Health

Neck pain doesn't always require medical care. Rarely, it can be a sign of an emergency.

When to try home care
Neck pain caused by muscle irritations is usually easy to self-diagnose, and it usually gets better on its own within a few of days. This type of neck pain typically develops after excessive activity, a period of overuse or prolonged postures that put excessive strain on your neck muscles. If your neck pain doesn't let up within a week or two, see your doctor.

When to seek immediate medical care
See your doctor if the following signs and symptoms occur in conjunction with neck pain:

• Severe pain from an injury. After head or neck trauma, such as whiplash or a blow to your head, see your doctor immediately. Severe pain over a bone might indicate a fracture or an injury to a ligament.
• Shooting pain. Pain radiating to your shoulder, through your shoulder blades or down your arm, with or without numbness or tingling in your fingers, may indicate nerve irritation. Neck pain from nerve irritation can last from weeks to six months or longer. More sophisticated tests and treatments are available for this type of continued nerve irritation, so see your doctor.
• Loss of strength. Weakness in an arm or a leg, walking with a stiff leg, or shuffling your feet indicates a possible neurological problem and needs immediate evaluation.
• Change in bladder or bowel habits. Any significant change, especially a sudden onset of incontinence, could indicate a neurological problem.

2008-02-16

© 1998-2008 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). All rights reserved. A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only. "Mayo," "Mayo Clinic," "MayoClinic.com," "EmbodyHealth," "Reliable tools for healthier lives," "Enhance your life," and the triple-shield Mayo Clinic logo are trademarks of Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. Terms of Use