Chronic Neck Pain Specialist | Brock Pain Medicine

Neck Pain That Radiates, Stiffens, or Won’t Resolve Is Telling You Something

Most people dismiss neck pain as something that will go away on its own.

Rest, a new pillow, stretching. Sometimes that works.

But when neck pain persists beyond a few weeks, returns repeatedly, or begins sending pain, numbness, or tingling into the shoulders, arms, or hands, something structural is usually involved.

Brock Pain Medicine evaluates and treats a wide range of chronic and persistent neck pain conditions.

If your neck pain has been limiting your life and conservative measures haven’t produced lasting relief, a specialist evaluation is the appropriate next step.

Schedule a Neck Pain Evaluation

Or Call Brock Pain Medicine: (469) 742-9950

Common Causes of Persistent Neck Pain

Neck pain that doesn’t resolve is rarely just muscle tension. The most common structural causes we evaluate and treat include:

Cervical disc herniation

A disc between cervical vertebrae pushes outward and presses on a nerve root, causing neck pain plus radiating pain, numbness, or weakness in the shoulder, arm, or hand. The location and character of arm symptoms often identify which disc and nerve root is involved.

Cervical facet arthropathy

The small joints between cervical vertebrae develop arthritis and inflammation. Causes localized neck pain that is often worse with rotation or extension and may refer pain to the head, shoulder, or between the shoulder blades.

Cervical spinal stenosis

Narrowing of the spinal canal in the neck compresses the spinal cord or nerve roots. It can cause neck pain, arm symptoms, and, in more severe cases, balance or coordination problems.

Degenerative disc disease

The cushioning discs between cervical vertebrae lose height and hydration over time, reducing shock absorption and causing chronic stiffness and pain that worsens with certain positions or sustained activity.

Whiplash and post-injury neck pain

Trauma — most commonly a motor vehicle accident — can damage the muscles, ligaments, and joints of the cervical spine. Symptoms sometimes persist long after the initial injury.

Cervicogenic headaches

Headaches that originate from cervical spine structures and refer pain to the head. Often mistaken for tension headaches or migraines. Respond well to cervical-level treatment when correctly diagnosed.

Occipital neuralgia

Irritation or compression of the occipital nerves at the base of the skull causes sharp, shooting pain from the neck into the back of the head and behind the eyes.

Symptoms That Suggest Your Neck Pain Needs Specialist Evaluation

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Neck pain lasting more than 6 weeks that has not improved with rest or conservative care

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Pain that radiates from the neck into one or both shoulders, arms, or hands

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Numbness or tingling in the arms, hands, or fingers

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Weakness in the arms or hands

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Neck stiffness that limits your range of motion significantly

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Headaches that seem to originate in the back of the neck or base of the skull

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Pain that is worse with certain head positions, prolonged sitting, or screen use

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Prior neck injury with symptoms that have not fully resolved

Schedule a Neck Pain Evaluation

How Brock Pain Medicine Treats Neck Pain

Effective neck pain management begins with an accurate understanding of which structure is generating the pain. The cervical spine has multiple potential pain sources, and targeting the wrong one produces no relief. Our evaluation process is designed to identify the specific source before any treatment is recommended.

Cervical Epidural Steroid Injections

When disc herniation or nerve root compression is driving neck and arm symptoms, a cervical epidural injection can reduce inflammation around the affected nerve root and provide significant relief. Particularly effective for patients with radiating arm pain alongside neck pain.

Cervical Facet Joint Injections and Medial Branch Blocks

When the facet joints are identified as the pain source, targeted injections confirm the diagnosis and provide direct therapeutic relief. For patients who respond well, radiofrequency ablation of the medial branch nerves can provide longer-lasting relief.

Occipital Nerve Blocks

For cervicogenic headaches and occipital neuralgia, nerve blocks targeting the occipital nerves at the base of the skull can provide meaningful relief. Both diagnostic and therapeutic in a single procedure.

Trigger Point Injections

For neck pain with a significant muscular component, trigger point injections can release the tension that perpetuates the pain cycle.

Neck Pain Has a Source. Finding It Is How Treatment Works.

Persistent neck pain, especially when it radiates into the arms or causes headaches, is not something to manage indefinitely with over-the-counter medication and hope. There is usually a specific structural cause, and identifying it is the first step toward meaningful, lasting relief.

Schedule a Neck Pain Evaluation