Waking up with a sore back or neck is frustrating enough, but dealing with frequent, recurring pain can feel disheartening. Back or neck pain may be symptoms of a simple strain, but they may also be indicators of a more serious health issue. According to the National Institutes of Health, lifetime back pain prevalence is as high as 84% in adults worldwide. Both back and neck pain can reduce mobility and significantly impact a person’s ability to perform everyday tasks such as driving, reaching for objects or even simply moving around.
The good news is this: Getting relief from back and neck pain is possible with the help of a Baylor Scott & White Back and Neck Care specialist. Your care team can investigate the causes of your symptoms and recommend the appropriate care to get you back to doing the things you love.
Back and neck pain symptoms
How back or neck pain is experienced varies from person to person. You’ll know it when you feel it. The most commonly reported symptoms of back pain include muscle aches, pain that gets worse with physical activity and stabbing pain. Pain may be a dull, throbbing feeling or a shooting pain in your back or neck.
“You may also feel some neurologic symptoms such as pain radiating into your arms and legs, numbness in your limbs, balance and coordination issues or frequently catching your foot and tripping,” says Krishna Satyan, MD, a participating neurosurgeon in Back and Neck Care at Baylor Scott & White. “This is common since both the neck and back are connected to the spine. Bladder and bowel issues can also be unexpected symptoms of back and neck pain.”
Baylor Scott & White’s innovative Back and Neck Care program
In some cases, back or neck pain may need to be treated with medical intervention, whether that means physical therapy, prescription medication or surgery. If your back or neck pain is unrelenting and does not respond to home remedies or over-the-counter medications, work with your primary care physician to determine next steps.
The Baylor Scott & White Back and Neck Care program offers specialized care for those experiencing pain, making it a smooth and seamless process for you to find relief. The first step is to complete a brief questionnaire about your pain and goals. Then, you will have a virtual visit with an advanced practice provider who specializes in back and neck care, who will evaluate your symptoms and recommend personalized next steps based on your submitted answers.
A Care Coordinator will support you throughout your care journey — answering your questions, following up with you after referrals, and tracking your progress to provide you with the appropriate treatment every step of the way.
Whether you want to play tennis or keep up with your grandchildren, your care providers will listen to your goals and create a plan that addresses your unique physical and mental health needs, utilizing both in-person and virtual providers.
Root causes of neck and back pain
Understanding the cause of your pain — and getting relief — requires an assessment to determine the root cause. For some, back or neck pain is the result of a muscle strain, perhaps that occurred while exercising, moving a piece of furniture or even simply making a sudden movement. This type of neck or back pain is fairly common. When the muscles on either side of the length of the spine are strained, the pain works its way into the connecting tendons and creates a type of tendonitis.
Many people sit for extended periods of time, whether at their desks in the office, on the couch at home or in the car. This habit is unhealthy in numerous ways, but specifically because it can cause chronic back and neck pain. The culprit here is bad posture, either hunching over or sitting at an angle that strains your back or neck. Injuries received from playing sports, falling, or being in a car accident can also cause neck and back pain.
When a disc in the spine slips out of place and hits a nerve, it causes a herniated disk. Another culprit of neck and back pain, herniated discs can also be accompanied by numbness and by a pain that extends to the buttocks or thigh.
Older adults face greater risk of neck and back pain due to their age. A minor fall or impact can cause a compression fracture due to low bone density and weak or brittle bones in the spine. Similarly, regular wear that comes with age may cause issues with spinal discs that result in degenerative disc disease. In these instances, nerves on the spinal column become pinched between discs and areas of arthritis. Like herniated disc pain, degenerative disc disease includes neck and back pain and a shooting pain that extends to the buttocks, thigh or leg. Other medical conditions, like arthritis, osteoporosis or scoliosis may result in neck and back pain.
Understanding the cause of your back or neck pain will help your care team work with you to develop a treatment plan that’s right for you.
Managing acute neck and back pain
If you are recently injured or are dealing with neck pain after a night of poor sleep, home remedies may relieve some of your symptoms. Acute pain, meaning pain that is not chronic, can be reduced by resting and icing the affected area.
Applying an ice pack (never place ice directly on the skin) can help reduce inflammation in new injuries; experts recommend using for up to 20 minutes, with a 20-minute break before icing again. While heat therapy can help relax muscles (to reduce back spasms, for example), it is not recommended for new injuries, as it could increase inflammation and impede healing. Over-the-counter medications like ibuprofen and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can also help reduce pain and swelling.
If your pain doesn’t go away with treatment at home, reach out to the Back and Neck Care program for help.
Managing chronic back and neck pain
“Chronic and recurrent neck pain likely won’t respond, or totally resolve, with home remedies. So, it’s important to work with your primary care physician or a specialist to determine the proper course of action,” says Dr. Satyan. “Ultimately, long-term solutions to chronic back and neck pain will be comprehensive — you’ll need to consider exercise and physical therapy, work on your posture and maintain a healthy weight.”
An active lifestyle can prevent neck and back pain because it builds strength and flexibility and maintains bone density. Whether you prefer walking in your neighborhood, swimming, playing sports or gardening, maintaining regular physical activity is an essential preventive tool. Likewise, building smart habits into your exercise routine — like stretching and strength training — will reduce your risk of injury.
Another daily habit that can significantly reduce chronic neck and back pain is posture correction. Poor posture can result in pressure on your back and neck, which then causes pain. Adjusting your workspace to be more ergonomic can help reduce your risk of neck and back pain — ideally, your head should be aligned with your spine when sitting or standing.
“I recommend not sitting or standing in the same position for long periods of time,” says Dr. Satyan. “Set reminders on your phone to adjust your position, sit or stand up, or walk around the office every hour.”
Excess weight may also put pressure on your body and cause neck or back pain. Try to maintain a healthy weight by sticking to a balanced diet and regular exercise routine.
Range of motion exercises can support neck health and mitigate pain. As in most things, consistency is key. Getting in a few exercises each day, a few times a day, is best. One exercise is to stretch your neck by turning to each side, turning your head as far as you can to the left to touch your shoulder with your chin, and then repeating on the right side. Aim for 10 repetitions on each side multiple times a day.
You can also strengthen your neck muscles and improve your posture by retracting your chin into your chest, like you are making a double chin, and repeat 10 times. These exercises can be done while sitting, standing or even laying in bed.
If you’re experiencing back or neck pain that’s affecting your quality of life, don’t wait — connect with the Back and Neck Care program at Baylor Scott & White today to get relief.
Photography may include models or actors and may not represent actual patients.Physicians provide clinical services as members of the medical staff at one of Baylor Scott & White Health’s subsidiary, community or affiliated medical centers and do not provide clinical services as employees or agents of those medical centers or Baylor Scott & White Health.