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Which is Worse: Neck Pain, Arm Pain, or Both?

Your lifetime risk of getting prostate or breast cancer is one in eight. Your chances of developing neck or back pain are much higher. In fact about 80 percent of all adults will suffer back pain at some point in their lives. Neck pain affects three-fourths of all adults.

Neck and back pain can become chronic, incurable problems. Neck pain often comes along with arm pain. These problems can impact your ability to do things physically and socially. They can even affect your mental health.

Doctors from the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at the Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia surveyed 1,809 patients with neck and/or arm pain. They found that younger patients are more affected by symptoms than patients over 60 years of age. The longer the symptoms last, the greater the effect on mental health.

The researchers also found that patients with neck and arm pain were affected the most, even more than patients with just neck or just arm pain. The authors say this makes sense because shooting pain down the arms with weakness, numbness, and tingling every time the neck moves is disabling. They also think younger patients are affected more because the physical demands of their lives are greater. For example, patients under age 40 are often caring for children and working full-time.

Most older patients get better after a bout of neck and/or arm pain. Treating younger patients quickly is advised to avoid chronic symptoms. Doctors who wait too long to treat patients with neck and arm pain may put their patients at risk for related psychologic problems.

References: Scott D. Daffner, MD, et al. Impact of Neck and Arm Pain on Overall Health Status. In Spine. September 1, 2003. Vol. 28. No. 17. Pp. 2030-2035.

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