What type of doctor do you see when you have neck problems (pain)?

Answer 1

Hi Kim, with neck problems the list can go on and on. If you have neck problems it can be something as simple as a pulled muscle to something more complex like a swollen thyroid gland.

Seeing a proper doctor can help you fix your medical ailments. If you feel a slight burning sensation in your arm or finger tips whenever you move your neck, it is probably a pinched nerve. It's no big deal, it can happen sometimes when a muscle knots up in your neck or upper back and it may be unpleasant but will go away in a day or two. If you've had it for a couple of months, your doctor may ask you to have surgery to fix it.

Most commonly your doctor (IF the pain is severe enough) will prescribe to you a light muscle relaxer or suggest you take Aleve or extra strength Tylenol to relieve the pain.

If you feel like you can only move your neck to one side, you probably have a really wicked cramp that needs to be worked out. If you cannot go to a massage therapist, I recommend doing the following: Sit in a tub of warm water as hot as you can stand it for as long as you can stand it (obviously not so hot it can burn you and not too hot if you have heart problems, are taking blood thinners or have a pacemaker) and slowly work your neck starting with your chin turned to your shoulder and then touching your chest and then over to your other shoulder. Do that a few times and step out and it should help. NEVER do full circles with your neck as you can do permanent nerve/spinal damage with this.

Alternating hot packs/cold packs for 15 min at a time can help loosen the muscle group. Inbetween switching, just make sure to stretch your neck out a bit each time.

You can also take a tennis ball and hold it between your upper back and a wall and roll it across your back that way (or have someone else roll it for you) and slowly massage your neck with it. The tennis ball is hard enough to work out your muscles, but soft enough to not hurt you.

I recommend a good family practitioner if you need to see a doctor. You can also see a Chiropractor (M.D. with extra musculo-skeletal training) an Osteopathic Doctor (a doctor who uses a full body approach to healing and who also uses the same chiropractic movements), an Ear Nose and Throat specialist, (Otolaryngology Doctor), they can help you determine if it's something more serious than a muscle glitch, however they usually require a referral from your primary care doc. You can also see a physical therapist who can prescribe certain exercises for you to do. Massage therapists also work well for that (massage school students often charge less for massages and are always observed by an instructor).

If it is a simple sprain, you can also learn simple stretching exercises that can help you avoid the injury in the future.

I also want to add that you may need a new pillow or a new mattress. If you are not getting proper spinal alignment while you sleep, your neck can start to hurt from the weight of an improperly positioned support system.

It's also possible you may need new shoes. When you are not getting proper support for your feet, you can have all sorts of alignment problems in your body and before you know it, you hurt all over. If you can't afford new shoes, try getting arch support or memory foam inserts for your feet. You can also see an Orthopedic Doctor (skeletal doctor) or a Podiatrist (foot doctor) for that. If your injury is related to sports a Sports Medicine Doctor (who usually has training in all of the above) can help you out also.

I hope this helps you and that your road to healing comes as painlessly as possible. Good luck!

Answer 2

Depends on the type of neck pain you are having. Your primary doctor should be able to help direct you to either an orthopedic or neurologist specialist. In most states, you could go see a physical therapist without a script from your doctor, but you should call to make sure. Anyone who cannot spell chiropractor may not be your best help... Use your family doc to help steer your course.

Answer 3

I've been told that Orthopedic doctors are much better than chiropractors because they focus on solving the problem as opposed to simply relieving the syptoms. With chiropractic care, you will most likely be forced to continue treatment for your life or until you finally break down and have the root problem fixed...just seems easier to fix it to begin with.

Answer 4

Neurosurgeons: A neurosurgeon specializes in diseases and conditions of the central nervous system, and the nerves that branch out from the spine. A neurosurgeon might perform surgery on the brain, the spinal cord or on the spine itself. While neurosurgeons do provide non-surgical management of back pain, you may be referred to one after exhausting all your conservative care options, rather than before. According to the Congress of Neurological Surgeons, neurosurgeons often act as consultants to other doctors. This is because they have extensive knowledge on how to diagnose all types of neurological disease.

Answer 5

Hi Kim, a primary care Dr.

Good Luck

Tony

Answer 6

i seen my family doctor. I dont believe in Chropratics!!! i would put some hot and cold on my kneck first and exercise it before seeing the doctor. then if my home remaddies dont work, the family doctor may send you to physical tharapy. get a xray or ct scan see what the trouble is.. then go from there. it depends on what you did to you kneck there to figure the right step to take.

Answer 7

I would consult my regular physician first - if he/she does not find anything - then consult a chiropractioner. They can work wonders with neck and back 'cracking', therapy, heat treatments. And then, follow up with a regular massage once a week or two if you can afford it. Eliminate any real issues first.

Answer 8

Chiropractor. It may be something else causing the pain in your neck. See a regular physician first and then he/she might refer you to the chiro.

Answer 9

Find yourself a sports medicine doctor. They are the best speciality to understand the reasons for such problem. In another speciality is needed they will refer you. You can find there doctors in the yellow pages or have your general practitioner refer you.

Answer 10

If a conventional Dr doesn't help...try a chiropractor or massage therapist.