Neck pain – Diagnosis and examination

If your neck pain increases day by day, you have to visit a doctor specialized in orthopedics for proper diagnosis and assessment. If your doctor thinks that pain is coming due to some muscular issues, he/she will recommend conventional treatment like the use of modalities, exercises, and some medication.

But if your doctor observes that your sign and symptoms are matching the indications of some severe disease then he/she will go for various medical tests and investigations like X-ray or MRI to rule out any severe underlying conditions like (Fractures of vertebrae, cancer, infections or any inflammatory disease like ankylosing spondylitis) or some conditions like (Disc herniation, radiculopathy, osteoarthritis, spinal stenosis) and meningitis.

X-ray, CT, or MRI scans are solely required in cases of severe disease or if your doctor thinks that there is a particular reason behind it. They are not helpful in some instances like wear and tear on your cervical spine, which doesn’t result in a severe issue.

Similarly, your doctor will first some questions, like whether an accident happened? Point out the location of the injury? Or pain? And whether there is some sort of physical strain? Or mental stress issue. The doctor will go for a physical examination to observe any underlying serious causes. This will comprise of checking (palpating) your neck with his hands, inspecting up to which limit you can move your head.

Similarly, he will examine your reflexes and muscle strength in the arms and shoulders. In some cases, like trauma, infection, fever, cancer, substantial muscle weakness, unsolved weight loss: these symptoms display that there is a serious cause, and it requires prompt treatment. However, if the diagnosis is accurate, then the most effective treatment can be one for neck pain. The treatment options and prevention guidelines will be later prescribed in this article.

Author

Khader Adel

A highly motivated and experienced Physiotherapist with a passion for enhancing physical well-being in diverse settings, including humanitarian efforts with MSF NGO and the private sector. Committed to delivering quality therapy and constantly expanding my skill set, particularly in manual therapies. A seasoned team player with over a decade of experience in multidisciplinary environments, dedicated to successfully improving patients' lives.

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