Approximately 30% of Americans suffer some neck pain every year. Most people find that it improves in 1 to 2 weeks.
Neck pains are frustrating and of different types. Read on to discover everything you need to know about sudden neck pain.
Should I Be Worried About Sudden Neck Pain?
Sudden neck pain has many causes. Sometimes pain in the neck can be easily explained and at other times a non-specific pain is impossible to attribute to any specific cause. Should you be worried about sudden neck pain?
Worry can contribute to the distress you feel when suffering from pain. It is not helpful to worry, though. Instead of being anxious, follow some sensible steps to determine if you need to get medical attention.
It is very unlikely that pain in the neck is related to anything serious.
Get Immediate Medical Attention
If you have been involved in an accident and you experience neck pain, seek medical attention immediately. Sports accidents, road traffic accidents, and other events can cause injuries that should be checked by a medical professional.
If the pain is very severe or associated with other serious symptoms, such as dizziness, problems with vision, difficulty walking or speech problems, see a doctor.
Should I See a Doctor About Other Sudden Neck Pain?
A sudden neck pain need not prompt you to visit a doctor for treatment. More often than not, sudden neck pain will just get better without any treatment.
If you have had neck pain for 6 weeks or so you should be seeking a medical investigation. This is especially the case if the pain is severe and is not getting better. See your doctor and let them decide if you need further treatment.
False Alarms
Having sharp or stabbing neck pain is not an indicator of a serious neck problem. Serious problems are not usually associated with sharp pain in the neck. Sharp pain with no other symptoms is more likely to indicate that you don’t have a serious problem.
Serious problems like spinal cord conditions, tumors or infections don’t tend to produce sharp pain. Trivial musculoskeletal problems or false alarms are more likely to be the explanation for your sharp or stabbing pain.
Sudden Stiff Neck
A stiff neck is often the result of musculoskeletal irritation causing difficulty with movement. Meningitis can also be associated with a stiff neck but this would have other symptoms. There would be a general feeling of being unwell.
It’s not likely that a sudden stiff neck is a problem. It’s likely that it will get better on its own. If it persists and is associated with other symptoms, then take the precaution of seeking medical attention.
When Should I See a Chiropractor?
A chiropractor seeks to help your body function properly.
A chiropractor can help with a number of symptoms. They may be able to help with pain and difficulty moving the jaw. They can help with general inflexibility including in the neck and back.
Some headaches are caused by tension. A chiropractor can ease this by treating issues in the muscles and joints especially in the neck and back. Get more information from a chiropractor about how they can help.
Next Steps
Check if you meet the criteria for immediate medical attention for sudden neck pain. If you do, get help. Otherwise, keep it under observation and get medical attention if it persists or is associated with other symptoms.
Keep reading our blog for more useful health advice.
