Neck Pain Doctor: Relief for Stiff, Aching or Pinched Necks
Pain Management
Neck pain can make simple things hard. Checking your blind spot. Looking down at your phone. Sleeping on your side. When pain also travels into your shoulder, arm or head, it can be hard to think about anything else.
GSMC is led by Dr. Dharam Mann, who completed fellowships in pain management, cardiac anesthesia and critical care at Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard.
At Garden State Medical Center, our team helps people find out why their neck hurts and choose a plan that fits, without open surgery.
Common causes of neck pain
- Muscle strain. Poor posture, long hours at a desk or sleeping the wrong way can strain neck muscles. This often gets better on its own.
- Pinched nerve (cervical radiculopathy). A disc or bone spur can press on a nerve in the neck. You may feel pain, tingling or weakness in the arm or hand. Learn more about cervical radiculopathy.
- Arthritis in the facet joints. These small joints in the back of the neck can wear down with age and cause aching neck pain.
- Whiplash. A car crash can injure the joints, muscles and ligaments of the neck. Pain sometimes shows up days later.
- Headaches from the neck. Some headaches start at the base of the skull, where nerves from the neck run up the back of the head.
How we find the source of neck pain
We start by listening. Where is the pain? Does it go into your arm? Is it worse when you turn your head? Then we check your strength, feeling and reflexes in your arms, and how your neck moves. We review any X-rays or MRI. Sometimes a test injection, such as a medial branch block, helps confirm whether a joint is the source.
Neck pain treatments we offer
Most neck pain improves with time, physical therapy, posture changes and medicines. When it doesn't, options may include:
- Cervical epidural steroid injection. May calm swelling around a pinched nerve that causes arm pain.
- Facet joint injections and medial branch blocks. Can treat and test for arthritis-related neck pain.
- Radiofrequency ablation. If a block confirms the joint is the source, RFA can quiet those nerves for longer.
- Occipital nerve block and RFA. For some headaches that start at the back of the head.
- Trigger point injections. For tight, painful muscle knots.
- Spinal cord stimulation. For long-lasting arm and neck nerve pain, including after neck surgery. A trial comes first.
Relief varies. Some people feel much better. Others get partial relief or none. We'll be honest about what to expect for you.
When neck pain is an emergency
Get emergency care for neck pain after a serious fall or crash, neck pain with fever and a stiff neck, sudden weakness in your arms or legs, or trouble walking or with balance.
GSMC participates with all Aetna plans, including Aetna HMO. For other plans, our staff will check your benefits. We can't promise coverage.
Neck pain care at our offices
All offices are open Monday through Friday, 8am to 5pm.
Toms River (Hooper Ave)
1314 Hooper Ave, 1st Floor, Toms River, NJ 08753. Whiplash after a crash on Route 37 or the Parkway is a common reason people visit us here. We see work-related neck strain, too. Visit the Toms River office page.
Manahawkin
1109 Beacon Ave, Manahawkin, NJ 08050. Hours on a boat, casting a line or working overhead in construction can wear on the neck. We help Manahawkin patients get back to the water and the job. Visit the Manahawkin office page.
Whiting
1100 NJ-70, Entrance B, Whiting, NJ 08759. Arthritis in the neck is common among Whiting patients. It can make driving, reading and sleeping uncomfortable. Our goal is to make those everyday tasks easier. Visit the Whiting office page.
Freehold
322 Professional View Dr, 300 Building, 2nd Floor, Freehold, NJ 07728. Freehold patients often come with neck pain and headaches that build through a busy workweek. We look at both the neck and the headache pattern. Visit the Freehold office page.
West Long Branch
100 NJ-36, Suite 1K, West Long Branch, NJ 07764. Long commutes and desk work show up in the neck. We also see students and athletes with neck strain. Visit the West Long Branch office page.
Brick
1608 NJ-88, Suite 102, Brick Township, NJ 08724. The GSMC team covers our Brick office. They treat neck pain from desk work and old injuries, and help sort out whether stiffness may be inflammatory. Visit the Brick office page.
Barnegat
249 S Main St, Suite 5, Barnegat Township, NJ 08005. The GSMC team covers our Barnegat office. Neck pain after car accidents and work injuries is a common reason for a visit. Visit the Barnegat office page.
Book a visit
You don't have to keep working around a stiff, sore neck. Request a visit online at the GSMC office closest to you. We'll find out what's causing your pain and talk through your options.
Frequently asked questions
What kind of doctor treats neck pain?
For new neck pain, start with your primary care doctor. If pain lasts more than a few weeks, travels into your arm or keeps coming back, a pain management specialist can find the source and offer non-surgical care.
Can a pinched nerve in the neck heal without surgery?
Many do. Time, physical therapy and medicines help many people. If pain continues, an epidural steroid injection may help. If a surgical opinion makes sense, we'll explain why and help with a referral.
Can neck problems cause headaches?
Yes. Some headaches start in the joints or nerves of the upper neck. An occipital nerve block may help find and treat this kind of headache.
How long after a car accident can neck pain start?
Neck pain from whiplash can start right away or a day or more later. If you've been in a crash, get checked, and seek emergency care for severe pain, weakness or numbness.
What is radiofrequency ablation for the neck?
It uses gentle heat to quiet the small nerves that carry pain from arthritic neck joints. We usually confirm the source with a test block first. Relief may last months for some people, but results vary.