Symptom guide
Neck
Neck pain or stiffness, and pain, tingling or numbness that travels into the shoulder, arm or hand.
Below are the conditions that commonly present this way. This is a starting point for reading, not a diagnosis — these patterns overlap, and some have causes outside the spine altogether. Only an examination can connect a symptom to a cause.
Conditions that may present as neck
Most neck pain settles on its own. The job is knowing which patterns do not.
A pinched nerve root in the neck, felt down the arm. Most settle without surgery.
Disc material pressing on a nerve or the cord. Many shrink on their own.
Normal age-related wear. Common on imaging, and only sometimes the cause of pain.
A narrowed canal in the neck. What matters is whether the cord is affected.
Some symptoms need urgent care rather than reading. If you have sudden weakness, numbness in the saddle area, or a change in bladder or bowel control, go to an emergency department.
Request a consultation
Find out what is actually wrong.
An examination is what connects a symptom to a cause. Bring your imaging and any previous operative notes.
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