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A neck pain doctor is a right specialist to see if a person is experiencing any type of pain and discomfort in the neck. However, what kind of doctor should a person see for neck pain? This article will focus on the answer to that question as well as the advantages of visiting this type of specialist. In some occasions, neck pain may be related to tooth pain, don’t hesitate to go to an emergency dentist if you feel any severe simultaneous neck and tooth pain. Click on the link for more information.
A neck pain doctor
An orthopedist is a doctor that specializes in problems dealing with the musculoskeletal system. It is common for the parts of this body system, the joints, tendons, ligaments and bones to cause pain to the neck. Since an orthopedist is an expert on these specific parts of the body, they will be able to diagnose and treat any discomforts that are associated with the neck.
Getting treatment from an orthopedist
If a person is having frequent pains in the neck, there may be something wrong with the cervical spine. The orthopaedic doctor may have to ask for previous medical records, perform a physical examination, order the person to get an x-ray done and have other tests done to determine the exact cause of the neck pain.
Once they are able to zero in on the cause of the neck pain, they will order various types of treatment methods done to help relieve the pain. Here is a list of the most common recommendations an orthopedist can prescribe to a patient.
Rest
No matter what type of therapy or healing treatment that the doctor will recommend, it will most likely almost always include rest. This will also entail the immobilization of the neck so as not to cause more harm to the muscles and tissues and aggravate the pain.
Medication
They will also be likely to prescribe specific medicines to target the healing of the muscles and bones affected as well as pain killers to help the patient manage the pain while in the recovery stage.
Physical therapy
If there is extensive damage to the area, the orthopedist may also prescribe physical therapy. This will help the muscles and bones heal and stretch to allow the normal range of movement in the neck or other parts of the body to return to normal. Many times, if there is pain or a pulled muscle, it can get challenging for a person to retain their normal range of motion. Physical therapy will help a person regain their muscle’s flexibility without further damaging any of the muscles and tissues in the affected area.
Surgery
In extreme cases, the doctor may recommend surgery to be done. If the patient is experiencing intense pain, even with the intervention of the other techniques mentioned above, surgery will most likely be the only solution for the doctor to get to the bottom of the pain and get rid of the primary cause.