Neck pain can be considered relatively common, and in fact, many causes of neck pain are not serious. However, that does not mean there isn’t a reason to be concerned. Dr. Michael B. Stough, an orthopedic surgeon at UMass Memorial Medical Center, states that muscle-related issues and arthritis are common causes of neck pain.
**Types of Neck Pain**
Acute pain, or pain that appears suddenly, often occurs due to muscle strain or sprain. Most cases of acute neck pain will resolve within a few days with the help of over-the-counter (OTC) anti-inflammatories and rest, according to Ali Argi, an orthopedic spine surgeon at The CORE Institute Sun City West Spine. Chronic pain, which may involve a dull or persistent ache that comes and goes, is more likely due to an underlying degenerative condition. Argi explains, "Many degenerative conditions start as intermittent pain, becoming more common and frequent as time goes on and the condition progresses."
**Common Causes of Neck Pain:**
1. **Poor Posture and Sleeping Position**
Bending over your desk for hours, craning your neck to stare at your phone, or sleeping on non-supportive pillows can contribute to muscle-related neck pain. Argi recommends avoiding bending your neck too far forward or backward and keeping your shoulders and back straight while sitting or standing. You can also position your phone or computer screen at eye level to avoid craning the neck. If you continually wake up with neck pain, your pillow or mattress might be the problem, so consider replacing them with more supportive options. Stough also mentions that sleeping in the wrong position or straining the neck in other ways can lead to underlying conditions like arthritis. If the pain persists despite your best efforts, it may be a good idea to talk to a doctor.
2. **Injury**
Unsurprisingly, injuries can also contribute to neck pain. You can suffer a neck injury in various scenarios, including car accidents, sports, and falls. A common type of injury that can cause neck pain is whiplash, which involves a sudden jerking motion of the head and neck. Recovery from such an injury can take weeks, if not months, depending on the severity. Treatment may include wearing a neck collar for support, applying ice to reduce swelling immediately after injury, taking anti-inflammatory medications to limit pain and inflammation, and using muscle relaxants alongside physical therapy. Injury or trauma to the neck and upper back can also cause slipped cervical discs, which may present as neck pain. This condition leads to pain that starts in the neck and radiates to the upper limbs, numbness in the hands, shoulders, or arms, and weakness in the arms or hands. This condition requires immediate treatment.
3. **Arthritis**
While arthritis commonly affects the hands, this degenerative disease can also impact the lumbar vertebrae and the joints in the spine, including those in the neck. Cervical spondylosis is a form of degenerative arthritis that particularly affects the neck. This type of arthritis is very common in older adults, affecting over 85% of people over sixty. Symptoms include noise when turning your neck, such as grinding or cracking, headaches, numbness in the hands, arms, or fingers if there is nerve compression or narrowing, and muscle spasms in the shoulders and neck. Your doctor may recommend surgery if you have spinal nerve compression or spinal stenosis.
4. **Fibromyalgia**
Another potential cause of chronic neck pain is fibromyalgia, a condition that causes widespread pain throughout the body. Experts do not know exactly why some people develop this disorder, but those with rheumatoid arthritis or lupus are more likely to experience fibromyalgia. Other symptoms of this condition include fatigue, depression and anxiety, sleep difficulties, including discomfort upon waking, memory and concentration problems, and headaches or migraines.
5. **Meningitis**
This serious condition, which causes inflammation of the spinal cord and membranes around the brain, requires immediate medical attention. Symptoms, which may appear suddenly, include neck stiffness, headache, and fever. Patients may also experience nausea, vomiting, light sensitivity, and confusion.
6. **Heart Attack**
For some individuals, neck pain can be a symptom of a heart attack, necessitating emergency treatment. Key signs of a heart attack include discomfort in the chest area, such as pressure, fullness, or pain, discomfort in the upper body, such as the neck, arms, stomach, jaw, or back, shortness of breath, cold sweating, nausea, and dizziness.
7. **Cancer**
Neck pain can also be a symptom of cancer, such as thyroid cancer, which can cause painful or painless swelling in the front of the neck. Specific symptoms of head and neck cancers depend on the cancer's location and type but may include a lump in the neck or persistent pain, non-healing sores in the throat or mouth, continuous sore throat, swallowing difficulties, voice changes, swelling around the jaw or chin, and facial numbness.
