Overview

Relief for your neck pain

It’s important to see a doctor who can diagnose the source of your pain and symptoms and help you feel better. At UW Health, our team provides specialty care for neck pain. Whether your pain stems from an injury or a lifestyle factor like extended computer work, we create a care plan just for you.

Causes

What causes neck pain?

Neck pain can come from many conditions that impact the tissues in the neck. These include:

  • Degenerative disc disease

  • Herniated disc

  • Joint arthritis 

  • Ligament sprain

  • Muscle strain

  • Pinched nerve

  • Ruptured disc

  • Sedentary lifestyle

  • Spine arthritis

  • Spinal cancer and tumors

  • Spine fracture

  • Spinal stenosis

  • Whiplash

Symptoms and diagnosis

Understanding your neck pain and related symptoms

Your neck pain care team finds the best treatment for you. We want to ease your pain and address its cause. We provide numerous treatment options.

Nonsurgical treatment options:

  • Bracing

  • Heat/ice applications

  • Injections (anesthetic or steroid)

  • Massage therapy

  • Medicines such as anti-inflammatories, muscle relaxants or analgesics

  • Spine physical therapy and rehabilitation

  • Rest

  • Topical anesthetic creams or pain patches

  • Acupuncture

If nonsurgical treatment does not relieve your neck pain, surgery may help. We provide these surgical treatments:

  • Cervical spinal fusion

  • Discectomy

  • Kyphoplasty

  • Spinal decompression

  • Spinal radiosurgery

  • Tumor removal

  • Vertebroplasty

Rehabilitation treatment for neck pain 

Our physical therapists and rehab specialists design treatments that get you back to the activities you enjoy. Your care plan might include:

  • Bodywork and acupuncture

  • Exercise for flexibility and range-of-motion

  • Massage therapy

  • Mobilization/manipulation

  • Posture training

  • Strengthening and stabilization exercises

Meet our team

Neck pain specialists

The neck pain team at UW Health includes experts in neurosurgery, orthopedic spine surgery, rehabilitation medicine, pain management, spine physical therapy and rehabilitation.

Orthopedic surgery
Neurosurgery
Rehabilitation and pain management
Physical therapists and athletic trainers

Locations

Specialty care for neck pain close to home

We offer specialized care for neck pain at UW Health clinics in Madison, Reedsburg and Prairie du Sac.

Patient and support services

Patient resources to understand and reduce neck pain

At UW Health, we care for your neck pain and give you information to stay healthy and pain-free. Learn more: