Neck pain is an emergency when it follows a car accident or fall, comes with fever and a stiff neck, causes sudden weakness or loss of coordination, or appears with a sudden, severe headache. These signs can point to fracture, infection, spinal cord compression, or a blood vessel injury and need immediate care.
Most neck pain is not dangerous. If you have any of the symptoms below, go to the nearest emergency room or call 911.
Go to the nearest emergency room or call 911. Do not wait for a scheduled appointment.
Neck Pain After an Accident or Fall
Neck pain after a car accident, a hard fall, or a sports collision should be checked for fracture or ligament injury, especially if you have midline tenderness, numbness, or trouble moving your neck. Older adults can fracture the neck with less force.
Stiff Neck With Fever
A stiff neck with fever, headache, sensitivity to light, or confusion can be a sign of meningitis, a serious infection. This needs emergency care right away.
Sudden Weakness or Loss of Coordination
New weakness in the arms or legs, clumsy hands, trouble walking, or loss of balance can signal spinal cord compression, called cervical myelopathy. Sudden weakness or numbness on one side of the body, facial drooping, or trouble speaking can signal a stroke. Call 911.
Severe Headache With Neck Pain
A sudden, severe headache, often described as the worst of your life, with neck pain can signal bleeding in the brain. Neck pain with dizziness, double vision, or trouble swallowing after neck trauma can signal an injury to the arteries in the neck. Both are emergencies.
Other Symptoms That Need Prompt Attention
- Unexplained weight loss with neck pain
- A history of cancer with new neck pain
- Night pain that does not change with position
- Pain that steadily worsens over weeks
Frequently Asked Questions About Neck Pain Emergencies
Should I Go to the ER or Urgent Care?
For the emergency signs above, go to the emergency room. Urgent care may not have the imaging needed.
Is a Stiff Neck in the Morning an Emergency?
Usually not. A stiff neck from sleeping position without fever or other warning signs typically eases within a few days.
Can a Chiropractor Treat Emergency Neck Pain?
No. Emergency symptoms need emergency medical care first.
Get Neck Pain Evaluated in Downers Grove
For neck pain without emergency warning signs, a thorough evaluation is the right next step. Dr. Paul Fisher screens every patient for red flags and refers immediately when needed. Contact Innovative Nerve & Joint Centers at (312) 988-9655. Learn more about our neck pain treatment.
