If you’ve ever woken up with a stiff neck, felt a nagging ache after sitting at a computer all day, or struggled with sharp pain that seems to come out of nowhere, you know how much neck discomfort can disrupt your routine. Neck pain isn’t just annoying — it can interfere with work, sleep, and the simple pleasure of turning your head to look at a loved one.
At McNulty Spine, Dr. Patrick McNulty — one of the nation’s leading orthopedic surgeons and spine specialists — treats neck pain on a regular basis. With advanced training, extensive clinical experience, and a personalized approach, he can help you uncover the why behind your pain and create a path toward lasting improvement.
While there are many potential causes of neck pain, here are five treatable ones you’ll see commonly — and how Dr. McNulty approaches each.
Everyday habits like hunching over a phone or laptop, carrying a heavy bag on one shoulder, or sleeping in an odd position can strain the muscles in your neck and upper shoulders. You would probably describe this kind of pain as tightness, soreness, or a dull ache.
Dr. McNulty’s approach involves:
Muscle-related neck pain often responds quickly to focused care and improved body mechanics.
The discs between your vertebrae absorb the shock of movement. With age or repeated motion, these discs can degenerate or bulge, irritating nearby nerves and causing pain, tingling, or even weakness down your arms. As this condition progresses, it could even start to affect your legs, as well as bowel and bladder function. This is myelopathy. If you are having myelopathy due to spinal cord compression, the prognosis is typically poor without appropriate surgical treatment.
Although surgery may be needed for some patients, Dr. McNulty typically begins with a more conservative strategy that may include:
If nonsurgical treatment doesn’t help, he may recommend surgical options that restore alignment and relieve pressure on your nerves and spinal cord. This can include disc replacement if appropriate.
The spinal canal in your neck can narrow due to age related, degenerative processes, not just a disc herniation which is more common in younger people. This is spinal stenosis. It can cause pain, numbness, and weakness into your arms and hands. As this condition progresses, it can affect your legs, as well as bowel and bladder function. This is myelopathy. If you are having myelopathy due to spinal cord compression, the prognosis is typically poor without appropriate surgical treatment.
Dr. McNulty uses advanced diagnostic tools to check for nerve and spinal cord involvement, and customizes treatment to your specific anatomy and symptoms. Options may include:
His goal is to restore durable, long-term function and symptom relief.
The facet joints help your neck move smoothly. When they become irritated due to wear, aging, or injury, you may feel localized neck pain — sometimes accompanied by stiffness or a grinding sensation.
Dr. McNulty treats facet-related pain with:
This comprehensive strategy reduces your pain while preserving your natural motion.
Accidents, falls, or sudden jolts can cause whiplash — a rapid back-and-forth motion that strains soft tissues in the neck. Whiplash pain sometimes shows up immediately, but it can also emerge 1-2 days after the event.
For trauma-related neck pain, Dr. McNulty focuses on:
Most people will recover with strong, flexible neck function, and avoid spine surgery.
Whether your neck pain began with a desk job, an old injury, or simply the wear and tear of life, you don’t have to just live with it. Most causes of bothersome neck pain are treatable — and many improve dramatically with the right care.
If your neck pain is interfering with what you love to do, call McNulty Spine in Las Vegas, Nevada, or request a consultation online. Dr. McNulty and our team are here to help you understand what’s going on and find a solution that gets you moving with confidence again.
