If your pain is still nagging after three to four weeks, it may be chronic. At this point, the earlier the diagnosis and treatment of your condition the better for solving the problem and aiding healing. In addition, if the pain results in the inability to function, it is also advisable to seek the earliest possible solution via evaluation by a professional.

If you have tried non-surgical treatments, and the pain persists, it may be time to consult a neurosurgeon, specifically a spine specialist. This allows for a thorough evaluation and analysis of the condition, and if necessary, the consideration for spine surgery.

This includes sudden pain with movement, such as bending your lower back, or even a previous diagnosis of bulging or herniated discs that have not resolved on their own or with non-surgical measures.

A fall or an accident resulting in neck or back pain, even the onset of pain hours or several days afterward, may be the result of trauma.

Complications from various conditions increase with age. Certain conditions that lend themselves to back and neck pain, such as osteoarthritis and osteoporosis, are more common in the aging population.

These include difficulty controlling the bladder or bowel, or progressive weakening of the legs. These symptoms should be dealt with immediately, as they potentially indicate a medical emergency, such as cauda equina syndrome.

Other symptoms of neck pain that are more specific indications that it is time to see a neurosurgeon include:

• Trauma (accident or blow) to the head
• Numbness, weakness or tingling in the hands or arms
• Pain extending down one arm
• Headache or fever with neck pain
• Leg weakness or uncoordinated movement of legs or arms
• Pain does not improve with over-the-counter medication
• Pain that shows no improvement after a week