Experiencing pain in your neck, mid-back, or lower back is scary because it can interfere with your ability to function daily.
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 knowing the red flags of neck pain is so important
When Neck Pain Might Be Serious:
You should seek medical attention if your neck pain is accompanied by:
- 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 symptoms of meningitis.
- Nausea, dizziness, and vomiting may indicate a stability problem with the upper cervical spine.
- 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.
These symptoms may point to conditions like disc herniation, spinal stenosis, infection, rheumatoid arthritis, or even stroke. If your pain has lasted more than six weeks, worsens, or follows an injury, it’s time to see a specialist.
Possible Causes of Red Flags
- 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 to start a more thorough medical investigation when all three conditions are met. Three general red flags for neck pain:
1. It’s been bothering you for more than about 6 weeks.
2. It’s severe and/or not improving or getting worse.
3. If your neck pain was triggered by a sudden blow, collision injury, or blunt force trauma, you should be examined immediately!
How Southern Pain and Spine Specialists Can Help
At Southern Pain and Spine Specialists in Charlotte, NC, our expert team focuses on non-invasive, non-opioid treatments to address the root causes of neck pain without surgery.
Our advanced treatment options include:
- Regenerative Medicine & PRP Therapy: Stimulates the natural healing of damaged tissue.
- Stem Cell Therapy: Supports the regeneration of spinal discs and joints.
- Radiofrequency Ablation & Neurotomy: Blocks pain signals from irritated nerves.
- Spinal Cord Stimulation Implants: Long-term relief for chronic pain conditions.
- Shockwave & Laser Therapy: Reduces inflammation and promotes soft tissue recovery.
- Sacroiliac Joint Steroid Injections: Targets inflammation near the spine.
- Sports Medicine: Designed for active patients recovering from injuries.
Take Action Early
Most neck pain goes away on its own. But if you’re experiencing red flag symptoms or long-lasting discomfort, don’t wait. Our team is here to help you feel better with customized care that works.
