What Causes Severe Neck Pain?

Posted on Mon, 15 Dec 2014

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Mon, 15 Dec 2014 Answered on

Sat, 10 Jan 2015 Last reviewed on

Question : I am having terrible pain on the left side of my neck. The pain continues down my shoulder and maybe into my arm. I also have what I think is "restless leg syndrome" in the upper and lower part of my left leg. The "pain" is almost unbearable. Could they be connected? Could it have to do with blood flow? Should I be concerned?

Answered by Dr. Kathy Robinson (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Probably not connected

Detailed Answer:

Restless leg is a neurological condition where the legs jerk at night often interfering with sleep. There is treatment for this. It is probably not connected to your neck pain.

I suggest you seek treatment for the restless leg. If it is not restless leg then you need to know what is causing your leg problem as well. However, the pain in your shoulder, neck and arm could be more serious. It could come from a disc protrusion in your cervical spine or from something called thoracic outlet syndrome. Thoracic outlet syndrome causes a pressure on the brachial plexus, the vessels and nerves that go from your neck to your shoulder and arm.

You need to see a doctor soon and have an exam and some testing done to get accurate diagnoses for these problems so that you can get appropriate treatment. I hope you get relief soon

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Bhagyalaxmi Nalaparaju