A 69-year-old lady presented with back pain for 5 days associated with spiking temperatures, lower limb weakness and urinary retention. Urgent MRI showed discitis at the disc between cervical vertebra seven (C7), thoracic vertebra one (T1) and lumbar vertebra three and four (L3-4), associated dural inflammation, stenosis of the cervical spinal canal and cervical cord oedema at the level of C3. No definite epidural abscess was seen. She was transferred to the spinal unit for observation. Following transfer she rapidly developed respiratory compromise and required emergency spinal decompression later that day.