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What Causes Sudden Neck Pain?

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Posted on Mon, 21 Apr 2014
Question: My Father who is 75 years old just started complaining about he just got a very painful achy feeling in his right neck area that runs behind his right ear and continues down below his collarbone on his right side. He never complains and is suddenly in the last few hours very uncomfortable? what could this be?
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Answered by Dr. Vaddadi Suresh (5 hours later)
Brief Answer: consider these possibilities. Detailed Answer: Hi XXXXXXX I can see your concern for your father. sudden pain around neck can be due to 1. Neck muscle spasm, due to sudden postural change or twist 2. Cervical disc disease with root compression, as he above 70, this is a possibility 3. Considring his risk factors (age, diabetes), the most important and must to watch thing is sub arachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). More so because i guess he is on antiplatelet drugs like asprin or clopidogrel for his heart disease which increases chances of bleed between his brain coverings (meninges). If he continues to have increasing pain or any new onset of symptoms like vomitings, drousiness, seizures and altered behaviour should alert you to take him to ER to rule out SAH. I would suggest you to monitor him closely and anything above is seen, consult ER. if he is stable with only mild pain, give him tylenol tabs and watch for response. All the best.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Vaddadi Suresh

Internal Medicine Specialist

Practicing since :2003

Answered : 963 Questions

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What Causes Sudden Neck Pain?

Brief Answer: consider these possibilities. Detailed Answer: Hi XXXXXXX I can see your concern for your father. sudden pain around neck can be due to 1. Neck muscle spasm, due to sudden postural change or twist 2. Cervical disc disease with root compression, as he above 70, this is a possibility 3. Considring his risk factors (age, diabetes), the most important and must to watch thing is sub arachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). More so because i guess he is on antiplatelet drugs like asprin or clopidogrel for his heart disease which increases chances of bleed between his brain coverings (meninges). If he continues to have increasing pain or any new onset of symptoms like vomitings, drousiness, seizures and altered behaviour should alert you to take him to ER to rule out SAH. I would suggest you to monitor him closely and anything above is seen, consult ER. if he is stable with only mild pain, give him tylenol tabs and watch for response. All the best.