Neck pain is a common occurrence especially with the use of our mobile devices like handphones and tablets. Most of the time, it is due to poor posture and prolonged looking down on the laptop computer.
Neck pain when it is persistent, worst at night and affects your sleep, needs to be assessed by a doctor. If you have any of these symptoms, you will also need an assessment to determine its severity:
- history of fall or injury
- associated with tingling or pain going down the arm, forearm
- past history of cancer
- your gait is stiff, less steady
- fever, sorethroat
- neck stiffness with fever (no history of trauma)
The doctor may order simple tests like x-rays or blood tests and even an MRI if he/she suspects compression of the nerves or spinal cord.
Dr James Tan
