physical examination alone.
Our Specialist
About Gamaliel Tan
MBBS (S'pore), MMED (S'pore), FAMS (Ortho), FRCS (Edin)Dr Gamaliel Tan is a spine surgeon in Singapore with over 25 years of experience in designing and providing effective solutions for different orthopaedic problems. He specialises in spine surgery and has experience in endoscopic spine surgery and motion preservation spine procedures (artificial disc replacements).
Qualifications and Achievements
- Head of Department, Department of Orthopaedics | NTFGH 2009 - 2018
- Council member of the AOSpine East Asia group 2017 – 2020
- Head of the Spine Division | NTFGH 2009 - 2023
- Group Chief Medical Informatics Officer (GCMIO) | NUHS 2020-2023
Accreditations
Medisave & Insurance
