What Causes Neck Pain and How is it Treated?

What Causes Neck Pain and How is it Treated? 

If you deal with chronic neck pain, you’re not alone. Neck pain is one of the most common musculoskeletal issues [1] among the global population and is one of the leading causes of physical disability and discomfort. According to the British Medical Journal (BMJ), the number of cases of neck pain increased from 164.3 million to 288.7 million between 1990 and 2017. [2] 

In this article, we’re going to cover everything that you need to know about neck pain, including: 

1. What neck pain is 
2. What the main symptoms of neck pain are 
3. The most common causes of neck pain 
4. How neck pain is diagnosed 
5. How you can manage or treat neck pain 

What is Neck Pain? 

Your neck refers to the region of your spine called the cervical spine. The cervical spine consists of seven vertebrae, known as C1 to C7. [3] A number of nerves exit the cervical spine and travel to the muscles and organs of the body, enabling you to voluntarily move around. 

Your neck muscles are working around the clock to support your head, which weighs around 11 pounds, on average. Because of the constant strain that is placed on your neck, it is prone to aches and pains. 

Neck pain is a pain that begins in the neck and can sometimes radiate down one or both of your arms. [4] It is a common symptom of a range of medical disorders and can also result from injuries or poor movement patterns. 

What Are the Main Symptoms of Neck Pain? 

Most people have experienced neck pain at one point or another. You might know exactly how neck pain feels and some of you might even have a sore neck while you’re reading this article! 

The symptoms of neck pain can vary in severity and duration. [5] It can be acute (sudden and short term) or chronic (ongoing), depending on the cause of the pain. In severe cases, neck pain can impact an individual’s quality of life and may even cause disability. 

The main signs and symptoms of neck pain include: 

• Pain when holding your head in a certain position, such as when you’re working on a computer or driving 
• Pain when moving the neck, such as when you’re twisting or extending the cervical spine 
• Sharp pain that affects just one area of the neck 
• Stiffness in the muscles of the neck 
• Decreased range of motion in your cervical spine, meaning you can’t turn your head as easily or as much as usual 
• Headaches 
• Radiating pain in and around the neck. Most commonly, neck pain radiates down the shoulders and arms 
• Numbness in one or both of the arms, caused by a compressed nerve in the cervical spine 
• Pain when you palpate or squeeze the muscles around the neck 

What Causes Neck Pain? 

Although neck pain can be caused by something as simple and benign as poor posture, it may also be a sign of a deeper medical health condition that needs to be addressed. 

The most common reasons why people experience neck pain include: 

1. Poor posture 
2. Repetitive movements 
3. Poor sleeping position 
4. Clenching your jaw or grinding your teeth 
5. Carrying a heavy bag around for long periods of time 
6. Trapped or compressed nerves 
7. Injuries in and around the neck area 
8. Whiplash 
9. Osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis (swelling of the joints, causing pain) 
10. Osteoporosis (weakening of the bones, leading to brittleness and fragility) 
11. Fibromyalgia 
12. Infections 
13. Meningitis (inflammation of the tissues surrounding the brain and spinal cord) 
14. Tumors 
15. Congenital abnormalities 
16. Fractured vertebrae 
17. Slipped (herniated) disc 
18. Disc degeneration 
19. Cervical stenosis (narrowing of the spinal column, causing pressure on the nerve roots) 

How is Neck Pain Diagnosed? 

If you are experiencing chronic pain, you should always consult a doctor. This is especially important if you are getting additional symptoms, such as nausea, headaches, numbness, weakness, tingling, or significantly reduced movement in your limbs. 

Your doctor will perform a full assessment to determine the cause of your neck pain so that they can prescribe the appropriate treatments. They may ask for your medical history and perform a physical examination to rule out certain causes. 

The doctor might also request the following diagnostic tests: 

1. An X-ray 
2. A Computed Tomography scan 
3. A Magnetic Resonance Imagery (MRI) scan 
4. Electromyography (EMG) 
5. Myelogram 
6. Nerve Conduction Studies (NCS) 
7. Selective Nerve Root Block 
8. Blood tests 

How Can You Effectively Manage Neck Pain or Resolve it? 

Depending on the cause of your neck pain, your management plan will look different. Work closely with your doctor to identify the best treatment options for your individual needs. 

Pain-relieving medications can be helpful to ease your symptoms and make you feel more comfortable on a day-to-day basis. Additional treatments may include: 

1. Improved posture and movement patterns 
2. Yoga and gentle exercise 
3. Weight management 
4. Improved sleeping position 
5. Rehabilitation exercises and stretching, as prescribed by a physical therapist 
6. Traction 
7. Hot and cold therapy 
8. Anti-inflammatory medications (if the neck pain results from swelling in the joints and tissues) 
9. Muscle relaxing medications 
10. Antibiotics (if the pain is caused by an infection) 
11. Acupuncture 
12. Massage 
13. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) 

In some very rare cases, surgery might be necessary to treat neck pain. This is usually only the case when the neck pain is a symptom of a deeper medical issue. For example, if you are experiencing other neurological symptoms or you’re having difficulty balancing or walking, you may be a candidate for surgery. 

Surgery may involve spinal fusion or spinal decompression (sometimes known as lumbar decompression) [6] to lower pain and improve physical movement.