Neck pain
What is neck pain?
Neck pain usually starts suddenly. But it often begins to feel better after a few days and is usually gone after a week or so. If it doesn't go away or it gets worse, you may have a more serious problem that needs to be treated.
Neck pain can happen because of a problem in any part of your neck. This includes in the muscles, the nerves, the bones in
the neck (vertebrae) and the disks in between these bones. Disks are round pads of spongy tissue. They cushion the bones in
your spine to stop them from getting damaged or rubbing together.
1
Source:
U.S. National Library of Medicine.
Medline Plus Medical Encyclopedia: neck pain.
June 2005. Available at http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003025.htm (accessed on 14 July 2008).
U.S. National Library of Medicine.
Medline Plus Medical Encyclopedia: neck pain.
June 2005. Available at http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003025.htm (accessed on 14 July 2008).
Neck pain usually starts suddenly.
There are different types of neck pain. Each has different causes.
1
Source:
U.S. National Library of Medicine.
Medline Plus Medical Encyclopedia: neck pain.
June 2005. Available at http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003025.htm (accessed on 14 July 2008).
U.S. National Library of Medicine.
Medline Plus Medical Encyclopedia: neck pain.
June 2005. Available at http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003025.htm (accessed on 14 July 2008).
This is the most common type of neck pain. You might never know the exact reason for your neck pain, but it might be due to:
- Bad posture (for example, when working at a computer)
- Tension from stress, anxiety or depression
- A strain in your neck muscles or ligaments (the strands of tissue that hold bones together). Perhaps you slept in an awkward position or jarred your neck while exercising
- A twisted neck causing muscles on one side to tighten painfully (spasm). Doctors call this torticollis
- Wear and tear on the bones in your neck (called the cervical vertebrae) and the shock-absorbing disks between them. This is a common cause of neck pain in older people. Doctors sometimes call this cervical spondylosis or cervical osteoarthritis.
If you have cervical radiculopathy, the root of a nerve is squashed or injured as it comes out between the bones in your neck
(the cervical vertebrae). It can happen when a bone or disk in your neck presses on a nerve. This is similar to what happens
when a disk in your back tears and the jellylike center presses on a nerve, causing low back pain (this is called a slipped
disk).
Cervical radiculopathy can cause a lot of pain. Your arm might also feel numb or weak, or have pins and needles.
Sometimes neck pain is due to more serious injuries or rare causes. An accident or fall can lead to a severe neck injury such
as a broken bone or a dislocated bone (when a bone moves out of place).
Rheumatoid arthritis,
fibromyalgia, bone disorders and cancers also can cause neck pain. A stiff neck can also be a sign of
meningitis or a condition called polymyalgia rheumatica, which causes bad aches and stiffness in the upper arms, neck and thighs.
rheumatoid arthritis
If you have rheumatoid arthritis, your joints get painful, swollen and stiff. Rheumatoid arthritis is caused by inflammation inside your joints. It happens when your immune system attacks the lining of your joints.
If you have rheumatoid arthritis, your joints get painful, swollen and stiff. Rheumatoid arthritis is caused by inflammation inside your joints. It happens when your immune system attacks the lining of your joints.
fibromyalgia
This condition causes widespread pain, stiffness and tenderness in your muscles, tendons and joints. The pain occurs in areas known as "tender points." These points include the front of your knees, your elbows, your hip joints and around your neck. The condition also leads to extreme tiredness and you may experience sleep problems, headaches, anxiety and other symptoms. Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition, which means it's ongoing, but it is not life-threatening.
This condition causes widespread pain, stiffness and tenderness in your muscles, tendons and joints. The pain occurs in areas known as "tender points." These points include the front of your knees, your elbows, your hip joints and around your neck. The condition also leads to extreme tiredness and you may experience sleep problems, headaches, anxiety and other symptoms. Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition, which means it's ongoing, but it is not life-threatening.
meningitis
If you have a swelling in the thin layers of tissue that surround your brain and your spinal cord, it's called meningitis. It's most often caused by an infection with certain kinds of bacteria or viruses. Meningitis can give you a severe headache and a stiff neck. And you may find it difficult to keep your eyes open in the light. Meningitis is a life-threatening disease. If you have these symptoms, you should get to a hospital right away.
If you have a swelling in the thin layers of tissue that surround your brain and your spinal cord, it's called meningitis. It's most often caused by an infection with certain kinds of bacteria or viruses. Meningitis can give you a severe headache and a stiff neck. And you may find it difficult to keep your eyes open in the light. Meningitis is a life-threatening disease. If you have these symptoms, you should get to a hospital right away.
If your neck pain lasts just a few days or weeks, your doctor may say you have acute or short-term neck pain. Neck pain that lasts more than three months is often called chronic neck pain.
Your doctor can rule out serious causes of neck pain by examining your neck. He or she may also order some tests. You might
have an
X-ray of your neck, a
CT scan or an
MRI scan. Sometimes doctors do blood tests to look for
inflammation or more serious causes.
X-ray
X-rays are pictures taken of the inside of your body. They are done by passing very small amounts of radiation through your body and onto film. X-rays can also be used as a treatment, such as in radiation therapy for cancer.
X-rays are pictures taken of the inside of your body. They are done by passing very small amounts of radiation through your body and onto film. X-rays can also be used as a treatment, such as in radiation therapy for cancer.
CT scan
A CT scan is a type of X-ray. It takes several detailed pictures of the inside of your body from different angles. CT stands for computed tomography. It's also called a CAT scan (computed axial tomography).
A CT scan is a type of X-ray. It takes several detailed pictures of the inside of your body from different angles. CT stands for computed tomography. It's also called a CAT scan (computed axial tomography).
MRI scan
The magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machine uses a magnetic field to create detailed pictures of the inside of the body. These pictures allow doctors to look at parts of the body in three-dimensional images.
The magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machine uses a magnetic field to create detailed pictures of the inside of the body. These pictures allow doctors to look at parts of the body in three-dimensional images.
inflammation
If your skin or some other part of your body becomes red, swollen, hot or sore, we say it is inflamed. It means that your body is trying to protect you from germs, from something in your body tissues that can hurt you (like a thorn or sliver), or from things that cause allergies (allergens). Inflammation is part of the way the body heals an infection or injury.
If your skin or some other part of your body becomes red, swollen, hot or sore, we say it is inflamed. It means that your body is trying to protect you from germs, from something in your body tissues that can hurt you (like a thorn or sliver), or from things that cause allergies (allergens). Inflammation is part of the way the body heals an infection or injury.
Sources for the information on this page:
This information was last updated on Jan 07, 2009
This information is for educational use only, and is not a substitute for prompt professional medical advice. Readers should always consult a physician or other professional for advice and treatment.
© BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2009. All rights reserved.
© BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2009. All rights reserved.
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