Head & Neck Pain

The California Spine & Pain Institute gives you the tools you need to conquer neck pain. Your neck supports the weight of your head and gives it motion.

At the California Spine and Pain Institute we offer head and neck pain relief to patients in West Hills, Encino, Sherman Oaks, San Fernando, Calabasas, Woodland Hills, Tarzana, CA, and nearby areas.

Neck pain can be caused by injury, stress, common and rare infections, virus infection of the throat, lymph gland swelling, tuberculosis of the neck and bone infection of the cervical spine. Various forms of neck pain include:

Cervical Radiculitis

This is compression of the nerve roots in the upper seven vertebrae of the spine, which are called the cervical vertebrae. Radiculitis occurs when the spinal disc presses against the nerves traveling from the spinal cord, and can be felt beyond the neck.

Symptoms include:

• Mild tingling, dull ache or a burning or pulsing sensation
• Numbness in the affected area
• Pain near or over the shoulder blade
• Pain in the arm and forearm
• Rarely, pain radiating down your fingers

Herniated Disc

This common injury typically occurs with one of the rubbery cushions (discs) between the individual bones (vertebrae) that make up your spine. You can have a herniated disc without knowing it, yet some herniated discs can be quite painful. The location of your symptoms may vary, depending on where the herniation is located along your spine. Most herniated discs occur in your lower back (lumbar spine), although they can also occur in your neck (cervical spine).

• Arm or leg pain
• Numbness or tingling
• Weakness

Cervical Disc Disease

Your cervical spine is made up of seven bones called vertebrae separated by discs filled with cushioning gel-like material. Cervical discs stabilize your neck and allow it to turn and bend. These natural shock absorbers can become worn and degenerate over time. As the space between vertebrae narrows, nerve roots become pinched. Symptoms include:

• Neck and arm pain, which may radiate down into the hand
• Numbness and tingling over the arm and hand
• Weakness of the hand and arm muscles may occur

Cervical Spondylosis

This is a disorder caused by abnormal wear on the cartilage and bones of the neck (cervical vertebrae), including the cushions between the neck vertebrae (cervical discs) and the joints between the bones of the cervical spine. Symptoms include:

• Neck pain (may radiate to the arms or shoulder)
• Neck stiffness that worsens over time
• Loss of sensation/abnormal sensations in the shoulders, arms, or legs
• Weakness of the arms or (rarely) legs
• Headaches, particularly in the back of the head

Headaches and Headache Relief in West Hills

California Spine & Pain Institute provides you with several treatment options for chronic and aggravating headaches. We believe that open communication is the first step in your treatment. This is critical for headache patients, because a correct diagnosis depends almost entirely on information you give the doctor. We are trained to ask the right questions and investigate to reach the cause of your problem

Headaches can be chronic, recurrent or occasional. Your pain can be mild or severe enough to disrupt your daily activities. Headaches involve the vast network of nerve fibers in tissues, muscles and blood vessels in the head and base of the skull. There are different kinds of headaches including:

Cervicogenic Headache

This type of headache is caused by a problem in the spine, neck and upper shoulder. It may begin with illnesses such as cervical sprain (whiplash), arthritis or muscle trauma. The severity of pain and headache symptoms vary and may include:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Dizziness
• Blurred vision
• Sensitivity to light or sounds
• Pain down one or both arms
• Stiff neck

Tension Headache

This is one of the most common headaches. Tension headache can occur at any age, but is most common in adults and adolescents. Tension headache is pain or discomfort in the head, scalp, or neck often associated with muscle tightness. Headache symptoms include:

• Dull or aching head pain
• Tightness or pressure across your forehead, on the sides and back of your head
• Tenderness on scalp, neck and shoulder muscles
• Occasional loss of appetite

Periorbital Migraines

Headache caused by irritation or injury to the nerves, which can be the result of trauma to the back of the head is called occipital neuralgia. It’s caused by the compression of nerves in overly tight neck muscles. We associate localized inflammation, infection, gout, diabetes, blood vessel inflammation (vasculitis) and frequent prolonged periods of holding the head down and forward with occipital neuralgia. Headache symptoms include:

• Piercing, throbbing, or electric-shock-like chronic pain in the upper neck, back of the head, and behind the ears, usually on one side of the head
• Pain in the scalp, forehead, and behind the eyes
• Scalp tender to the touch
• Sensitivity to light

Learn more about headache relief and neck pain relief at California Spine & Pain Institute. Call 855.HEAL.PAIN or 818.225.0045, or use our convenient Request an Appointment form.