Neck pain is something people put up with far longer than they should. They adjust their pillow, take something for it, stretch in the morning, and push through. But when it persists for weeks, gets worse, or starts traveling into the shoulder or arm, it’s telling you something specific. And something specific can be treated specifically.
Dr. Todd Koppel has been evaluating and treating neck pain in New Jersey for nearly 30 years. He trained at The New York Hospital and the Hospital for Special Surgery. His approach starts with finding the actual source of the pain, not just treating the symptom.
What Is Causing Your Neck Pain?
Neck pain can come from several different structures, and each has its own pattern and its own best treatment. Getting the diagnosis right is the difference between lasting relief and a revolving door of temporary fixes.
Cervical Disc Herniation
When a disc in the neck herniates, it can press on a nearby nerve root and cause pain that travels from the neck into the shoulder, arm, or hand. This is called cervical radiculopathy, or a pinched nerve, and it responds very well to targeted cervical injections.
Cervical Facet Joint Arthritis
The small joints at the back of each cervical vertebra are a frequent but often overlooked source of chronic neck pain, especially in patients with a history of whiplash or cervical degeneration. Facet pain tends to cause deep, local neck aching that is worse when turning the head or looking upward. It responds well to facet injections and, for longer-lasting relief, radiofrequency ablation.
Cervical Spondylosis
Age-related degeneration of the cervical spine, disc thinning, bone spur formation, and facet arthritis cause chronic stiffness and aching neck pain. When bone spurs compress nerve roots, arm symptoms develop.
Cervical Spinal Stenosis
Narrowing of the cervical spinal canal can compress the spinal cord itself, causing neck pain, arm symptoms, and in more advanced cases, changes in balance or coordination. This requires careful evaluation.
When to See Dr. Koppel About Neck Pain
Don’t wait to seek neck pain relief if any of these apply:
- Neck pain has lasted more than four to six weeks without improvement
- Pain is traveling into your shoulder, arm, or hand
- You have numbness or tingling in your arm or fingers
- You notice weakness in your arm or hand
- Neck pain followed an accident or fall
Treatment Options
- Cervical epidural steroid injections — for nerve root compression
- Cervical facet injections — for joint-related neck pain
- Medial branch blocks and radiofrequency ablation — for longer-term facet joint relief
- Selective nerve root blocks — for specific nerve level compression
- Minimally invasive disc procedures — for herniations not responding to injections
Frequently Asked Questions
Ready to Find Relief?
Don’t let facet joint pain dictate your life. At Garden State Pain Management, Dr. Todd Koppel uses advanced, minimally invasive techniques to target the source of your neck or back pain, not just the symptoms. Whether you’ve been managing chronic stiffness for months or were recently injured, relief may be closer than you think. Patients across New Jersey trust Dr. Koppel for his precision, personalized approach, and proven results. Call (973) 473-5752 today, or book your appointment online at our Clifton or Elizabeth location.
