Are you suffering from neck pain? You probably don’t need me to tell you how incredibly debilitating it can be. Even the simplest of tasks can suddenly seem like you have a mountain to climb, and every movement is marred with agony.

There are lots of reasons we can suffer from neck pain. Whether you’ve slept in an awkward position, you’ve over-exerted yourself, you’re stressed, or you’ve been in an accident.

While it’s true that most neck pain issues go away on their own, in some cases you may consider reaching out to your doctor for advice. If you aren’t quite ready to see the doctor, you could try a natural pain relief cream such as arnica cream. You may need further treatment to help resolve the issue. Massage, physical therapy, steroid injections and in some severe cases, surgery. Read on for advice on when to visit a doctor for your neck injury.

If you’ve been in an accident

As mentioned above, getting caught up in an accident – more likely a car accident – is a common reason behind neck pain. If this is the case, then you should see your doctor straight away. You may have whiplash or something more severe. If you’re hoping to pursue a personal injury case then
seeking medical treatment as soon as possible will add weight to your claim.

The pain is keeping you up at night

You should be able to get some kind of relief from your pain when your body is at rest and it’s repairing itself. However, if your pain is keeping you up at night and affecting your ability to sleep, then you should see your doctor.

You have other worrying symptoms

Do you have a fever accompanying your neck pain? If so, this could be a warning sign of meningitis. Nausea and vomiting, muscle aches, headaches and sensitivity to light and sound are also signs to watch out for. If you’re experiencing these, head to the emergency room as soon as possible. Click
here for the signs of meningitis in children.

You have pain down one arm or leg

Experiencing pain down one leg? Or a weakness? Maybe even a tingling sensation? You may have symptoms of sciatica. A condition that is caused by pressure on the spinal nerve. Reach out to your doctor for advice and a proper diagnosis.

The pain won’t go away

If you’ve had this pain for more than two weeks, despite your best efforts to self-treat at home, then
head to your doctor.