Chronic neck pain WITHOUT neurologic/radicular symptoms

First test is almost always C spine xray series. Recs are this is the ONLY test even for patients with history of remote trauma, cancer or surgery, even if degenerative findings evident on xray. And insurance approval often difficult to attain.

If there are neurologic findings, first test is still xray, but then MRI Cspine next best test. See "Chronic neck pain with neurologic symptoms"