Does your neck hurt when you turn your head?
Wake up with stiffness
or feel a burning pain running down your arm?
Neck pain is tricky.
It can start as a small annoyance and suddenly take over your life.
You worry:
Is it something serious? Will I need surgery?
The good news?
Most neck problems don’t require surgery.
You have plenty of effective, proven treatments that can relieve your pain and restore your quality of life without the need for surgery.
Let’s break them down. Here’s everything you need to know about your options and how to choose the right treatment plan.
What Causes Neck Pain?
Your neck carries a heavy load. It supports your head, which weighs about 10-12 pounds, and allows for a full range of motion. That’s a lot of work for a small area packed with bones, discs, nerves, and muscles.
Is it any surprise it gets irritated?
Common causes of neck pain include:
- Poor posture. (Looking down at your phone? Slouching at a desk?
- Sleeping in awkward positions.
- Stress and tension (can tighten muscles)
- Minor injuries. (Sports, whiplash, even sneezing the wrong way.)
More serious conditions may include:
- Arthritis
- Herniated or bulging discs pressing on nerves.
- Age-related spinal degeneration
So, what’s really causing you pain?
Getting a proper diagnosis is key. Once you know what’s causing your neck pain, the doctor can help you choose the best treatment option.
Is Surgery Always Needed?
In most cases, surgery isn’t the only option. Most neck pain is mechanical or inflammatory.
That means it’s caused by strained muscles or irritated joints. In fact, about 90% of people get better with non-surgical treatments.
Surgery is typically only recommended if you have:
- Severe nerve compression that’s causing weakness or numbness.
- Spinal instability (from fractures or collapsed discs).
- Pain that doesn’t get better after exhausting other treatment options
That means for most people, less is more.
Your best bet? Start with proven non-surgical options.
Effective Neck Pain Treatments That Don’t Require Surgery
1. Physical Therapy
Physical therapy is often the first and most important step toward lasting pain relief.
A trained therapist will:
- Teach you exercises to strengthen your neck, back, and shoulder muscles.
- Improve your posture to reduce mechanical strainUse stretches to loosen stiff joints and tight muscles.
Done consistently; physical therapy doesn’t just relieve pain.
It makes your neck stronger so it’s less likely to get injured again.
Isn’t that better than just masking the pain?
2. Chiropractic Care
Ever wonder why people swear by chiropractic adjustments?
When spinal joints are out of alignment, they can irritate surrounding nerves and tissues. A chiropractor makes gentle, controlled adjustments to:
- Reduce pressure on nerves.
- Improve joint mobility.
- Relieve muscle tension
Always choose a chiropractor experienced in neck care. The cervical spine is delicate and requires precise techniques.
3. Massage Therapy
Massage therapy isn’t just for relaxation; it’s a powerful tool for pain relief.
A skilled massage therapist can:
- Release painful muscle knots.
- Improve blood circulation to speed healing.
- Lower stress hormones that worsen tension.
Ever had your neck massaged after a long week? It feels like your whole body sighs with relief.
4. Acupuncture
Tiny needles. Big results.
Acupuncture works by:
- Stimulating the release of endorphins (your natural painkillers).
- Increasing blood flow to stiff areas.
- Relaxing tight muscles.
It’s surprisingly effective, especially for chronic tension and stress-related neck pain.
A handful of sessions could change how your entire back feels.
5. Pain Management Injections
Sometimes, you need a faster reset.
That’s where targeted injections shine.
Options include:
- Trigger point injections: For stubborn muscle spasms
- Facet joint injections: For arthritic joint pain.
- Epidural steroid injections: For nerve inflammation causing pain.
These injections don’t “fix” the root cause forever.
But they calm down inflammation so your body can heal, and you can keep moving. Often times, these injections are used also as a diagnostic tool, helping confirm a suspected diagnosis.
6. Everyday Habits That Heal
Your habits either support your recovery, or work against it
A few smart changes include:
- Adjust your desk setup. Keep screens at eye level. Use a chair with good support.
- Take breaks. Every 30 minutes, stand up. Roll your shoulders. Stretch.
- Watch your phone use. Hold it up instead of bending your neck.
- Get a good pillow. Your neck should be in line with your spine, not kinked up.
- Manage stress through relaxation techniques or mindfulness
7. Medication: Temporary Support While You Heal.
Sometimes pain gets ahead of you. Short-term medication can help you stay active.
Doctors may suggest:
- NSAIDs like ibuprofen or naproxen for inflammation.
- Muscle relaxants for spasms.
- Topical creams for sore spots.
Use them wisely. They are not a long-term solution.
Advanced Neck Pain Therapy in Los Angeles
If conservative treatments aren’t enough, at TOPS Pain Management, we provide advanced procedures including:
- Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA): Uses heat to disrupt pain signals from tiny nerves.
Relief can last 6-12 months. - Facet Joint Injections: Facet joint injections involve delivering a local anesthetic and sometimes steroid medication directly into the small joints of the spine to diagnose or treat pain caused by arthritis or joint inflammation.
- PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma): Injects concentrated growth factors from your own blood into damaged tissues, helping regenerate and repair.
- Stem Cell Injections: Bone marrow aspirate stem cell therapy involves extracting stem cells from a patient’s bone marrow—typically from the pelvic bone—and injecting them into damaged tissues to promote healing and regeneration.
- Epidural Steroid Injections: A cervical epidural steroid injection delivers anti-inflammatory medication into the epidural space of the neck to reduce nerve irritation and relieve pain from conditions like herniated discs or spinal stenosis.
These treatments can get you back to sleeping well, working out, or simply enjoying your day pain-free.
When to See a Doctor Immediately
Most neck pain is annoying, but not dangerous. However, some symptoms require prompt medical attention.
See a doctor right away if you experience:
- Numbness, tingling, or weakness in your hands or arms.
- Trouble with balance or coordination.
- Severe headaches with neck stiffness (possible signs of infection or bleeding).
- Pain after an accident, like a fall or motor vehicle collision.
The sooner you address these, typically, the better the outcomes are.
So, What’s The Best Neck Pain Treatment for You?
There’s no one-size-fits-all solution.
But a typical path to recovery might include:
- A mix of physical therapy and ergonomic tweaks to fix mechanics.
- Massage or chiropractic therapy for tight muscles and stiff joints.
- Medications or injections when needed to calm inflammation.
- Advanced options like epidural steroid injections, facet injections, RFA, PRP, and other interventional procedures.
The key is early, consistent care.
The longer pain persists, the more it “rewires” your brain, making it harder to treat later on.
Why Choose TOPS Insitute Pain Management in Los Angeles?
Simple. We believe in integral patient care, not band-aid solutions.
At TOPS, you’ll find:
- Expert interventional pain specialists
- Regenerative medicine options
- Compassionate guidance at every step
- Concierge care
Whether your pain is new or chronic, we create a plan that’s right for you — so you get real, lasting results.
If you’re ready to feel better, explore your options for Neck Pain Treatment with the experts at TOPS Doctors in Los Angeles.
Bottom Line
Neck pain is frustrating.
It can steal your focus, your hobbies, even your sleep.
But surgery isn’t the only way out.
Most people heal with non-surgical treatments that work with your body — not against it.
Start small.
Stay consistent.
Get help from the right specialists.
Imagine waking up one morning and realizing… your neck just feels normal again.
Isn’t that worth trying everything you can — before ever thinking about surgery?