Our specialty-trained neck doctors at BoulderCentre for Orthopedics & Spine are some of the area's distinguished experts in the diagnosis and treatment of patients' neck injuries and conditions.

The cervical spine, more commonly known as the neck, is vitally important as it holds the head up, allowing it to turn to the side and move up and down. The neck is susceptible to pain, which comes in different forms. Some people experience sudden, intense pain from a traumatic incident, like a car accident. Most people refer to this as whiplash. Other people experience chronic pain from conditions such as degenerative disc disease or arthritis. This is when the discs in the neck break down or deteriorate due to the wear and tear placed on them over the years. It is also common to experience pain when the nerves, ligaments, and muscles of the neck are pinched or damaged. A doctor can evaluate your pain and provide a diagnosis and treatment options for your injury or condition. However, there are times when neck surgery is necessary in order to get patients back to a healthy, active lifestyle, and an experienced surgeon who is fellowship-trained in back, neck, and spine surgery has the expertise to perform minimally invasive spinal procedures.

Know When It's Time to See a Neck Doctor Near You

You should make an appointment with a neck doctor near you to discuss available treatment options if you notice any of the following symptoms:

  • Dizziness
  • Muscle spasms in your neck or back
  • Neck pain that disrupts your sleep
  • Neck pain when moving your head up and down
  • Neck pain when turning your head from side to side
  • Numbness or tingling that radiates down from your neck to your arms and hands
  • Pain that radiates from your neck to your head
  • Pain that radiates from your neck to your shoulders
  • Perpetual headaches
  • Pinched nerves
  • Swelling or stiffness in the neck and shoulders
  • Twisted or kinked neck

These symptoms may be an indication of a more serious injury or condition like the following, which our neck doctors can diagnose and treat:

  • Arthritis
  • Bone spurs
  • Bulging, ruptured, or herniated cervical discs
  • Compressed or damaged nerves
  • Damage to cartilage
  • Degenerative disc disease 
  • Fractured or dislocated vertebrae
  • Neck sprain or strain
  • Sciatica 
  • Spinal stenosis (cervical)
  • Spondylolisthesis
  • Whiplash

Our neck specialists understand that pain in your back, neck, and spine can dramatically affect your daily life. To consult with our doctors at our Boulder or Broomfield offices, you can schedule an appointment online or call 303.449.2730 for an appointment.

Get Your Life Back in Motion With BoulderCentre for Orthopedics & Spine

When it comes to choosing the right doctor to treat your injury or condition, there are a number of factors that you should take into consideration, including their professional training and level of expertise.

At BoulderCentre for Orthopedics & Spine, our fellowship-trained spine surgeon, Robert Harper, MD, and our board-certified physiatrist, Ilya Igolnikov, MD, have completed specialty training specifically in the back, neck, and spine. Our doctors have the advanced skills, knowledge, and expertise needed in order to diagnose and treat your neck injury or condition individually to your specific needs and develop a treatment plan that is unique to you.

Before suggesting surgery, our doctors will always recommend conservative treatment methods first, like physical therapy and injections, to provide care for your neck injury or condition. Our doctors offer a number of different injections and nonsurgical treatment options, including:

  • Diagnostic ultrasound evaluation
  • Electrodiagnostic testing
  • Radiofrequency neurolysis
  • Spinal injections

However, there are some instances where these nonsurgical treatment methods do not provide adequate pain relief and neck surgery is necessary in order to restore your health. If this is the case for you, our specialty-trained neck doctors will work with you to find the procedure that is right for you and your neck injury or condition. As a fellowship-trained spine surgeon, Dr. Harper embraces the challenges and intricacies of spine surgery, his motivation stems from witnessing patients’ significant improvement, freeing them from severe pain and disability. He specializes in the following surgical neck procedures: 

  • Minimally invasive spine surgery
  • Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion
  • Cervical disc replacement
  • Cervical foraminotomy
  • Posterior cervical decompression and fusion
  • Revision spine surgery
  • Adult deformity reconstruction
  • Image-guided and robotic spine surgery

In addition to providing state-of-the-art care for your neck injury or condition, our doctors also work closely with our physical therapy staff, taking a team approach in your recovery with the goal of getting you back to your healthy, active lifestyle.

To consult with our BoulderCentre for Orthopedics & Spine neck doctor or neck surgeon about your injury or condition and the available treatment options, please schedule an appointment online or call 303.449.2730.