Neck Pain Treatment in New York City
Board-Certified Cervical Pain Specialists in Midtown Manhattan - Same-Day Appointments Available.
Sports + Pain Institute of New York (SPIN) specializes in diagnosing and treating neck pain at our Midtown Manhattan clinic. Whether your neck pain stems from a sports injury, poor posture, a herniated disc, or a condition like cervical radiculopathy, our board-certified pain management specialists build a treatment plan around your specific diagnosis - not a generic protocol.
What Does Your Neck Pain Feel Like?
"I have pain that radiates from my neck down into my shoulder, arm, or hand."
The Source of Neck Pain Matters
Neck pain is a symptom, not a diagnosis. The same ache can come from three very different structures, and each responds to a different treatment. Identifying which one is involved is the first job of a cervical pain specialist.
- Vertebra
- Cervical disc
- Herniated disc
- Nerve root
Discs & Nerve Roots
The cervical discs cushion the vertebrae. When one bulges or herniates it can press on a nerve root, sending pain, numbness, or weakness into the shoulder, arm, and hand. This is cervical radiculopathy - the most common cause of neck pain that travels beyond the neck.
- Base of the skull
- Facet joint
- Vertebra
- Cervical disc
Facet Joints
The small paired joints at the back of each spinal segment guide neck movement. Arthritis, whiplash, or years of wear inflame them, producing pain that is worse on rotation and extension and often refers to the shoulder blade or base of the skull.
- Cervical spine
- Levator scapulae
- Upper trapezius
- Shoulder blade
Muscles & Soft Tissue
The muscles supporting the head carry a constant load, and sustained poor posture overloads them. This produces trigger points, spasm, and the deep aching stiffness most people recognise as ordinary neck pain - the most common presentation, and the most responsive to treatment.
Common Causes of Neck Pain Our NYC Doctors Treat
Neck pain has many possible sources, and the treatment that works for one is often useless for another. These are the causes we diagnose and treat most frequently.
Poor Posture and Tech Neck
The most common cause we see. Sustained forward head posture at a desk or phone multiplies the load on the neck muscles, producing chronic strain, trigger points, and tension headaches.
Herniated or Bulging Discs
When a cervical disc bulges or ruptures, the displaced material can press on a nearby nerve root, producing pain that radiates into the shoulder, arm, and hand.
Whiplash
Rapid acceleration and deceleration strains the soft tissue and facet joints of the cervical spine. Symptoms typically appear 24 to 72 hours after the incident rather than immediately.
Cervical Spondylosis
Age-related wear affecting the discs and facet joints. Produces gradual stiffness and aching that is worst in the morning, often with grinding or clicking on rotation.
Cervical Spinal Stenosis
Narrowing of the spinal canal in the neck, compressing the spinal cord or nerve roots. Can produce arm symptoms alongside balance and coordination changes, which warrant prompt assessment.
Muscle Spasms and Strains
Sudden sharp pain with dramatic loss of movement, often leaving the neck feeling locked. Responds well to trigger point injection followed by graded mobility work.
Arthritis
Inflammatory or osteoarthritic change in the cervical facet joints, producing pain that is worse on extension and rotation and eases with movement through the day.
Pinched Nerve
A compressed nerve root in the neck sends pain, numbness, or weakness into the arm and hand. See our full section on cervical radiculopathy below.
Cervical Radiculopathy Treatment in NYC
What Is Cervical Radiculopathy?
Cervical radiculopathy is the medical term for a pinched nerve in the neck. When a nerve root exiting the cervical spine is compressed - by a herniated disc, a bone spur, or narrowing of the exit canal - it produces pain, numbness, or weakness travelling along that nerve into the shoulder, arm, and hand.
Which Nerve Root Is Affected?
C5 Radiculopathy
Pain and weakness in the shoulder and upper arm, particularly when lifting the arm out to the side. Numbness typically covers the outer shoulder.
C6 Radiculopathy
The most common presentation alongside C7. Pain travels down the outside of the arm into the thumb and index finger, often with biceps weakness.
C7 Radiculopathy
Pain radiating into the middle finger with triceps weakness - patients often notice difficulty pushing doors open or straightening the arm against resistance.
C8 Radiculopathy
Numbness along the little finger and inner forearm, with grip weakness and difficulty with fine motor tasks such as buttoning a shirt.
How We Treat Cervical Radiculopathy
Treatment begins with identifying the exact compressed level, because an injection at the wrong level will not work. Once confirmed by MRI and clinical testing, we deliver a cervical epidural steroid injection under fluoroscopic guidance directly to the affected nerve root. Most patients improve within 3 to 7 days. Physical therapy then addresses the mechanics that allowed the compression to develop.
Signs & Symptoms - When to See a Neck Pain Doctor
Not all neck pain requires specialist care, but some symptoms should not be left to settle on their own. Most simple neck strains improve within two to three weeks.
Symptoms Requiring Specialist Evaluation
Scroll through the signs that mean it is time to see a specialist.
- 01Pain has lasted more than 3 to 4 weeks without meaningful improvement
- 02Pain radiates into your shoulder, arm, or hand
- 03Numbness, tingling, or weakness in your arm or fingers
- 04Grip weakness, or dropping objects
- 05Neck pain following a car accident, fall, or sports injury
- 06Headaches at the base of the skull accompanying the neck pain
- 07Pain that worsens at night or disrupts sleep
What to Tell Your Specialist
Tell us when the pain started, what you were doing when it began, when it is most severe, and which positions or activities relieve it. Report any of the following:
- Neck stiffness or difficulty turning the head
- Sharp, shooting pain in the neck
- Pain radiating into the head, shoulder, or arm
- Tingling or numbness in the arm or fingers
- Tenderness to touch along the neck or shoulder
- Grip weakness or dropping objects
- Headaches, particularly at the base of the skull
Emergency Warning Signs
Seek immediate emergency care if neck pain is accompanied by:
- Loss of bladder or bowel control
- Fever with a stiff neck
- Sudden difficulty walking or loss of balance
- Progressive weakness in both arms or legs
- Neck pain after major trauma
How Neck Pain Is Diagnosed
Physical Exam & Patient History
Every diagnosis begins with history and examination. We observe how you move, how you sit, and how you hold your head, then palpate the cervical spine to locate muscle tension and identify the segments reproducing your pain. Range-of-motion testing follows, with neurological screening where symptoms travel into the arm.
Imaging: X-Ray, MRI & CT
When examination indicates a structural cause, or initial treatment has not produced the expected response, we order imaging. X-ray assesses alignment and disc height. MRI is the standard for disc herniation and nerve root compression. CT, myelogram, and bone scan are used where MRI is contraindicated or inconclusive.
Nerve Conduction Studies & Diagnostic Injections
Where arm symptoms are present, nerve conduction studies confirm which nerve is affected and how severely. A diagnostic medial branch block confirms whether the facet joints are the true pain source before proceeding to longer-lasting treatment.
A Clear Step By Step Approach To Neck Pain
Understand Your Symptoms
We take a full history - where the pain sits, whether it travels into the arm, what movements provoke it, and how long it has been present. This clinical picture guides every decision before any scan or procedure.
Identify the Root Cause
Physical examination, neurological testing, and MRI review determine whether the pain comes from a disc and nerve root, a facet joint, or the surrounding musculature. The diagnosis dictates which treatment is used - and at which spinal level.
Targeted Treatment
We match the intervention to the confirmed source. Nerve root compression receives a cervical epidural steroid injection at the exact affected level. Facet-driven pain receives a facet joint injection or medial branch block. Muscular pain receives trigger point injections. Every procedure is image-guided.
Prevent Recurrence
Injection therapy creates a window of pain relief. We use that window for structured rehabilitation - deep neck flexor strengthening, postural correction, and workstation adjustment - so the pain does not simply return once the medication wears off.
The SPIN Protocol™
Start Your Recovery →S
Self-Care
Deep neck flexor activation, scapular retraction work, and upper trapezius and levator scapulae stretching. Heat and cold guidance for acute flares. Workstation and phone-posture correction to reduce sustained cervical load.
I
Injury Rehabilitation
Structured physical therapy targeting the underlying cause: cervical stabilisation, scapular mechanics, thoracic mobility, and nerve glide techniques where radiculopathy is present.
The SPIN Protocol™
P
Precision Inflammation Treatment
Cervical epidural steroid injections and selective nerve root blocks at the confirmed level. Cervical facet joint injections and medial branch blocks. Trigger point injections for muscular pain. Occipital nerve blocks for cervicogenic headache - all under fluoroscopic or ultrasound guidance.
N
Next-Level Prevention
Long-term postural conditioning and ergonomic assessment. Return-to-sport protocols for contact and overhead athletes. Imaging review at key milestones where degenerative change is being monitored.
The SPIN Protocol™
Self-Care
Deep neck flexor activation, scapular retraction work, and upper trapezius and levator scapulae stretching. Heat and cold guidance for acute flares. Workstation and phone-posture correction to reduce sustained cervical load.
Precision Inflammation Treatment
Cervical epidural steroid injections and selective nerve root blocks at the confirmed level. Cervical facet joint injections and medial branch blocks. Trigger point injections for muscular pain. Occipital nerve blocks for cervicogenic headache - all under fluoroscopic or ultrasound guidance.
Injury Rehabilitation
Structured physical therapy targeting the underlying cause: cervical stabilisation, scapular mechanics, thoracic mobility, and nerve glide techniques where radiculopathy is present.
Next-Level Prevention
Long-term postural conditioning and ergonomic assessment. Return-to-sport protocols for contact and overhead athletes. Imaging review at key milestones where degenerative change is being monitored.
Neck Pain Treatment Options in NYC
Neck pain treatment is not one-size-fits-all. The right intervention depends on which structure is generating the pain, how long it has been present, and what has already been tried. Every plan starts conservatively and escalates only where the diagnosis justifies it.
Conservative Care
Massage therapy, ice and heat protocols, posture correction, workstation modification, and over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medication. For most patients with muscular or postural neck pain this resolves the problem without any procedure.
Cervical Epidural Steroid Injection
Delivers concentrated anti-inflammatory medication into the epidural space surrounding the compressed nerve root, at the precise level responsible for your symptoms. The primary treatment for disc herniation and cervical radiculopathy.
Cervical Facet Injections
Targets the small paired joints at the back of the cervical spine. Used where pain is worse on rotation and extension, stays local to the neck and shoulder blade, or presents as headache originating from the neck.
Medial Branch Nerve Block
A diagnostic block confirming whether the facet joints are genuinely the pain source before committing to longer-lasting treatment. Clear relief makes radiofrequency ablation the logical next step.
Radiofrequency Ablation
Uses precisely controlled heat to interrupt the small nerves carrying pain signals from the facet joints. Where a medial branch block has confirmed the diagnosis, ablation frequently provides twelve months or more of relief.
Trigger Point Injections
Delivered directly into the taut, tender bands of muscle that develop from sustained postural load or acute spasm. Particularly effective for tech neck and acute episodes where the neck feels locked.
Occipital Nerve Block
Targets the occipital nerves where neck dysfunction is producing headaches at the base of the skull. Frequently the missing piece for patients treated for migraine without success.
Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation
Injection therapy creates a window of relief; physical therapy makes it last. Deep neck flexor strengthening, scapular mechanics, and thoracic mobility work address the movement patterns that allowed the problem to develop.
When Is Surgery Considered for Neck Pain?
Surgery is considered only when all conservative treatments and minimally invasive procedures have failed to provide adequate relief. At SPIN, we exhaust every non-surgical option before discussing surgical referral. Your doctor provides you with all the information you need to make an informed decision about how to treat neck pain. Returning you to your normal activities, sports, and fitness routines, pain-free, is always the goal at our pain treatment center.
Why Patients Choose Our Neck Pain Doctors in NYC
Double Board-Certified
Board-certified interventional pain management - Dr. Melepura is fellowship-trained and nationally recognised.
Same-Day Appointments
You do not have to wait weeks to be seen. Most patients are seen within 24 hours at our Midtown Manhattan office.
Advanced Diagnostics On-Site
MRI referrals, nerve conduction studies, and imaging coordination handled in-house so diagnosis is not delayed.
Minimally Invasive Procedures
Cervical epidural injections, facet injections, nerve blocks, and radiofrequency ablation all performed in-office under image guidance.
Midtown Manhattan Location
Easily accessible from all five boroughs, near Grand Central and Penn Station.
Most Major Insurance Accepted
We work with the major carriers so you can focus on getting better. Benefits verified before your first visit.
Dr. Febin Melepura, MD
Cervical Pain Specialist & Founder, Sports Pain Institute of New York (SPIN)
Neck Pain Doctor in NYC - Double Board-Certified
Dr. Febin Melepura, MD is a double board-certified interventional pain management specialist and the founder of the Sports Pain Institute of New York. He completed his residency and fellowship training at New York Presbyterian Hospital / Columbia University Medical Center, one of the nation's leading academic medical centers.
He holds dual board certifications from the American Board of Anesthesiology and the American Board of Pain Medicine, and has treated more than 7,500 patients and performed over 5,250 procedures throughout his career. He has been named a Top Pain Management Doctor in New York and one of America's Top Doctors™ by Castle Connolly.
Dr. Melepura's approach to neck pain is rooted in precision: identify the exact source, treat it with a targeted injection, and get you back to your daily life as quickly as possible.
- Double board-certified: Pain Management & Anesthesiology
- Fellowship-trained at NY Presbyterian / Columbia University Medical Center
- Castle Connolly & NY Magazine Top Doctor
- 7,500+ patients treated · 5,250+ procedures performed
- Founder, Sports Pain Institute of New York (SPIN)
Real Stories from our Patients
"I’ve been dealing with ongoing neck pain and visited the Sports and Pain Institute for an initial consultation and a follow up. The entire team, from the staff I’ve been communicating with at the clinic to Dr. Melepura, has been helpful. Dr. Melepura is attentive and listens, which helped me feel confident about the plan moving forward. They also make scheduling imaging and managing prescriptions so convenient, which I really appreciate. Overall, it’s been a positive experience at the clinic and I’d definitely recommend choosing them for your care!"
"Dr. Melepura is one of the best doctors I’ve ever had the pleasure of seeing. He was able to take me as a new patient, same-day when I woke up with immense neck pain, unable to move my head. He’s extremely attentive and truly listens and empathizes with whatever pain you’re experiencing. We were able to set up a treatment plan and some procedures the very same day. I’m also doing my physical therapy appointments at his office as well, and their PT Derek is superb—extremely patient and encouraging! The entire staff is super lovely, and the office itself is welcoming, bright, and fresh. I cannot say enough good things about this practice! I highly recommend Dr. Melepura to anyone seeking high-quality care."
"My experience at Dr Melepura’s office has been really great. The office was very quick to respond and schedule me in right away. I came in with very severe nerve pain in my neck and shoulder, with shooting pain down my arm, and I couldn’t move my neck. I felt like he really took the time to evaluate me and consult me, creating a very clear game plan, setting me up with PT he offers at his office same day. Throughout the entire process, his staff have been more than supportive and responsive- they have texted me almost every day just to follow up and ask how I’m doing and when I had continued pain, he called me right away. I’m really blown away by the professionalism and service and would highly recommend Dr Melepura."
"I had to schedule a same-day appointment because I had extreme pain in my neck with very limited range of motion. Office was clean and inviting. Minimal wait time to see Dr. Melepura. He asked a series of questions and basic tests to infer what the problem might be. Then gave me injections in the neck area to relieve the pain, which did wonders. I could finally sleep and move without pain. Got a recap email of my visit, including the meds prescribed, helpful stretches i can do at home, and recs for PT. Next day, they sent me text to check in how i was feeling, which i really appreciated. Overall a very pleasant experience, would highly recommend."
"Dr. Melepura saw me on very short notice - the same day in fact - to address a neck re-injury that was causing quite a bit of pain. He was extremely professional, knowledgeable, and helpful. He carefully went through treatment options with me, answered all my questions, and his office quickly assisted with insurance pre-approval issues. His office is spotless, modern, and centrally located. I highly recommend him."
"I was referred to Dr. Melepura for a sudden and painful upper back/neck spasm. Dr. Melepura squeezed me in that day, assessed what was going on and treated me with injections directly into the muscle spasm. I felt some immediate relief and the next morning was about 50% better. He is a fantastic doctor and would recommend him to anyone. His office reached out the next morning to see how I was feeling. It is evident that he cares about his patients and their health and recovery."
"My experience with SPIN/ Dr. Melepura and his staff was really great! His approach to treating my neck and shoulder pain was very helpful in ultimately resolving the chronic pain I was having and I’m definitely feeling much better now than when I first started treatments in early February. The office is very comfortable and pleasant. I would definitely recommend their services to anyone looking for pain treatment."
"I came to see Dr. Melepura as a second opinion for neck and shoulder pain. He saw me super quickly. There was essentially no wait, the visit was thorough, and I left with action steps that made me feel heard and supported. I was a little caught off guard by being the only patient in the office, but I could have just been the last patient that day. Would recommend!"
"Dr. Melepura saw me for neck pain, and was very helpful in his diagnosis and treatment. He was attentive and descriptive when explaining things, the office was very modern and clean, and the staff was friendly. Highly recommended."
"Great experience with Dr. Melepura’s practice! Zero wait time, I was seen right away. Dr. Melepura was thorough in his evaluation taking my medical history into account in addition to current symptoms, and quickly determined a treatment plan for my neck pain. Both he and his associate were very personable and empathetic. The office is clean and modern. Highly recommend!"
"Dr. Melepura is amazing! I’ve been having SEVERE neck and upper back pain for a few weeks now, he was able to help me and got moving again! The office is so NICE AND CLEAN! The staff has been exceptional. I’d give them 10 stars if there was a higher rating available!"
"Booking and admin was smooth. Was easy to call the office and speak to someone, which sadly can’t be said about the larger hospitals where you need to jump through hoops and input your personal info 5 times before being able to speak to anyone. Dr. Melepura was the 3rd dr I saw about my neck. He was easy to talk to, attentive, and was patient in addressing many questions I had. I appreciated that he gave recommendations based on my personal needs rather than a boilerplate response. Will go back for follow up in a few weeks."
"Dr Melepura was very caring and thoughtful with my care. He sent me for an MRI and found the issue of my neck pain. Highly recommend."
"I’ve been seeing Dr. Melapura on and off for about 4 years now, and every experience has been consistently excellent. He is extremely honest, thorough, and genuinely takes the time to listen and explain things clearly. He’s kind, professional, and never rushes you, which is rare. He has helped me get out of pain every time I’ve needed care, including cervical injections that were quick, gentle, and very well done. He always focuses on practical, effective solutions and is mindful of both timing and cost, which I really appreciate. What makes the practice even better now is that he has a physical therapist in house, which makes getting comprehensive, coordinated care much easier under one roof. Overall, he’s an outstanding pain management doctor and someone I trust completely. Easily one of the best in the city."
"Excellent doctor and very professional environment. The staff is attentive and caring. I’m so glad I decided to go here, as I was in a lot of pain and needed a doctor that could help me with my neck problems. If you need orthopedic care, this is the place to go!"
"Calm and professional - beautiful office space. Given referrals to the appropriate MRI received hopefully resolve my neck or spine issue with their assistance."
Frequently Asked Questions About Neck Pain
See a pain management specialist. At SPIN, Dr. Melepura is a board-certified interventional pain doctor who treats neck pain with minimally invasive procedures - without surgery or long-term opioids.
