Weight loss and neck pain taken together can be a sign of a serious condition, depending on accompanying symptoms and complaints. However, there are many causes for neck pain, many of them minor and temporary.
Neck Pain
According to The Merck Online Medical Library, most neck pain is caused by spinal disorders. Fibromyalgia is a common reason for pain. Sometimes, pain is referred from non-spinal disorders such as vascular conditions or gastrointestinal disorders. Some causes, whether spinal or extraspinal, are serious. Most neck disorders are mechanical, caused by sprain or strain of the muscles. However, a few involve serious conditions such as infection, cancer or inflammation. These serious conditions usually involve sudden weight loss along with other symptoms such as fever, nausea, fatigue, and other systemic symptoms.
Weight Loss
Sudden or rapid weight loss should be a cause for concern. Some cancers are free of pain, and the only outward symptom is weight loss. However, if the weight loss is accompanied by other symptoms, consult your doctor to rule out serious conditions such as metabolic disorders.
Polymyalgia Rheumatica
Polymyalgia rheumatica is an extraspinal cause of neck pain and weight loss. It's inflammatory in nature and leads to pain and stiffness. According to the Mayo Clinic, it most often occurs at 50 or older. The etiology is unknown, and symptoms are centered in the muscles with no obvious signs of arthritis. In some cases, there are indications of inflammatory arthritis. The disorder occurs alone or preceding an episode of temporal arteritis, an inflammation of blood vessels in the head. Along with unintentional weight loss and neck pain, symptoms include anemia, face pain, fatigue, malaise, fever, muscle stiffness, shoulder pain and stiffness.
Lyme Disease
Lyme disease is an infection caused by the Borrelia bacteria, contracted through a tick bite. Lyme disease is prevalent in wooded or grassy areas where ticks live. The first sign of Lyme disease is a red, target-shaped rash at the bite. Weight loss and neck pain are common signs of Lyme disease, along with a multitude of others such as flu-like symptoms, migratory joint pain and, depending on how long the disease is untreated, neurological problems. It's important to identify Lyme disease as soon as possible for a favorable treatment outcome. According to the Mayo Clinic, if you're treated with the correct antibiotics early, your chances for a full recovery are good. However, in later stages, your response to treatment may be slower. Most people recover completely with appropriate treatment.
Warning
Neck pain and weight loss must be addressed, especially if accompanied by other signs and symptoms. Seek medical attention if you have fever, numbness in your limbs, severe fatigue, chills or severe headaches.
