Services
Neck Pain
Relief for cervical pain, stiffness, and nerve symptoms that radiate into the shoulders and arms.
In short — Neck pain often comes from cervical facet arthritis, disc degeneration, whiplash, or a pinched nerve root sending pain down an arm. After identifying the true pain generator with exam, imaging, and diagnostic blocks, treatment may include cervical epidural injections, medial branch blocks and radiofrequency ablation, or spinal cord stimulation for severe, treatment-resistant cases.
What causes neck pain?
The cervical spine balances a roughly ten-pound head on its smallest vertebrae, so it's vulnerable to strain, degeneration, and injury. Common sources include arthritis of the cervical facet joints, degenerative or herniated discs, whiplash-type injuries, and pinched nerve roots (cervical radiculopathy) that send pain, tingling, or weakness down an arm. Chronic neck problems can also drive certain headaches.
When does neck pain need specialty care?
See a specialist when neck pain lasts more than a few weeks, follows an accident, radiates into the shoulder or arm, comes with numbness or weakness in a hand, or repeatedly interferes with sleep and work. New arm weakness or trouble with coordination deserves prompt evaluation.
How is neck pain treated?
After identifying the pain generator with examination, imaging, and — when needed — diagnostic blocks, Dr. Eaddy builds a plan that may include cervical epidural steroid injections for nerve-related pain, medial branch blocks and radiofrequency ablation for facet-related pain, trigger point injections for muscular pain, and medication management. Patients with severe, treatment-resistant cervical pain may be candidates for spinal cord stimulation.
What is cervical radiofrequency ablation?
Cervical radiofrequency ablation uses heat delivered through a thin needle to quiet the small medial branch nerves that carry pain from arthritic facet joints in the neck. It is considered after diagnostic medial branch blocks confirm the facet joints as the pain source. Relief commonly lasts months, and the procedure can be repeated if pain returns.
Trusted resources
Learn more about neck pain from these independent medical sources:
- MedlinePlus (National Library of Medicine) — Neck Injuries and Disorders
- OrthoInfo (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons) — Neck Pain
- American Association of Neurological Surgeons — Neck Pain
Related care
Conditions and treatments connected to this page, all provided by Dr. Eaddy:
- Epidural Steroid Injection — image-guided anti-inflammatory relief for irritated spinal nerves
- Radiofrequency Ablation — longer-lasting relief for facet, sacroiliac, and knee arthritis pain
- Headache — interventional options for treatment-resistant headache
Ready to talk about your pain?
Call the office for an appointment, or send a question online — office staff will respond by phone during business hours.
Call (904) 453-7976 Send a questionMessages only / callback line: (813) 397-3047
Reviewed by Kenneth J. Eaddy, MD · Updated July 2026