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Neck and lower back pain
I have severe neck pain and I’m unable to sit properly or watch a movie because of the pain. The pain starts from my neck and shoulder and radiates down to my right thumb. When I use a computer mouse, I experience numbness from my thumb up to my elbow, and this has been happening for the past two weeks.
Recently, I also developed severe pain in the left side of my buttock, slightly toward the middle/side of the muscle. The pain is so severe that I’m having difficulty walking, and I also have significant back pain even when I’m at rest.
I had an X-ray, but it was normal. If the X-ray is normal, what could be causing this severe neck, arm, buttock, and back pain?
Answers (7)
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Dear Patient,
I understand how concerning and exhausting it is to deal with such severe pain, especially when your X-ray report came back clean.
To reassure you, a normal X-ray does not mean the pain is in your head. An X-ray only captures bone structures; it cannot visualize soft tissues like intervertebral discs or nerves. Given your symptoms—pain radiating down to your right thumb, numbness while using a mouse, and severe lower back and buttock pain—the cause is very likely a disc problem (nerve irritation/compression) rather than a bone abnormality.
Desk work, prolonged sitting, and mouse usage place significant mechanical stress on both the neck and lower back, which strongly favors this type of disc-related pain.
Next Steps
Here is what I recommend doing next:
In-Person Spine Evaluation: You need a physical examination of both your cervical (neck) and lumbar (lower back) spine to check your nerve function and mobility.
MRI Scan: Since X-rays miss disc issues, please plan to undergo an MRI of the Cervical Spine with Whole Spine Screening. This will clearly show the condition of your discs and nerves so we can target your treatment accurately.
Health Tips
In the meantime, try to avoid prolonged sitting, refrain from bending forward or lifting weights, and take frequent short breaks from desk work. Please consult a specialist in person at the earliest for a detailed evaluation and tailored relief plan.
Wish you a speedy recovery!
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This history is quite suggestive of cervical radiculopathy rather than a problem that would necessarily show on a plain X-ray. Pain starting in the neck/shoulder and radiating toward the thumb with numbness along the forearm can occur from irritation of a cervical nerve root, often around the C6 distribution. A cervical X-ray mainly assesses bones and alignment; it cannot adequately show a disc prolapse or nerve-root compression. MRI is much better for this when radicular symptoms are significant or persistent.
From the photograph provided, I do not see an obvious acute bony injury, although a photographed X-ray is not sufficient for a definitive radiological interpretation.
Next Steps
Because the symptoms are severe, have lasted around two weeks, and include numbness, an in-person orthopaedic/spine examination is advisable. Power, sensation, reflexes and provocative tests should be checked. Depending on those findings, an MRI cervical spine without contrast may be appropriate.
The new left buttock and back pain may be a separate lumbar problem—such as muscular/gluteal pain, sacroiliac-related pain or lumbar nerve irritation—and should also be examined. A normal X-ray does not exclude disc or nerve problems here either. Lumbar MRI is generally reserved for significant neurological findings, red flags, or persistent/progressive symptoms.
Health Tips
Seek urgent medical assessment if there is increasing arm or leg weakness, worsening difficulty walking, loss of balance, numbness around the groin/saddle area, loss of bladder or bowel control, fever, or rapidly worsening unremitting pain. Suspected spinal cord or cauda-equina involvement requires prompt MRI assessment.
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These symptoms points towards disc bulge issue in cervical and lumbar spine. Disc is not visible on xray. It needs to be investigated by MRI.
Next Steps
Get an mri done and consult ortho surgeon
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A normal X-ray does not rule out a disc problem or nerve compression. Your symptoms of neck pain radiating to the right thumb with numbness extending towards the elbow are suggestive of cervical radiculopathy, possibly involving the C6 nerve root. The X-ray mainly assesses bones and alignment; discs and nerves are better evaluated with an MRI.
The severe left buttock pain with difficulty walking may be due to a lumbar disc/nerve irritation, sacroiliac or deep gluteal muscle-related problem, and needs a proper clinical examination to differentiate.
Next Steps
Since your pain is severe and has been affecting walking, please have an orthopaedic/spine specialist examine you rather than relying on the X-ray alone. An MRI of the cervical spine would be reasonable given the persistent radiating pain and numbness; depending on examination findings, an MRI of the lumbar spine may also be required.
Health Tips
Avoid prolonged sitting, heavy lifting and activities that aggravate the pain. If you develop progressive weakness of the arm/leg, difficulty controlling urine or stools, numbness around the groin, or rapidly worsening difficulty walking, seek urgent medical attention.
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Dr. Rahul Kumar Pandey
Orthopedic surgeon
10 yrs exp
Lucknow
It is most likely due to nerve compression.
Next Steps
Get MRI done
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Dr. Rakesh Kumar
Orthopedic surgeon
6 yrs exp
Coimbatore
Mri spine would get us better picture of any nerve root compression
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Dr. Ravikumar Chandulal Makadia
Orthopedic surgeon
7 yrs exp
Ahmedabad
Nerve compression is causing severe pain
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Disclaimer : The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding your medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.