This modification of a disability questionnaire can provide some information on how neck pain symptoms affect the ability to manage in everyday life. There are many factors which contribute to long term or chronic neck pain problems which persist for more than 8 weeks. Depression is not uncommon in long term pain showing the need for an approach from many directions with chronic neck pain symptoms.
| Parameter |
Status |
| neck pain intensity |
I have no pain at the moment. |
| The pain is mild at the moment. |
| The pain is moderate at the moment. |
| The pain is severe at the moment. |
| The pain is the worst imaginable at the moment. |
| neck pain and sleeping |
My sleep is never disturbed by pain. |
| My sleep is occasionally disturbed by pain. |
| My sleep is regularly disturbed by pain. |
| Because of pain I have less than 5 hours sleep in total. |
| Because of pain I have less than 2 hours of sleep in total. |
pins and needles or
numbness in the arms
at night |
I have no pins and needles or numbness at night. |
| I have occasional pins and needles or numbness at night. |
| My sleep is regularly disturbed by pins and needles or numbness. |
| Because of pins and needles I have less than 5 hours sleep in total. |
| Because of pins and needles or numbness I have less than 2 hours of sleep in total. |
| duration of symptoms |
My neck and arms feel normal all day. |
| I have symptoms in my neck or arms on waking which last less than 1 hour. |
| Symptoms are present on and off for a total period of 1-4 hours. |
| Symptoms are present on and off for a total of more than 4 hours. |
| Symptoms are present continuously all day. |
| carrying |
I can carry heavy objects without extra pain. |
| I can carry heavy objects but they give me extra pain. |
| Pain prevents me from carrying heavy objects but I can manage medium weight objects. |
| I can only lift light weight objects. |
| I cannot lift anything at all. |
| reading and watching TV |
I can do this as long as I wish with no problems. |
| I can do this as long as I wish if I'm in a suitable position. |
| I can do this as long as I wish but it causes extra pain. |
| Pain causes me to stop doing this sooner than I would like. |
| Pain prevents me from doing this at all. |
| working/housework |
I can do my usual work without extra pain. |
| I can do my usual work but it gives me extra pain. |
| Pain prevents me from doing my usual work for more than half the usual time. |
| Pain prevents me from doing my usual work for more than a quarter of the usual time. |
| Pain prevents me from working at all. |
| social activities |
My social life is normal and causes me no extra pain. |
| My social life is normal but increases the degree of pain. |
| Pain has restricted my social life but I am still able to go out. |
| Pain has restricted my social life to the home. |
| I have no social life because of pain. |
| driving |
I can drive whenever necessary without discomfort. |
| I can drive whenever necessary but with discomfort |
| Neck pain or stiffness limits my driving occasionally. |
| Neck pain or stiffness limits my driving frequently. |
| I cannot drive at all due to neck symptoms. |
Neck Pain Symptoms
