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What Causes Chronic Neck Pain In A Person With A History Of Gout?
Posted on
Thu, 1 Oct 2015
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Thu, 1 Oct 2015
Answered on
Wed, 21 Oct 2015
Last reviewed on
Question : My husband is a 30 year old smoker with a history of gout. He just woke up from sudden neck pain on his left side and says he thinks he pulled a muscle. He has had chronic neck pain for a while. I am concerned that it may be a blood clot or a cardiac issue. Is there an easy way to determine if it is in fact, musculo-skeletal? It's also worth mentioning he has been consistently taking Dayquil and Nyquil for a cold for the past few days.
Brief Answer:
His symptoms don't seem to be cardiac related.
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Thank you for asking on HCM!
I understand your concern and would explain that his symptoms don't seem to be related to any cardiac disorder or blood clot.
A prolonged neck pain would not be typical of a cardiac disorder, including cardiac ischemia.
Is his pain modulated by the body movements and neck position changes? This would be very indicative for a musculoskeletal pain, including a pulled muscle.
Does Dayquil or Nyquil relieve his symptoms? It contains acetaminophen, which is a painkiller.
His past medical history for gout and chronic neck pain, may be related to his actual symptoms. A chronic arthritis and denerative changes to his cervical column could explain the chronic neck pain and acute exacerbation from inflammation.
Although, I would recommend consulting with the GP for a careful physical examination and some tests:
- a resting ECG and cardiac enzymes (to exclude a cardiac ischemia)
- a chest x ray study (for the lungs and aorta)
- a cervical x ray study (for possible cervical column disorder)
- blood lab tests (complete blood count, PCR, sedimentation rate, uric acid plasma levels, blood electrolytes,etc) , to rule in/out possible inflammation related to arthritis or musculo skeletal pain.
You should discuss with your doctor on the above mentioned possibilities.
Hope to have been helpful!
Feel free to ask any other questions, whenever you need!
Best wishes,
Dr. Iliri
His symptoms don't seem to be cardiac related.
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Thank you for asking on HCM!
I understand your concern and would explain that his symptoms don't seem to be related to any cardiac disorder or blood clot.
A prolonged neck pain would not be typical of a cardiac disorder, including cardiac ischemia.
Is his pain modulated by the body movements and neck position changes? This would be very indicative for a musculoskeletal pain, including a pulled muscle.
Does Dayquil or Nyquil relieve his symptoms? It contains acetaminophen, which is a painkiller.
His past medical history for gout and chronic neck pain, may be related to his actual symptoms. A chronic arthritis and denerative changes to his cervical column could explain the chronic neck pain and acute exacerbation from inflammation.
Although, I would recommend consulting with the GP for a careful physical examination and some tests:
- a resting ECG and cardiac enzymes (to exclude a cardiac ischemia)
- a chest x ray study (for the lungs and aorta)
- a cervical x ray study (for possible cervical column disorder)
- blood lab tests (complete blood count, PCR, sedimentation rate, uric acid plasma levels, blood electrolytes,etc) , to rule in/out possible inflammation related to arthritis or musculo skeletal pain.
You should discuss with your doctor on the above mentioned possibilities.
Hope to have been helpful!
Feel free to ask any other questions, whenever you need!
Best wishes,
Dr. Iliri
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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