The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the professions with the highest rates of musculoskeletal disorders include transportation, health care, warehousing, wholesale trade, retail and construction. That means nursing assistants, janitors, registered nurses, stock clerks, production workers, retail salespeople, maids and housekeepers, police, and firefighters are most vulnerable to musculoskeletal injuries.
Diagnosis and Treatment
To determine the cause of neck pain, a doctor typically will request imaging tests to get to the cause. These can include:
- X-rays. These images can examine areas in the neck where nerves may be pinched by bone spurs or other degenerative changes.
- CT scans - These are X-ray images from different directions that produce detailed cross-sectional views of the neck’s internal structures.
- MRI - Radio waves and a magnetic field can create highly detailed images of bones and soft tissues, which provide clues to potential impingements.
- Electromyography (EMG) -- This test is usually requested if a pinched nerve is suspected. The process involves fine needles inserted into a neck muscle. Tests are then performed to determine whether the nerves function properly.
- Blood tests -- Blood tests can detect inflammation and infection. These may determine any potential links to neck pain, like those associated with meningitis.