Chronic neck pain can make a lot of everyday activities surprisingly difficult and uncomfortable. Simple actions like turning your head while driving, getting comfortable at night, or just sitting in front of your computer can become constant reminders that something isn't right.
When conservative therapies like exercise or lifestyle adjustments haven't provided lasting relief, you may wonder what options are left. Zaid Malik, MD, and the team at Superior Pain Relief are skilled at finding therapy options to relieve your pain and improve overall quality of life — tailored to each person’s unique needs.
For many patients, treating neck pain includes a cutting-edge ablation therapy called COOLIEF®. Here’s how it works.
Before recommending any type of therapy, our team performs an in-depth evaluation of your symptoms to pinpoint the exact cause of your pain. While some neck pain may result from temporary irritation or muscle strain, chronic neck pain often involves your spine — or more accurately, the tiny joints that keep your spine stable and flexible at the same time.
These joints are called facet joints, and like the other joints in your body, they wear down over time. As in your knees and hips, your neck joints move a lot, and as you get older, they can develop osteoarthritis and other degenerative changes that spur discomfort in and around your neck.
Pain typically happens when tiny nerves surrounding your facet joints become irritated, inflamed, and compressed or pinched. In response, these nerves send pain signals to your brain, resulting in chronic discomfort, stiffness, and sometimes tingling or other nerve-related sensations in your upper back, shoulders, or arms.
Many people find their symptoms worsen with specific movements or are the most uncomfortable when waking up in the morning.
COOLIEF uses an advanced therapeutic technique called radiofrequency ablation (RFA). Like the name implies, RFA uses special energy waves to target nerves surrounding the facet joints, temporarily blocking them from sending pain signals to your brain.
During treatment, Dr. Malik inserts a needle-like probe into the area adjacent to the nerve that’s causing painful sensations. The probe delivers highly precise energy to the nerve tissue, interrupting pain signaling without causing permanent damage.
COOLIEF is different from other RFA treatments due to its water-cooled radiofrequency system that circulates water through the probe during treatment. By controlling the temperature in the tissue surrounding the nerve, COOLIEF enables Dr. Malik to treat a broader area around the nerve for improved, longer-lasting relief.
Prior to treatment, our team numbs the probe insertion site to keep you comfortable. This in-office treatment means there’s no need for hospitalization. Afterward, there’s no downtime, either.
COOLIEF doesn’t just sound effective — its beneficial effects have been proven. One study of nearly 300 patients showed those patients had marked improvement in their comfort levels following their treatment with relief lasting more than six months on average.
While COOLIEF can be a good option for many people struggling with chronic neck pain, it’s not always the best choice for everyone. As noted, it’s specifically designed for nerve pain emanating from the facet joints.
Other neck pain causes may respond better to different approaches. If that’s the case, the Superior Pain Relief team offers an array of advanced therapies to help you finally relieve your symptoms and improve your overall comfort.
Bottom line: Chronic neck pain rarely resolves without medical intervention, and the sooner you schedule an evaluation, the faster you can find meaningful relief. Request an appointment online or over the phone at Superior Pain Relief today. We’re located in Baytown, Willis, and The Woodlands, Texas.
