The most common types of mild to moderate neck pain tend to respond well to self-care within two to three weeks. If neck pain persists, your doctor may recommend other treatments. A general practitioner or chiropractor is usually the first line of treatment for back or neck pain. These providers can treat or manage most cases of back or neck pain, and can refer you to a specialist if needed.
If neck pain is accompanied by any of the emergency symptoms listed above, seek emergency room care immediately. If you don't have any emergency symptoms, schedule a visit with your primary care doctor, orthopedist, or neurologist. An orthopedist is a doctor who specializes in musculoskeletal diseases, including those affecting the spine. A neurologist is a doctor who specializes in nervous diseases.
In some cases, they can work together. If your neck hurts and you have other heart attack symptoms, call 911 or go to the emergency room right away. Meningitis can be fatal and is a medical emergency If you have symptoms of meningitis, seek medical help right away. Many people have neck pain with meningitis.
We explain why you may have neck pain with meningitis and what you can do about it. If you have neck pain, an orthopedist may be the right specialist to see. An orthopedist is a highly trained surgeon with knowledge of the skeleton and its structures. People with neck pain may be referred to a neurosurgeon because of pain in the neck, shoulder, or tingling and numbness in the arms or weakness.
If the patient has had any trauma and is now experiencing neck pain with weakness or numbness, an urgent consultation with a neurosurgeon is recommended. This is because orthopedists are specifically trained to treat problems involving the musculoskeletal system, the network of muscles, joints, tendons, ligaments and bones that support the body and allow movement problems within the musculoskeletal system to often cause neck pain. See a doctor right away if neck pain occurs after a traumatic accident or fall, such as a car accident, diving accident, or head injury. Since stress plays a role in neck pain, it stands to reason that if you manage stress, you reduce pain.
If you have neck pain that continues for more than a week, is severe, or is accompanied by other symptoms, seek medical attention right away. While many cases of neck pain or stiffness are not a cause for concern, some underlying causes of pain can be very serious. Neck pain can be dull or sharp, sudden or gradual, brief or chronic, and causes can vary widely, from benign to emergency conditions. Neck pain is pain that begins in the neck and can be associated with pain that radiates down one or both arms.
Neck pain may be mild and may not interfere much with your activities or daily life, or it may be severe and cause disability. Mild stenosis can be treated conservatively for long periods of time, as long as symptoms are limited to neck pain. The neck is particularly vulnerable to injury, especially in falls, car accidents, and sports, where the muscles and ligaments of the neck are forced to move out of their normal range. A cortisone shot can relieve inflammation and swelling of the neck, and that can help with neck pain.
Neck pain or stiffness is a very common symptom that most people experience at some point in their lives. Symptoms of neck injury include stiff neck, pain in the shoulder or arm, headache, facial pain.
