Learn what a typical Neck pain prognosis is at Consumer Reports Health.

Neck pain

What will happen to me?

Neck pain usually goes away within days or weeks. But for some people, it can come back or last for a long time.

Two studies have found:

About 1 in 10 over 30s have long-term neck pain

Source:
Makela M, Heliövaara M, Sievers K, et al.
Prevalence, determinants, and consequences of chronic neck pain in Finland.
American Journal of Epidemiology. 1991; 134: 1356-1367.

¹
About 1 in 20 adults get neck pain that causes them some disability.

Source:
Côté P, Cassidy D, Carroll L.
The Saskatchewan health and back pain survey: the prevalence of neck pain and related disability in Saskatchewan adults.
Spine. 1998; 23: 1689-1698.

²

If you have neck pain that lasts a long time (chronic neck pain), it's a good idea to talk with your doctor. Your pain might not go away on its own.

Source:
Vernon H, Humphreys BK, Hagino C.
The outcome of control groups in clinical trials of conservative treatments for chronic mechanical neck pain: a systematic review.
BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders 2006;7:58.

Sources for the information on this page:

Makela M, Heliövaara M, Sievers K, et al.Prevalence, determinants, and consequences of chronic neck pain in Finland.American Journal of Epidemiology. 1991; 134: 1356-1367.

Côté P, Cassidy D, Carroll L.The Saskatchewan health and back pain survey: the prevalence of neck pain and related disability in Saskatchewan adults.Spine. 1998; 23: 1689-1698.

Vernon H, Humphreys BK, Hagino C.The outcome of control groups in clinical trials of conservative treatments for chronic mechanical neck pain: a systematic review.BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders 2006;7:58.

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.
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