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Preparing for your appointment
By Mayo Clinic staffWhile you may initially consult your family doctor about your neck pain, he or she may refer you to:
- A rheumatologist, a doctor who specializes in arthritis and other diseases that affect the joints
- A neurologist, a doctor who specializes in treating nerve-related disorders
- An orthopedic surgeon, a doctor who operates on bones and joints
What you can do
Before your appointment, you may want to write a list that answers the following questions:
- How long has your neck been hurting?
- Is the pain dull, sharp or shooting?
- Do any particular neck movements make the pain improve or worsen?
- Do you have any numbness or weakness?
- Does the pain radiate into the arm?
- Have you injured your neck recently?
- What medications and supplements are you taking?
What to expect from your doctor
During the physical exam, your doctor will check for:
- Tenderness. Pressing on various spots on your neck, head and shoulders helps reveal areas of tenderness.
- Range of motion. This exam involves moving your head as far as it can go forward, backward and side to side. The doctor may also check to see if the movements of your shoulders have been impaired.
- Numbness or weakness. Areas of numbness or muscle weakness may indicate that your spinal cord or a nerve exiting your spinal cord is being pinched.
References
- Devin C, et al. Neck pain. In: Firestein GS, et al. Kelley's Textbook of Rheumatology. 8th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: W.B. Saunders Co.; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/170975296-3/0/1807/271.html?tocnode=55731659&fromURL=271.html#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-3285-4..10039-7_1122. Accessed Nov. 13, 2009.
- Isaac Z, et al. Evaluation of the patient with neck pain and cervical spine disorders. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Nov. 13, 2009.
- Meningitis and encephalitis fact sheet. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/encephalitis_meningitis/detail_encephalitis_meningitis.htm. Accessed Nov. 13, 2009.
- Neurological diagnostic tests and procedures. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/misc/diagnostic_tests.htm. Accessed Nov. 17, 2009.
- Anderson BC, et al. Treatment of neck pain. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Nov. 17, 2009.
- Chiropractic: An introduction. National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. http://nccam.nih.gov/health/chiropractic/. Accessed Nov. 17, 2009.
- Acupuncture for pain. National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. http://nccam.nih.gov/health/acupuncture/acupuncture-for-pain.htm. Accessed Nov. 17, 2009.
- The Bone and Joint Decade 2000-2010 Task Force on Neck Pain and Its Associated Disorders. Executive summary. Spine. 2008;33:55.
- Bauer BA. Mayo Clinic Book of Alternative Medicine. Rochester, Minn.: Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research; 2007:117.
- What a pain in the neck! American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. http://www.aapmr.org/condtreat/pain/necktips.htm. Accessed Nov. 17, 2009.
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