Experiencing pain in your neck, mid-back, or lower back is scary because it can interfere with your ability to function day to day.
Neck pain is usually not caused by severe conditions. But sometimes, neck pain can also be a red flag of severe health issues such as infections, cancer, autoimmune diseases, a structural problem (spinal cord injury) or even a threat to blood vessels.
That’s why it’s so important to know the red flags of neck pain.
Specific Red Flags Symptoms for Neck Pain:
The more red flags you have, the sooner you should be examined by a spine and nerve doctor. Most neck pain doesn’t mean there’s a serious problem to worry about. However, you should always get your symptoms checked out if:
- Sudden weight loss without dieting.
- Unexplained fever and chills.
- The pounding on the spine is painful.
- A chronic headache that abruptly appears.
- Severe headaches, the inability to bend your head, fever, and an altered state of mind are all meningitis symptoms.
- Nausea, dizziness, and vomiting may indicate a problem with the upper cervical spine’s stability.
- It’s connected with numbness, weakness or persistent pins and needles in your arm.
- You’ve had any trauma such as a whiplash injury.
- You feel generally unwell, especially with weight loss or fever.
- The pain keeps getting worse rather than better.
- The neck bones (rather than muscles on either side) are very tender.
- You also develop weakness in your legs or problems with passing urine.
- You have other medical problems such as a history of a recent accident, cancer or rheumatoid arthritis.
Possible Causes of Red Flags
Here are some potent reasons for Red Flags of the neck pain:
- Stroke
- Disc Disease – Herniation or Bulge
- Cervical, Lumbar, Sacral or Thoracic
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Seronegative arthropathies
- Malignancy
- Fibromyalgia
- Carotid dissection
- Vertebral fracture
- Spinal Stenosis
- Osteoarthritis
- Degenerative disc disease
Factors That May Be Contributing To The Pain
- Older age (unavoidable, but it is a factor)
- Mental stress
- Strenuous physical activity
- Being overweight or obese
- Driving or traveling long distances
- Working long hours at a computer
- Hunching your neck down often, such as to looking at your phone often
- Carrying heavy bags on shoulder straps
- Poor alignment while sleeping
- Smoking and overconsumption of alcohol
The Rule Of Thumb
The rule of thumb is that you should start a more thorough medical investigation when all three of these conditions are met, three general red flags for neck pain:
- it’s been bothering you for more than about 6 weeks
- it’s severe and/or not improving, or actually getting worse
- if your neck pain was triggered by a sudden blow, collision injury, or blunt force trauma, you should be examined immediately!
The Takeaway
The neck, lower back, shoulders, and knees are prone to unexplained pain. In most cases, the pain goes away on its own!
However, if your neck pain has been bothering you for a long time and you are not getting relief from rest or over-the-counter painkillers, then you should consult with Dr. Ammar Alamarie at Southern Pain And Spine Specialists located in Charlotte, NC.
We are experts in diagnosing and treating the underlying conditions that cause neck pain, and will work to find you relief without surgery! We do this by employing non-invasive, non-opioid pain management techniques as part of an integrative, holistic approach.
We’ve helped countless patients regain their life back after living with chronic neck pain. Now it’s your turn!
Don’t ignore your neck pain anymore! Click Here to contact the spine center that North Carolina residents rely on, and reserve your consultation with us today!
Locations in Charlotte, Matthews & Waxhaw.
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