This article is one of a series covering neck pain — causes, symptoms, and the treatments we use at Back and Body Medical in Midtown Manhattan. For the complete overview, see the full guide:
Arthritis is a common problem in people, and we see it here frequently at Back & Body NY and we get a lot of patients with neck pain in Manhattan. There are multiple different types of arthritis, a common on being osteoarthritis (oa), known also as degenerative joint disease (djd). Osteoarthritis wears and tears at the muscles because the smooth, shiny cartilage covering the joints that allows for a gliding surface is worn down. This causes pain, swelling, loss of motion, and spurs that restrict movement. The arthritis foundation says that oa/djd affects 27 million Americans, and is most of the times found in the knees, hips, low back, neck, small joints of the fingers, and base of the thumb and big toe.
In a study done, researchers examined cervical x-rays and detached spondylosis. They looked at the degeneration of the intervertebral discs, that rest between the vertebrae of the spine in 60 percent of non symptomatic people over 40 years of age in 95 percent of men and 70 percent of women over the age of 60. Cervical spine mris of people without the neck pain most times showed a disc bulge or herniation. We want you to know that according to the AMA Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment, 30 percent of people who have never experienced neck or back pain will test positive for a herniated disc, and 50 percent will have bulging discs on a ct or mri.
If you have neck pain and your doctor looks at images that show arthritis or a disc problem, how do you know if djd is the problem? This answer varies on the person.
Although it can be frustrating, it can be difficult to determine what is generating a patient’s pain. This is the reason that the patient has to be examined fully to see where the root of the problem is coming from. Doctors of chiropractic, like us here treating neck pain in Manhattan, will approach the problem with the following therapies: joint manipulation; mobilization; massage; trigger point therapy; exercise training; activity modifications; self-management strategies, such as traction; the use of specially designed pillows; modalities such as electrical stimulation, ultrasound, and laser therapy; and nutritional counseling to reduce inflammatory markers.
Contact us now. We have three simple ways you can make an appointment at our Back and Body NY chiro office:
Call now on (212)371 2000 or text (315)873-3095 or email us at Yo**********@***********NY.com
Ready to get out of pain? Most new patients are seen within 24 hours — walk in or book online.
Dr Shan Sivendra MD is the founder and medical director of Back and Body Medical in Midtown Manhattan. A board-certified medical doctor, certified acupuncturist, and Director of House Physicians at St. Barnabas Medical Center, Dr Sivendra has been practicing in New York since 1995.
He completed his residency in Internal Medicine at Saint Barnabas Medical Center (affiliated with Mount Sinai School of Medicine) and received the Resident Research Award for three consecutive years.
Dr Sivendra has a background spanning internal medicine, pain management, and conservative spine rehabilitation, and was licensed in both the US and the UK.
At Back and Body Medical, he leads a multidisciplinary team of chiropractors, physical therapists, and acupuncturists dedicated to helping patients recover from pain without surgery or unnecessary medication.