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Northern Nevada Medical Center’s Spine Center of Excellence
Spring 2014

Relieving Pain is our Passion

Pressure on a nerve can be a pain in the neck.

Neck problems are more common than we realize, and many of us will get them as we age. According to Lali Sekhon, MD, PhD, FACS, spine neurosurgeon at Sierra Neurosurgery Group, there are two primary causes.

“Young patients typically tear the outside of a disc in their neck,” says Dr. Sekhon. “The discs are like shock absorbers. If the outside tears, the inside can squeeze out like toothpaste, causing pain.” The second cause, affecting older people, is when “The body forms bone spurs to try to stabilize the neck, and they push on the nerve,” he says.

Symptoms from this kind of nerve pinching settle for some. But if symptoms continue or if there is weakness down both arms, an MRI of the cervical spine is typically ordered. If there’s continued pain, the next step is cortisone or surgery.

“There are new technologies now such as artificial discs that are helpful in some patients,” says Dr. Sekhon. “We make use of the latest research and medical developments so that our patients have every opportunity to feel better.”

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Lali Sekhon, MD, PhD, FACS, Board-certified (FRACS), double fellowship-trained spine neurosurgeon at Sierra Neurosurgery Group, is Adjunct Associate Professor, Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, at the University of Nevada, School of Medicine in Reno and Las Vegas.

Pressure on a nerve can be a pain in the neck