I. Medical and Rehabilitation Clinics (Conservative Management)

Neck pain can be an aggravating condition, no matter where you live. It can significantly impact quality of life and make day-to-day living a rough slog. Fortunately, here in Anchorage, Alaska, there are numerous places to seek treatment. Of course, where you should go depends on what species of neck pain you are enduring. Below you’ll find a brief list of types of healthcare clinics/offices and the types of neck pain they treat.

This should help you in your search. 

A. Physical Therapy Clinics

An  excellent first choice for neck pain treatment is a physical therapy clinic. They are particular effective in situations involving mechanical neck pain, postural pain, and cases of subacute whiplash.

Physical therapists treat their patients with manual therapy, therapeutic exercise, and traction.

You can seek out physical therapy at licensed physiotherapy clinics and hospital-based rehab centers. A short list of places in the Anchorage, AK area include:

  • Better Health Alaska
  • Point North Physical Therapy
  • Advanced Physical Therapy – Anchorage
  • United Physical Therapy

B. Chiropractic or Osteopathic Clinics

Another option available to patients looking for conservative treatment is a chiropractic or osteopathic clinic. These are best for acute and subacute mechanical neck pain. Treatment methods usually incorporate hands-on techniques like spinal manipulation and/or soft tissue mobilization.

A study in the Spine Journal found that spinal manipulative therapy over a 12-week period provided pain relief.1

When seeking out such care it is best to look for board-certified chiropractors and osteopathic physicians (DOs). The top-rated chiropractic clinic in Anchorage is: 

  • Better Health Alaska

C. Multidisciplinary Pain Clinics

Next on our list are Multidisciplinary Pain Clinics. This refers to a clinic where practitioners of multiple specialties work. This can include pain psychologists, physical therapists, and even medical doctors all working together on the same team.

These offer a great resource for patients with chronic neck pain, pain with psychological factors, or a failed previous treatment.

These types of clinics are typically found at hospital pain centers, rehabilitation hospitals, and specialty pain clinics. Here in Anchorage, such options include:

  • Advanced Pain Center – Alaska
  • Better Health Alaska
  • Alaska Fracture and Orthopedic Clinic
  • Alpenglow Pain & Wellness Center

II. Medical Management in Outpatient Settings

A. Primary Care or Sports Medicine Physicians

One possibility for medical management in an outpatient setting is a primary care or a sports medicine physician. These types of experts are an excellent choice in cases involving acute neck strain or non-radicular pain.

They offer a professional opinion for diagnosis, referrals for imaging work, and the prescription of NSAIDS or other medications like muscle relaxants. They are typically found at family medicine or internal medicine clinics, and sports medicine clinics.

This study in Primary Care: Clinics in Office Practice discusses some of the common conditions and treatment.2

In Anchorage such clinics include:

  • Hillside Family Medicine LLC & Occupational Medicine
  • Medical Park Family Care
  • Providence Primary Care – Anchorage (S Tower)
  • Better Health Alaska

B. Neurology or Spine Specialists

Other specialists to consider are neurology and spine specialists. These can help in situations involving radicular neck pain, cervical disc herniation, or cases involving numbness and/or tingling.

They offer diagnostics (often with tools like an MRI), neuropathic medicines, and specialist referrals. You can find them at spine centers, neurology clinics, and orthopedic outpatient clinics.

A study on PubMed on the neuropathic medicine Gabapentin, for example, found that “Gabapentin may provide benefits in terms of alleviation of pain and overall quality of life in patients with chronic radiculopathy.“3

Some examples in the Anchorage area include:

  • Coastal Neurology and Neurosurgery
  • Anchorage Neurosurgical Associates
  • Apex Neurosurgery
  • Better Health Alaska

III. Interventional Pain Clinics

A. Epidural Steroid Injections

Interventional Pain Clinics provide another avenue for treating neck pain particularly in cases involving cervical radiculopathy from disc herniation or cases of stenosis. Such cases can usually be handled with Epidural Steroid Injections. 

Patients with such conditions should seek out interventional pain specialists, spine intervention centers, and/or hospital radiology suites.

Places in Anchorage that offer such include:

  • Advanced Pain Center – Alaska
  • Alaska Fracture & Orthopedic Clinic
  • Urban Pain Institute

B. Facet Joint Injections and Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA)

In cases involving chronic mechanical neck pain from facet joints, interventional specialists may offer facet joint injections, and/or radiofrequency ablation (or RFA) when needed. These can be found at pain clinics with fluoroscopy-guided procedure capabilities.

In Anchorage, look for one of these pain clinics:

  • Urban Pain Institute
  • AA Spine and Pain Clinic
  • Algone Anchorage Interventional Pain Clinic

IV. Surgical Spine Care Centers

A. Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion (ACDF)

Surgical spine care centers that offer anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (or ACDF) are a great choice for patients suffering severe radicular pain, spinal cord compression (myelopathy), or who have tried conservative care but it did not solve the problem.

Patients needing such care should seek out neurosurgery or orthopedic spine surgery centers, and spine institutes.

A study in The Spine Journal found that “A significant decrease in pain, a significant increase in function, and a high degree of patient satisfaction were found with anterior cervical discectomy and fusion for neck pain.”4

Possible places in Anchorage include: 

  • Alaska Medical Center
  • Anchorage Neurosurgical Associates

B. Cervical Disc Arthroplasty

This procedure involves the replacement of a damaged disc with a prosthetic one. It is most often performed in cases involving young patients with single-level disc disease where motion preservation is a primary concern. Here, it is best to seek out a specialized orthopedic or neurosurgical hospital. In Anchorage, some examples include:

  • Alaska Spine Care Center
  • Spine Care Specialists of Alaska

V. Specialized Clinics for Complex or Traumatic Cases

A. Whiplash Rehabilitation Programs

In situations involving a very complicated or traumatic neck issue, patients may have to seek out a specialized clinic. This may be true of cases involving whiplash, for example, particularly whiplash-associated disorders (WAD) caused by motor vehicle accidents.

Here, patients are advised to seek out multidisciplinary trauma rehab clinics or motor vehicle injury rehab programs. Examples of such in Anchorage include:

  • Better Health Alaska
  • Alaska Back Care Center
  • Sports & Spinal Injury Clinic
  • Community Chiropractic Clinic

VI. Posture and Ergonomics Support (Clinical Settings Only)

A. Occupational Therapy and Ergonomic Assessment

Treating neck pain can often be done with posture and ergonomic support (in Clinical Settings). This is for cases of postural neck pain or other neck pain caused by work-related strain. Here, treatment can be found in occupational health clinics and/or ergonomics-trained physical therapists.

Some examples of such in Anchorage include: 

  • Core Kinetics
  • Better Health Alaska
  • Healthy Ergo Alaska

Conclusion

Ultimately, it is important to realize that neck pain often requires more than just home remedies. Rather, it needs a targeted clinical approach. Whether it is treated with conservative methods like physical therapy or chiropractic care, or it requires surgery, knowing where to go is the first critical step to find out what works. Begin with consulting a medical professional, specifically a healthcare provider specializing in spine or neuromuscular care.

We here at Better Health Alaska offer physical therapy, chiropractic care, massage, and more. We’ve been dealing with neck pain since opening our doors in 1998. If you need our assistance, we can often get you in and seen on the same day you call. So, reach out and get your appointment schedule. Take that first step to recovery today!

Sources and Studies:

  1. Maiers, Michele. DC, MPH; et al. “Spinal manipulative therapy and exercise for seniors with chronic neck pain,“ The Spine Journal, Volume 14, Issue 9, p1879-1889September 01, 2014,  (thespinejournalonline.com)
  2. Darshimer, Gary. W. MD, FACP; Kelly, Michael. DO; “Cervical Pain in the Athlete: Common Conditions and Treatment“, Primary Care: Clinics in Office Practice, Volume 32, Issue 1 p231-243March 2005 (https://www.primarycare.theclinics.com/article/S0095-4543(04)00132-0/abstract)
  3. Kdir, Yilderin, et al., “Gabapentin monotherapy in patients with chronic radiculopathy: the efficacy and impact on life quality”, PubMed: The National Library of Medicine, 2009;22(1):17-20 (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20023359/)
  4. Palit, Mark MD, et al. “Anterior Discectomy and Fusion for the Management of Neck Pain” Spine, 24(21):p 2224, November 1, 1999. (https://journals.lww.com/spinejournal/abstract/1999/11010/anterior_discectomy_and_fusion_for_the_management.9.aspx)