Neck Pain Specialist

Keith Schmidt, MD

Pain Management & Chronic Pain Specialist located in Hoffman Estates, IL & Carol Stream, IL

It’s not uncommon to experience neck pain after spending most of your day hunched over a desk. Neck pain usually resolves on its own with at-home care. If your neck pain is chronic, and you can’t get relief from traditional treatments, Keith Schmidt, MD, at Ascension Comprehensive Pain Management Program can help. He’s an interventional pain management specialist and offers advanced treatments to relieve your neck pain. To schedule an appointment, contact the office in Hoffman Estates or Carol Stream, Illinois, by phone or online today.

Neck Pain Q & A

What causes neck pain?

Neck pain is a common pain complaint that may develop from poor posture, injury, overuse, or an underlying condition. Some of the most common causes of neck pain include:

Sprain or strain
Herniated disc
Pinched nerve
Cervical stenosis
Degenerative disc disease
Arthritis
Whiplash

Though neck pain is rarely a symptom of a serious health condition, your pain can turn into a chronic problem that affects your day-to-day activities.

Dr. Schmidt is a triple board-certified pain management specialist with a reputation for helping patients achieve pain relief when other doctors fail.

What can I expect during a neck pain consultation?

When you see Dr. Schmidt for a neck pain consultation, you can expect a thorough evaluation to find the root cause of your pain, so you get the most effective treatment.

During your exam, Dr. Schmidt reviews your symptoms, including the pain you feel and the activities that worsen your pain. He also discusses your medical and neck pain treatment history.

To better understand the cause of your neck pain, Dr. Schmidt may request diagnostic tests such as blood work, an X-ray, or an MRI.

How is neck pain treated?

Dr. Schmidt develops individualized treatment plans for neck pain based on the underlying cause, the severity of your symptoms, and medical history.

Some of the innovative treatments he offers to alleviate neck pain include:

Epidural

An epidural is an injection Dr. Shmidt places in the epidural space in your spine at the site of the nerves causing your pain. He may include a steroid in your epidural to reduce inflammation.

Radiofrequency ablation

During radiofrequency ablation, Dr. Schmidt uses heat energy to destroy the nerve responsible for your pain.

Cervical facet block

Your facet joints connect the vertebrae in your spine. Over time, these joints degenerate, which may lead to bone spurs that pinch or irritate a nerve.

A cervical facet block is an injection that contains an anesthetic and steroid. Dr. Schmidt may recommend a cervical block to determine the underlying cause of your pain and relieve your discomfort.

Spinal cord stimulator

A spinal cord stimulator is a medical device Dr. Schmidt implants in your body. The device sends a mild electrical current to the nerves in your cervical spine, which alters the pain signals to your brain to provide long-term relief.

To get relief from your neck pain, contact Ascension Comprehensive Pain Management Program by phone or schedule an appointment online today.

What we offer