FreeMD® Neck Sprain or Strain Home Care: Warning Signs

Neck Sprain or Strain

warning signs

Neck Sprain or Strain Home Care: Warning Signs

Notify your doctor if you have neck sprain or strain and any of the following:

Worsening neck pain
Worsening arm pain
Worsening shoulder pain
Worsening neck swelling
Worsening neck tenderness
Worsening neck stiffness
Neck pain for more than one week
Difficulty breathing
Difficulty swallowing
Upper limb numbness:

Arm numbness (unilateral)
Arm numbness (bilateral)
Hand numbness (unilateral)
Hand numbness (bilateral)

Upper limb weakness:

Arm weakness (unilateral)
Arm weakness (bilateral)
Hand weakness (unilateral)
Hand weakness (bilateral)

Continue to Neck Sprain or Strain Prevention

Related Conditions

Cervical disk disease
Neck fracture
Spinal cord injury

Concussion Checkup

Neck injury
Neck pain
Neck swelling

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Last Updated: Nov 7, 2008 References

Authors: Stephen J. Schueler, MD; John H. Beckett, MD; D. Scott Gettings, MD

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Neck Sprain or Strain References:

Croft AC, Herring P, Freeman MD, Haneline MT. The neck injury criterion: future considerations. Accid Anal Prev. 2002 Mar;34(2):247-55.
Hoffman JR, Wolfson AB, Todd K, Mower WR. Selective cervical spine radiography in blunt trauma: methodology of the National Emergency X-Radiography Utilization Study (NEXUS). Ann Emerg Med. 1998 Oct;32(4):461-9.
Joslin CC, Khan SN, Bannister GC. Long-term disability after neck injury. a comparative study. J Bone Joint Surg Br. 2004 Sep;86(7):1032-4.
Kasch H, Stengaard-Pedersen K, Arendt-Nielsen L, Staehelin Jensen T. Headache, neck pain, and neck mobility after acute whiplash injury: a prospective study. Spine. 2001 Jun 1;26(11):1246-51.
Kerr D, Bradshaw L, Kelly AM. Implementation of the Canadian C-spine rule reduces cervical spine x-ray rate for alert patients with potential neck injury. J Emerg Med. 2005 Feb;28(2):127-31.
McIntosh AS, McCrory P. Preventing head and neck injury. Br J Sports Med. 2005 Jun;39(6):314-8. Review.
Nederhand MJ, Hermens HJ, IJzerman MJ, Turk DC, Zilvold G. Chronic neck pain disability due to an acute whiplash injury. Pain. 2003 Mar;102(1-2):63-71.