What is neck pain?
Neck pain is a common condition that can be caused by many different things. It will affect most people at some point in their lives.
Most neck pain clears up by itself in a few days. It is very rarely a sign of something more serious.
What symptoms relate to neck pain?
Neck pain often spreads from the neck towards the shoulders or upper back. It can often cause Headaches The pain may be worse when you hold your head in one position for a long time, such asat a a computer
Neck pain might also come with muscle tightness or spasms. You also may not be able to move your head very well.
If you have a neck injury, you might also have:
- Dizziness
- nausea (feeling sick)
- pins and needles or numbness
- weakness
- changes to your vision or hearing
- problems concentrating
- difficulty swallowing (disphagia)
See your doctor if you have any of these symptoms.
CHECK YOUR SYMPTOMS — Use the Symptom Checker and find out if you need to seek medical help.
What causes neck pain?
Common causes of neck pain include:
- poor posture (the way your body is positioned when standing or sitting)
- sleeping in an awkward position
- tension in your muscles
- injury such as a muscle strain or whiplash
- prolonged use of a laptop desktop or computer
- a slipped spinal disc (herniated disc)
- wear and tear in the bones of the neck, which is a normal part of ageing
- wear and tear of the Spinal disc (cervical spondylosis). This is also a normal part of ageing
Rarer causes of neck pain include:
- damage to the vertebrae, spinal cord or nerves in the neck
- a compressed nerve (cervical radiculopathy)
- an infection
- Osteoprosis related bone damage or fractures
- Arthritis