Neck pain

Almost certainly not.

Scans of the neck show wear and tear in nearly every adult over forty who has no pain at all. A scan will usually find something — and that finding was probably there last year too. We scan when there is a reason, and we will tell you plainly if there is one.

No. That phrase describes normal change with age.

It is the neck equivalent of grey hair. It appears on the reports of enormous numbers of people who have never had a day of neck pain. It does not predict your future and it does not mean surgery.

Usually not — and it usually settles.

An irritated nerve root causes pain, pins and needles or numbness down the arm. Most settle over weeks to a few months without surgery. It is weakness that is getting worse that needs urgent attention, not pain.

Very unlikely.

Neck surgery is for specific problems — mainly a nerve or the spinal cord under pressure that is not settling. It is not an operation for neck pain on its own.