Neck Pain Symptoms & Causes

The neck is a hardworking part of the body, made up of vertebrae that extend from the upper torso to the skull. Cervical discs absorb shock between these bones. The vertebrae, muscles and ligaments at the top of the spine support the head together, which weighs 11 pounds on average – the weight of a bowling ball.

The neck is also known as the cervical spine, and neck pain – or cervicalgia as it is sometimes called – refers to pain in or around the spine beneath the head.

As a common symptom of multiple injuries and medical conditions, neck pain usually isn’t serious and improves with simple treatment strategies. However, pain that continues for a number of months could indicate an underlying medical condition. In some incidences, early intervention may be required for best results.

Symptoms of Neck Pain

Individuals may experience axial neck pain, referring to pain felt mostly in the neck, or radicular neck pain, where pain shoots to other areas of the body, such as the shoulders or arms. Pain may be acute, resolving in under six weeks, or chronic, where symptoms extend beyond three months.

Symptoms of neck pain may include:

• Neck stiffness that may cause a decreased range of motion
• Sharp pain that is localized to one area
• Pain while moving
• Radiating pain or burning sensations, or numbness, possibly signifying a compressed or pinched nerve
• Neck pain that produces a headache, also referred to as a cervicogenic headache; a combination of neck and head pain may also be symptoms of a migraine headache

Neck Pain Causes

There are a variety of causes for neck pain or stiffness:

Muscle Strain and Tension

This type of pain is typically the result of activities such as:

• Being sedentary for too long
• Having your computer monitor positioned too low or too high
• Quick movement during exercise
• Sleeping in a position that aggravates your neck

Injury

Falls, sporting mishaps and car accidents often force the muscles and ligaments of the neck to move outside a healthy range of motion, causing injury. A sudden jerking of the head, referred to as whiplash, is one of the neck pain causes most common as a result of injury. Fractures in the neck bones – or cervical vertebrae – are very serious as they may cause damage to the spinal cord.

Other Causes

Neck pain causes may also include heart attacks, presenting alongside other symptoms such as sweating, shortness of breath, pain in the arm or jaw, nausea or vomiting. This requires urgent medical attention.

A layer of thin tissue surrounds the brain and spinal cord. Inflammation of this tissue is known as meningitis, a life threatening condition that may result in neck stiffness. Other symptoms such as headache, nausea, vomiting and light sensitivity are likely to be present as well.

Degenerative diseases such as osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, spinal stenosis and spondylosis (known as arthritis of the neck) may all be potential neck pain causes. Other conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis (inflammation of the joints) and fibromyalgia may also result in ongoing neck stiffness or neck pain.

On rare occasions, neck pain or neck stiffness may be the result of infections, abscesses, tumors, cancer of the spine or congenital abnormalities.

Neck Pain Red Flags

In certain incidences, neck pain is serious, where there may be an underlying disease or infection, or the health of the spinal cord or a nerve root may be at risk. Red flags may include pain or tingling that radiates into the arms or legs, issues with balance and coordination, or fevers and chills. These symptoms require immediate treatment by a medical professional, as does severe neck pain as a result of traumatic injury, such as a serious fall or car crash.

Paying close attention to symptoms of your neck pain can help you choose the right course of action. While simple behaviors such as poor posture or uncomfortable sleep positions are more common causes of neck pain, medical attention should be immediately sought out for pain that is severe, that continues beyond a week, or is accompanied by other symptoms.