How do I know whether my neck pain is serious enough that I should see a professional? Should I see my doctor or a PT first?

Generally speaking, if you have experienced any type of spine pain that has persisted for more than 5-7 days, it would be beneficial to see a skilled physical therapist for a proper evaluation. This can help determine your source of pain and whether or not you would benefit from physical therapy or if you need to be referred on for advanced imaging.

We recommend seeing a PT first because research has shown that the sooner you seek care from a qualified PT, the better outcomes you’ll have and the less expensive your overall cost of care will be. There has been a lack of research correlating early imaging results and improved outcomes.