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When someone has neck pain, how can they tell if it is something serious?

Anyone with pain that lasts or is severe should be assessed by a doctor. It's important to have an assessment done to rule out anything serious or to prevent further injury.

If someone has pain in their neck and is waiting, not sure if he or she should go to a doctor, there are a few signs to watch for. If you experience any of the following, you should see a doctor or speak to one, as soon as possible:

  • numbness in the hand or arm
  • tingling in your hands, arms or legs
  • losing balance
  • difficulty walking
  • pain won't go away
  • pain radiates down or up
Reference: 

Andrew K. Simpson, BS, et al. Quantifying the Effects of Age, Gender, Degeneration, and Adjacent Level Degeneration on Cervical Spine Range of Motion Using Multivariate Analyses. In Spine. January 15, 2008. Vol. 33. No. 2. Pp. 183-186.

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