Neck Pain

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.

Who is a candidate for interventional neck pain care?

Candidates generally have persistent neck pain, arm symptoms, or cervicogenic headache that has not improved enough with appropriate medication, activity changes, or physical therapy. The examination and imaging must support a specific target. Progressive weakness, spinal-cord compression, or instability may require a surgical evaluation instead of an injection or ablation.

What are the risks and side effects of treatment?

Risks vary by procedure and can include temporary soreness, bleeding, infection, medication reactions, headache, or short-lived numbness. Because cervical procedures occur near the spinal cord and major blood vessels, precise image guidance and patient selection matter. Serious nerve, spinal-cord, or vascular injury is rare but is discussed before treatment.

Does insurance or Medicare cover neck pain treatment?

Coverage depends on the diagnosis, procedure, and plan. Medicare and many commercial insurers cover medically necessary cervical injections, diagnostic blocks, and radiofrequency ablation when their documentation and prior-treatment criteria are met. The office checks benefits and prior-authorization requirements before scheduling a procedure.

Before your visit

The questions above address common concerns about symptoms, candidacy, diagnostic blocks, treatment options, risks, and insurance. An individual plan still depends on the examination, imaging, medical history, and response to prior care.

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

Medically reviewed by Kenneth J. Eaddy, MD · Last reviewed: July 29, 2026