Table of Contents
Can neck pain make you feel unwell?
Any one of these processes disturbed by cervical spine instability putting pressure on the vagus nerve or the brainstem or other related structures will cause the problems of nausea and gastroparesis. Anything that impacts the medulla of the brainstem, that area above the cervical spinal cord that can give you nausea.
What illness starts with a stiff neck?
Meningitis—which in its most dangerous form is a bacterial infection that causes the protective membranes of the brain and spinal cord to be inflamed—is the most common serious condition associated with a stiff neck.
When should I see a doctor for neck pain?
Seek medical care if your neck pain is accompanied by numbness or loss of strength in your arms or hands or if you have shooting pain into your shoulder or down your arm.
When a pain in the neck is serious?
When Neck Pain Is Serious. In addition, severe neck pain from a trauma, such as a car crash or falling down steps, needs emergency care. Before transporting a person in that situation, the neck should be immobilized by a trained professional to reduce the risk for paralysis and other complications.
When to worry about neck pain?
Call your doctor if you have neck pain that: Worsens in spite of self-care. Persists after several weeks of self-care. Radiates down your arms or legs. Is accompanied by headache, numbness or tingling.
Is your neck pain serious or not?
Most of the time, neck pain doesn’t signal a serious medical problem. But it’s worth learning about one of the rare exceptions: a tear in one of the arteries of the neck, known as a cervical artery dissection (see “What is a cervical artery dissection?”).
What causes chronic neck pain?
Acute neck pain is usually caused by common day-to-day activities. Neck pain causes may also include a traumatic injury to a structure in the cervical segment of your spine. Injuries such as a vertebral fracture, whiplash, and blood vessel damage could lead to other conditions that may cause chronic neck pain.