Conclusion
Neck pain is a significant cause of disability around the world. However, it is often underdiagnosed because patients do not report the problem or cannot describe their symptoms accurately. Neck pain studies and clinical research are not abundant compared to other diseases. One of the reasons is that acute neck pain, in most cases, resolves spontaneously. Patients tend to wait for a few days or weeks until the pain is gone, and doctors do not ask much about it. However, recurrent neck pain symptoms are very common, so it is crucial to go to the doctor and get a diagnosis.
To diagnose neck pain, a medical history should be taken to describe the problem accurately. In this step, patients should be able to explain their symptoms as accurately as possible. In this article, we have given you a few tips about what to look for and how to describe your problem to get a better diagnosis. A physical exam is sometimes required, too, and diagnostic tests are helpful depending on each condition.
The diagnosis of a disease is the first step to treating your problem. So, instead of simply taking anti-inflammatory drugs to relieve the symptoms, getting a diagnosis will help you eliminate the problem and its consequences.