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Neck Pain Specialist

Drew Brown IV, MD, FAAOS Our Services Neck Pain
Drew Brown IV, MD, FAAOS - - Board Certified and Fellowship Trained Orthopaedic Spine Surgeon

Drew Brown IV, MD, FAAOS

Board Certified and Fellowship Trained Orthopaedic Spine Surgeon located in Wesley Chapel, FL & Jacksonville, FL

Pain in your cervical spine or neck is the fourth-leading cause of disability in the United States. If you have acute or chronic neck pain that’s interfering with your ability to accomplish daily tasks or enjoy your life, Drew Brown IV, MD, an expert orthopedic surgeon in Tampa, Florida, can help. Using supportive therapies and minimally invasive surgery when necessary, Dr. Brown and his team diagnose the source of your neck pain and alleviate your symptoms. If you live in the Tampa area and need relief from your neck pain, call the office or request an appointment online. 

Neck Pain Q & A

Why do I have neck pain?

The cervical spine, which runs through your neck, is the thinnest portion of your spine, and yet it must support the entire weight of your 9-12 pound head. When you lean your head forward to text or read, the stress on your neck increases proportionally with the angle — at 45 degrees, you’re holding 50 pounds of weight. Common causes of neck pain include:

  • Tech neck: strain from texting or smartphone use
  • Whiplash: back-and-forth motion of your neck during a motor vehicle accident or other collision
  • Disc degeneration: when your vertebral discs wear out or slip
  • Spondylosis: when your spinal cord narrows
  • Sprains and strains: stretches or tears in tendons, ligaments, and muscles
  • Fractures: hairline cracks or breaks in your vertebrae
  • Osteoarthritis: age- and use-related loss of protective cartilage
  • Spinal stenosis: narrowing of your spinal canal 

Neck pain that lasts longer than several weeks is considered chronic and may need medical treatment.  

What are the risk factors for neck pain?

Poor posture, including bending your neck downward to text, increases your risk for neck pain. Even being stressed or anxious causes neck pain, because those uncomfortable emotions cause you to tense the muscles in your neck and shoulders. Simply getting older also increases your risk of experiencing neck pain because your discs, cartilage, and other soft tissues degrade over time.

Smoking and drinking alcohol dry out your discs and other supportive tissues in your spine. Being overweight or obese puts added pressure on your entire spine.

How do orthopedists treat neck pain?

If you’ve been in a motor vehicle or another accident and have neck pain, you should get medical treatment right away. Also call Dr. Brown if your neck pain:

  • Is severe
  • Is continuous and chronic
  • Compromises your activities
  • Radiates into your arms or legs
  • Is accompanied by headaches or dizziness
  • Is accompanied by tingling or numbness in your arms or legs

After diagnosing the source of your neck pain through physical examination and imaging studies, Dr. Brown custom-designs your treatment plan, which may include:

  • Physical therapy
  • Lifestyle changes
  • Anti-inflammatories
  • Epidural injections
  • Facet joint injections
  • Minimally invasive surgery
  • Disc replacement

Get relief from neck pain by contacting Dr. Brown and his expert team today. Request your appointment by calling the office or using the online booking tool.

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