Neck Pain

Neck Pain

Neck pain (also commonly known as cervical pain, or simply ‘cervical’) is a common problem, with two-thirds of the population having neck pain at some point in their lives. Neck pain affects about 5% population and is more common in women than men. About one-half of episodes resolve within one year but remaining patients continue to suffer pain and associated disability.

Common Symptoms

Neck pain is commonly associated with dull aching. Sometimes pain in the neck is worsened with movement of the neck or turning the head. Other symptoms associated with some forms of neck pain include numbness, tingling, tenderness, sharp shooting pain, fullness, difficulty swallowing, pulsations, swishing sounds in the head and dizziness or light-headedness.

Neck pain can also be associated with headache, facial pain, shoulder pain and arm numbness or tingling (upper extremity paresthesias). These associated symptoms are often a result of nerves getting pinched in the neck. Depending on the condition, sometimes neck pain is accompanied by upper back and/or lower back pain, as is common in inflammation of the spine from ankylosing spondylitis.

When to seek medical advice?

In case of injury, one should seek medical advice immediately without any delay.

If there has not been an injury, you should seek medical care when neck pain becomes:

•  Continuous and persistent
• Severe
• Accompanied by pain that radiates down the arms or legs
• Accompanied by headaches, numbness, tingling or weakness