There are several professions that specialize in treating neck pain, including, but not limited to, the following: Pain Management Doctor — A pain management specialist is a physician with special training in the diagnosis, treatment, evaluation and prevention of all different types of pain. Pain is a broad spectrum of disorders including chronic pain, acute pain and cancer pain and sometimes even a combination of these. Pain can also arise for many different reasons such as injury, surgery, nerve damage, and metabolic problems such as diabetes. Without any obvious cause at all, pain can even be the problem all by itself. Pain management doctors are a great place to start for back and neck pain. Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation - Physical medicine and rehabilitation, also known as PM&R, doctors have a four-year residency after medical school that is different from an orthopedist, spine surgeon, or neurosurgeon. While they are not surgeons, they are given a comprehensive education in spinal disorders. These experts specialize in the nonsurgical treatment of the back and neck. To help understand the source of nerve pain, many perform EMGs, which are electrical nerve diagnostic tests. To complement their treatment programs, others have taken fellowships in interventional spinal injections. For initial treatment, these individuals are a good choice. Rheumatologist - Rheumatologists are another choice as a treating physician. They are specialists in joint disorders including the spine. After completing a residency in internal medicine, they then do a fellowship in rheumatology. These are the true specialists in autoimmune joint disorders such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and rheumatoid arthritis among many others. Typically, you would be referred to this specialist by another physician.