Referrals
Neck pain referral checklist
Referral checklist for neck pain with neurologic deficits, trauma risk, or refractory symptoms.
Last reviewed 2026-02-07|neck pain | msk | spine
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Minimum pre-referral workup
- Trauma history, neurologic exam findings, and pain trajectory.
- Conservative management attempts and response timeline.
- Red-flag screening for infection, malignancy, and myelopathy.
Urgency tier
- Same-day escalation for progressive neurologic deficits or high-risk trauma concern.
- Expedited referral for severe persistent symptoms despite first-line care.
- Routine referral for chronic non-urgent but function-limiting pain.
Referral packet checklist
- Structured symptom chronology and exam findings.
- Imaging/tests performed and key results.
- Current medications and functional limitations.
Pre-referral optimization tasks
- Continue safe activity-modification and analgesia plan.
- Reinforce red-flag return precautions.
- Arrange interim follow-up while referral is pending.