Cause

Neck pain can be caused by an activity or injury that harms the neck or by another medical condition.

Activities that cause neck pain

Most neck pain is caused by activities that result in repeated or prolonged movements to the neck's muscles, ligaments, tendons, bones, or joints. This can result in a strain (an overstretched or overused muscle), a sprain (injury to a ligament), a spasm of the neck muscles, or inflammation of the neck joints.

These activities include:

• Holding your head in a forward or odd position for long periods of time while working, reading, watching TV, or talking on the telephone.
• Sleeping on a pillow that is too high or too flat or doesn't support your head, or sleeping on your stomach with your neck twisted or bent.
• Spending long periods of time resting your forehead on your upright fist or arm ("thinker's pose").
• Work or exercise that uses the upper body and arms, such as painting a ceiling or other overhead work.

Stress and focusing intensely on a task can contribute to neck pain. Tension may develop in one or more of the muscles that connect the head, neck, and shoulders. They may feel tight and painful.

Injuries that cause neck pain

The spine consists of interlocking bones (vertebrae) and discs that separate the vertebrae. The portion of the spine that runs through the neck is known as the cervical spine. Muscles and ligaments in the neck hold the cervical spine together. Injury to any of these structures may result in neck pain.

See pictures of the neck and the vertebrae and discs.

Minor injuries may occur from tripping or falling a short distance or from excessive motion of the cervical spine. Severe neck injuries may occur from whiplash in a car accident, falls from significant heights, direct blows to the face or the back or top of the head, sports-related injuries, a penetrating injury such as a stab wound, or pressure applied to the outside of the neck, such as strangulation.

Pain from an injury may be sudden and severe. Bruising and swelling may develop soon after the injury. Sudden (acute) injuries can result in:

• A strain or a sprain in the neck.
• A break or dislocation of the spine. This may cause a spinal cord injury that may lead to lack of movement and feeling (paralysis). It is important to immobilize and move the injured person correctly to reduce the risk of further injury. For more information, see first aid for a spinal injury.
• A ruptured disc (herniated disc) in the cervical spine. If the rupture is large enough, the jellylike material inside the spinal disc may leak out and press against a spinal nerve. A herniated disc in the cervical spine can also occur as part of aging. See a picture of a herniated disc.

Medical conditions that cause neck pain

Neck pain may be caused by or related to another medical condition. This can include:

• Conditions associated with increasing age, such as the narrowing of the spinal canal (cervical spinal stenosis) and arthritis of the neck (cervical spondylosis).
• Illnesses such as meningitis, which causes inflammation around the tissues of the brain and spinal cord, and the flu (influenza). When neck pain is caused by flu, the neck and the rest of the body tend to ache all over, but there is no severe neck stiffness.
• Chronic conditions such as fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, or ankylosing spondylitis.
• Torticollis (wryneck). Torticollis is caused by severe muscle tightness or a shortened muscle on one side of the neck, causing the head to be tilted to one side. Torticollis is usually a symptom of another medical problem.
• Referred pain. Referred pain occurs when a problem in one place in the body causes pain in another place. For example, a problem with your jaw (temporomandibular disorder) or your heart (such as a heart attack) can cause neck pain.
• Infection or a tumor in the neck area.

Side effects of some medicines include neck pain.