3 Common Neck Problems That Can Be Resolved by Surgery

Dealing with neck problems?

Unfortunately, you’re not alone. One study found that as many as 80 percent of people (and women more than men) will deal with neck pain or other troubles during their lifetime.

While having neck issues is common, what you may be experiencing can vary greatly. For example, some neck problems can be fixed with stretches. Others may require neck surgery or other treatments.

Here are 3 common neck problems that can be resolved by surgery.

1. Pinched Nerve

A pinched nerve occurs when extra pressure is put on a nerve surrounding muscle tissue. For example, if you have tightness, pain, or tingling in your neck, this could cause your neck pain.

Approximately 85 out of every 100,000 adults have a pinched nerve problem. Sadly, pinched nerves in your neck could also lead to downstream issues in your shoulders and arms. They could even cause migraine headaches. 

(These are all signs you should see a neck doctor, by the way.)

Fortunately, certain neck operations can heal even really severe cases that are causing you pain.

Anterior cervical diskectomy and fusion (ACDF) is a common example. This is when a doctor removes a damaged nerve from your neck to help alleviate the pressure that may be causing your nerve to fire pain or tingling signals.

2. Spinal Cord Compression

Spinal cord compression means that your neck problems result from your spine having pressure put on it. This could be caused by tight muscles, damaged discs, or other injuries.

Some doctors recommend a cervical laminectomy, which helps reduce pressure and eliminate inflammation around the affected areas.

This type of treatment is sometimes done in place of a neck fusion, which can be a little riskier. (Neck fusion problems tend to cause people not to be able to rotate their neck fully for the rest of their lives.)

3. Broken Neck

It sounds scary, but broken necks are more common than they may seem. This is because there are 7 bones in your cervical spine, which is the anatomical term for your neck.

From sports-related injuries to wear and tear leading to fracture, it is possible to break these tissues. In this case, a neck fusion is most likely. The fusion is done to help stabilize and support the bone that’s damaged.

To do this, a doctor typically inserts rods or screws into the neck, then fuses the bone to its neighbor. Properly done fusions can result in pain-free living later on. But, since the neck is such a vital area, every injury and prognosis are slightly different.

Neck Problems that Require Surgery

The three common neck problems that require surgery are pinched nerves, disc compression, and a broken neck. Each requires its own specific type of treatment, which can be diagnosed or explained by your doctor.

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