Is a Cervical Collar the Best Treatment for Neck Pain?

Neck pain is a common problem for plenty of people, in part thanks to the pervasive habit of bending over phones and computers for hours each day. Whiplash, arthritis, and even sleeping in an odd position can all contribute to painful symptoms, too, and sometimes, that can make finding a treatment solution especially difficult.

At Modern Migraine MD, Risa Ravitz, MD, helps you manage neck pain symptoms with custom therapies tailored to your individual needs. While you might expect a cervical collar to be part of your treatment, you might be surprised to learn it’s not always recommended. Here’s why.

The basics of neck pain

Your neck is a surprisingly complex bit of your anatomy, comprising bones, joints, nerves, muscles, and other tissues, all of which can be injured in a variety of ways. Extremely flexible, your neck also has to support the weight of your head — all 10-12 pounds of it — all day long.

Falls, car accidents, sports injuries, and other traumatic events can all cause or contribute to neck pain, but degenerative conditions like arthritis are common causes, too. Since your neck is part of your spine, conditions affecting your vertebrae and discs can lead to neck pain or make symptoms worse.

Sometimes, neck pain involves nerves in and around your spine. With nerve involvement, you might experience electricity-like bursts of pain or prolonged aches that can extend into your upper back, shoulders, and even down your arms.

Like any type of musculoskeletal pain, neck pain responds best to early treatment — and that may or may not mean wearing a cervical collar.

Cervical collars: The good — and the bad

Most of us have seen cervical collars, even if we’ve only glimpsed them on TV. Featuring a firm-yet-soft foam cushion sometimes encircled by a stiff plastic support, cervical collars are designed to provide support for your neck, limiting movement and reducing strain on tissues while they heal. Some collars help carry the weight of your head, as well.

In the aftermath of an acute injury, like a car accident or sports injury, a cervical collar may be part of your initial care, giving your neck some “rest” and avoiding additional strain and irritation in the early stages of healing. 

During the first few days after your injury, a collar helps limit neck movement while providing stability that in turn helps relieve pain. However, while a cervical collar may be useful in providing immediate relief, they’re generally not used for long-term management. 

That’s because when you wear a cervical collar for a long time, your neck muscles and other supportive tissues start to weaken, making it harder for your neck to recover mobility. Wear a collar for too long, and your neck can become weaker, making it more prone to injury in the future. Plus, while an initial period of immobility may help reduce strain, prolonged immobility leads to stiffness and additional pain that interfere with normal neck movement.

Find relief for your neck pain

Cervical collars are one option for managing some types of neck pain, but there are lots of other treatment options, too. To learn how we can help you find relief, request an appointment with Dr. Ravitz and the team at Modern Migraine MD in New York City, Aventura, Florida, Toms River, New Jersey, or via our telehealth services available in 13 states nationwide.