FAQs

What causes neck pain?

Dr. Dennis G. Crandall
Mesa, AZ
The most common cause is muscular strain. Other common causes include pain from arthritic joints and disks, and from abnormal motion (instability) of the vertebra.
Dr. Mark Testaiuti
Haddonfield, NJ
Excluding fractures and overt unstable traumatic injuries, there are multiple causes, usually all related to degenerative arthritic conditions which slowly build up to become symptomatic or are stressed by acute injury to become symptomatic. The joints (facets) and discs in the neck are in close proximity to the nerve roots and can irritate them if arthritis has caused the root passageway to narrow.
Dr. Daniel Resnick
Madison, WI
Neck pain is a multi-factorial problem. It can be caused by problems related to damage to the cervical discs, to the ligaments supporting the spine, to the bony structures of the spine, or to the muscular structure of the spine. Determining the source of the neck pain can be very problematic at times. The most common source of neck pain is musculoskeletal strain often brought about by a whiplash injury or caused by an overuse phenomenon. Uncommonly, neck pain can be directly related to a torn ligament or to a herniated disc.
Dr. Brian Subach
Atlanta, GA
The most common causes of neck pain are muscle pain, nerve pain, and degenerative spine pain.
Dr. Sean Salehi
Chicago, IL
The majority of the time, neck pain is a result of a cervical strain. This is typically a self-limiting process and significant pain relief is expected in a period of 1-2 weeks. Chronic neck pain is mostly due to a tear in the outer layer of the disc.
Dr. Allan Levi
Miami, FL
There are many causes of neck pain. Any of the structures present in the neck including the muscles, ligaments, blood vessels, nerves and discs can be the source of neck pain.
Dr. Kambiz Hannani
Los Angeles, CA
Almost everyone experiences neck pain at some point in their lives. Fortunately, most neck pain improves with time. The most common cause of neck pain is pulled muscles or muscle strain. Other less common but more serious causes include infection, tumors, broken bones, disc herniations (discs that have ruptured and are placing pressure on the nerves of the spine), disc degeneration, ligaments, and so on. If your neck pain does not subside within a few weeks, you should your doctor examine you to determine the exact cause of your pain.
Dr. Robert S. Pashman
Los Angeles, CA
Neck pain has a variety of causes. Poor body mechanics, herniated discs, spinal fracture, muscle spasms, spinal deformity and osteoarthritis are a few reasons for neck pain.

Your physician will determine if the pain is mechanical, (coming from a joint or disc), radicular (coming from a nerve or nerve root); or myelopathic, (coming from the spinal cord) and then determine a treatment plan.
Dr. Joseph Alexander
Winston-Salem, NC
Neck pain can be caused by many problems. The most common problem is the degeneration of the structures of the spine that occurs as a natural consequence of aging. This is often referred to as osteoarthritis or "wear and tear." As the spine ages, the discs dehydrate, the cartilage wears out and the ligaments degenerate which can produce instability of the spine and local inflammation which in turn causes pain.

There are many other causes of neck pain, however. These include damage to the muscles and ligaments, which can be caused in an accident and is called whiplash. The muscles of the neck and shoulder area can be affected by conditions such as fibromyalgia. Pain in the area of the neck can also be caused by degenerative problems of the shoulder. There are certainly many other causes, some of which can be concerning, such as cancer of the spine or infections.

Dr. Randy Davis
Glen Burnie, MD
The cause of neck pain is a complex issue which can vary anywhere from muscle and ligament problems to arthritis with bone spurs as well as herniated discs. The determination of the cause of neck pain is very important as it will determine which is the best way to treat this, whether it can be treated with surgery or not.
Dr. John Peloza
Dallas, TX
There are many causes of neck pain, and the pain itself can be divided into the categories of: mechanical, coming from the joint or the disc; radicular, coming from a nerve or nerve root; or myelopathic, coming from the spinal cord.

The spine is composed of segments that have essentially three joints, the disc in the front and two facet joints in the back. These structures are very resistant to wear-and-tear for the first two decades of life but often during our twenties, these tissues start to wear out. This mechanical pain is called degenerative disease and is the most common reason for neck pain. Radicular pain is usually sharp, electrical type pain that goes down the upper extremity in a particular pattern. It may be associated with numbness or weakness. It can be aggravated, or relieved by different motion or positions of the head or neck. Myelopathic pain refers to the symptoms coming from compression of the spinal cord. This type of pain is usually in both arms and can go down into the legs. It is also associated with numbness or weakness in the extremities in the arms and legs.

Because there are so many reasons for neck pain, it is very important that the physician do a very careful history and physical exam of the cervical spine. The physical exam can also include an examination of the entire body, as well as the neurologic and vascular system, in order to determine exactly where the pain is coming from.

Dr. Timothy C. Ryken
Iowa City, IA
Patients experience neck pain for many reasons. The interpretation or experience of pain also varies tremendously between patients. Ultimately, pain comes from pain receptors in the joints and nerves in the neck. Essentially any disruption of the normal structuring of the neck can cause pain.
Dr. Paul Saiz
Mesa, AZ
Neck pain can be caused from adjacent structures such as muscles or tendons, or from the bony architecture. Neck pain coming from the spine typically can originate either from the shock absorbers of the neck, namely the discs, or the bony connections via facet joints. Neck pain can also be referred from a pinched nerve. Historically neck pain occurs from degenerated segments while arm pain tends to occur with pinched nerves.
Dr. Jeffrey C. Wang
Los Angeles, CA
Neck pain can be caused by a variety of conditions that affect the neck area. Certainly muscle strains or muscle spasms can be the result of overuse or muscle strain and can cause pain in the soft tissues. In the structure of the spine there are several areas that can contribute to neck pain: arthritis in the disks, arthritis in the joints of the neck, as well as disc herniations that compress on the nerves causing pain.
Dr. B. Theo Mellion
Carbondale, IL
There are a number of things that can cause neck pain: a ruptured disc, a collapsed disc, bone spurs, slippage of the spine, non-structural problems that involve muscle spasms, or inflammatory changes. Not all are equally serious or require an operation, however many conditions will respond favorably to surgery.
Dr. Kevin Yoo
Escondido, CA
There are many different reasons why one may experience neck pain. It can be something as simple as muscle strain to something as serious as a broken neck as a result of trauma. The most common reason for neck pain probably falls into the catchall group of conditions called musculoskeletal injuries, where a person has strained the musculoskeletal support of the neck. This pain is probably self-limiting and should go away within a short period of time and conservative treatment. When neck pain does not go away within a matter of days or if you have pain running down your arms, you should consult a doctor.
Dr. Sebastian Lattuga
Rockville Centre, NY
In general, cervical disc disease does not cause irreversible nerve damage. However in the rare instances where patients are developing worsening neurological injury, then early surgery is recommended.
Dr. Moe R. Lim
Chapel Hill, NC
Neck pain can be caused by abnormalities of any one or any combination of the disc, facet joints, ligaments, muscles, and nerves.
Dr. W. Christopher Urban
Glen Burnie, MD
There are several causes of neck pain. The most common cause is strain on the muscles and ligaments that support the neck. Usually, this pain is attributed to overuse, poor posture, or minor injuries. Rest, anti-inflammatory medications, heat, and a short period of rest are usually helpful in reducing the pain. This type of pain often resolves within a few days. Arthritis is another potential cause of cervical pain. As we age, the joints in our neck may develop arthritis that is similar to the degeneration that develops in other major joints, such as the hips and knees. In a similar manner, the shock absorbers of the neck, the intervertebral discs, may degenerate. As this process advances, the discs become dehydrated and cause pain. Less commonly, fractures, tumors, or infections of the cervical spine are also cause of pain.
Dr. Douglas Slaughter
Mesa, AZ
A significant number of things can cause neck pain including degenerative disease, stress, neck sprains, strains, fractures, instability, herniated discs, pinching of the nerves in the neck or occasionally spinal cord tension.
Dr. David S. Baskin
Houston, TX
Neck pain can be caused by many different problems in the neck. The neck is made up of a bony column in the front, and another in the back, with the spinal cord running down the center, and nerves exiting though holes at many levels, called the neural foramen. In the front, the vertebrae or the elliptical shaped bones have cushions in between each other called the discs. In the back, there are joints that rub against each other called the facet joints. There are also ligaments that run up and down and sideways in the neck.

An injury to any of these structures can cause neck pain. Many times these injuries can be treated with conservative measures, and surgery can be avoided. At other times, surgery is the best treatment in order to recovery from the injury.

Dr. Mark R. McLaughlin
Princeton, NJ
There are many causes of neck pain. The majority of the conditions that cause pain in the neck and arm are related to the cervical (upper back and neck) spine. This can include arthritis of the neck joints, abnormal alignment of the upper neck spinal column, or herniated discs.
Dr. Rick Sasso
Indianapolis, IN
There are many causes of neck pain. They can range from something very simple as just a strain or a sprain - muscle strain or ligament sprain - that can occur just from simple, normal, everyday activities. Most of the pains from strains or sprains get better on their own. Maybe some anti-inflammatory medicine will work. If pain lasts for a significant period of time, for a long time, more than a few days or weeks, then there is usually something deeper, something more significant that is the cause of the neck pain. There are a whole lot of different causes of that pain. If the neck pain doesn't get better with normal rest and anti-inflammatory medicine, you should probably see your doctor.
Dr. Brett Taylor
St. Louis, MO
Neck pain can be caused by muscular strain, inflammation or the irritation of nerve roots by the cervical (neck) discs, facet joints and, rarely, instability related to ligamentous damage in the neck. The most common causes of neck pain that require surgical treatment include degenerative changes in the neck, infections, tumors and fractures.
Dr. Theodore A. Belanger
Charlotte, NC
The most common causes of neck pain include muscle injury or arthritis. Less commonly, neck pain can be a result of a fracture, deformity, infection, tumor or a systemic disorder. Thankfully, most neck pain can be controlled without surgery.

Articles of Interest

The commentary above recounts the experiences of these physicians. Medtronic invited them to share their stories candidly. Keep in mind that results vary; not every patient's response is the same. Talk with your doctor to learn more about any products that are mentioned above.

It is important that you discuss the potential risks, complications and benefits of spinal surgery with your doctor prior to receiving treatment, and that you rely on your doctor's judgment. Only your doctor can determine whether you are a suitable candidate for this treatment.

Published: May 04, 2007
Updated: April 19, 2010