Neck pain is any time your neck hurts. It’s a common problem with lots of causes. Your neck has a tough job. It holds up the same weight as a bowling ball all day long. The bones at the top of your spine, along with your muscles and ligaments, support your head, which weighs about 11 pounds. It can be a delicate balance. Things like sleeping wrong and bad posture can cause neck pain, as more than one-quarter of American adults can tell you. It isn’t usually a symptom of a more serious health problem.
The duration of neck pain is commonly classified as follows:
Acute. Pain that lasts less than 4 weeks.
Subacute. Pain that lasts 4 to 12 weeks.
Chronic. Pain that lasts 3 or more months.
Common Neck Pain Signs and Symptoms
Neck pain usually involves one or more of the following symptoms and signs:
Stiff neck. Soreness and difficulty moving the neck, especially when trying to turn the head from side to side.
See Stiff Neck Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment
Sharp pain. This pain may be localized to one spot and might feel like it is stabbing or stinging. This type of pain typically occurs in the lower neck.
General soreness. This discomfort is typically felt in a broader area or region of the neck. It is described as tender or achy, not sharp.
Radicular pain. This pain can radiate along a nerve from the neck into the shoulder and arm. The intensity can vary and this nerve pain might feel like it is burning or searing.
Cervical radiculopathy. Neurological deficits—such as problems with reflexes, sensation, or strength—may be experienced in the arm due to nerve root compression. Cervical radiculopathy may also be accompanied by radicular pain.
Trouble with gripping or lifting objects. This problem can happen if numbness or weakness goes into the arm or fingers.
Headaches. Sometimes an irritation in the neck can affect muscles and nerves connected to the head. Some examples include tension headache, cervicogenic headache, and occipital neuralgia.
If neck pain symptoms progress, it can become difficult to sleep. Neck pain may also interfere with other daily activities, such as getting dressed or going to work, or any activity that involves turning the head, such as driving.Neck pain may be sharp and located in one spot, or it might feel less intense but spread across a broader region. Sometimes the pain gets referred up to the head or accompanies a headache. Other times it can be accompanied by muscle spasms in the neck, upper back, or around the shoulder blade. Less commonly, shock-like pain or tingling may radiate down into the shoulder, arm, and/or hand.
Self-Care for Neck Pain
If neck pain is not debilitating and was not caused by trauma, the pain can typically be treated with self-care.
Short period of rest. While strenuous activities and movements that worsen pain are to be avoided for a few days, some movement is typically encouraged to prevent the neck from becoming weaker and/or stiffer.
Ice and/or heat. Applying ice can help reduce swelling and pain. Applying heat may help relax muscles and bring more blood flow and healing nutrients to the injured area. For ice or heat therapy, applications are limited to 15 or 20 minutes with at least a 2-hour break in between to give the skin time to recover.
Gentle stretches. Some forms of neck pain or muscle tightness are alleviated with gentle range-of-motion stretches. If a particular movement or stretch exacerbates pain, stop and try another movement instead.
Other self-care remedies are available for neck pain. In addition, lifestyle changes can play a role in reducing neck pain. Some examples include adopting a more physically active lifestyle, quitting smoking, and using correct posture throughout the day.
