Health

IIE DIGITAL DESK : What began as a routine case of neck pain for a 34-year-old corporate employee in Bengaluru has turned into a cautionary tale about the dangers of ignoring persistent symptoms. Initially attributed to long hours at a desk, poor posture, and work-related stress, the discomfort that Rajeev Menon experienced daily while working from his home office turned out to be an early sign of a serious neurological condition.

Rajeev, a marketing executive in a multinational company, first noticed stiffness and intermittent pain in his neck six months ago. “It started as a dull ache after long meetings and late-night presentations,” he said. Like many desk-bound professionals, he blamed his sedentary lifestyle and assumed regular stretching and ergonomic adjustments would resolve the issue. But despite switching to an ergonomic chair, adjusting his screen height, and even undergoing physiotherapy, the pain persisted — and worsened.

Rajeev began experiencing numbness in his fingers and occasional dizziness. Alarmed, he visited a neurologist upon a friend’s insistence. A series of tests and an MRI scan revealed a diagnosis he never expected: cervical spondylotic myelopathy, a progressive neurological condition caused by spinal cord compression in the neck region. “The pressure on my spinal cord was increasing,” Rajeev shared, “and if I had delayed seeing a specialist any longer, I could have faced partial paralysis.”

This incident has now sparked conversations among health professionals about the importance of recognizing when neck pain is not just muscular or postural but a sign of something deeper. Experts warn that while neck stiffness is common in those with desk jobs, persistent symptoms that do not respond to standard remedies should not be ignored.

Dr. Meena Iyer, a neurologist at a Bengaluru hospital, explains, “Neck pain due to posture typically improves with rest, stretching, or physical therapy. But when pain is chronic, accompanied by neurological symptoms like numbness, tingling, weakness in the limbs, balance issues, or headaches, it’s a red flag. That’s when a neurologist should be consulted immediately.”

Cervical spondylotic myelopathy is just one of several neurological issues that can present with neck pain. Others include herniated discs, multiple sclerosis, and spinal cord tumors. In each of these conditions, early diagnosis significantly improves the outcome. Delays in treatment, on the other hand, can lead to irreversible nerve damage.

In Rajeev’s case, prompt intervention helped prevent permanent damage. He underwent a minimally invasive surgical procedure to relieve the spinal cord compression, followed by weeks of rehabilitation. Today, he’s back at work — this time with more awareness and a commitment to regular health checkups. “I never thought neck pain could be a neurological issue. Now, I tell all my colleagues — don’t wait if your body is telling you something’s wrong.”

Health experts urge companies and employees to take ergonomic wellness seriously, but also emphasize the importance of medical vigilance. Routine discomfort might sometimes mask serious issues that only neurological evaluations can uncover. Awareness, timely diagnosis, and access to the right specialist can be the difference between a full recovery and long-term complications.

As work-from-home and hybrid models continue to dominate the professional landscape, this case is a stark reminder that not all pain is superficial. In the face of persistent symptoms, particularly when paired with neurological signs, consulting a neurologist is not just advisable — it could be lifesaving.