Various causes of pain in the neck

The human neck is made up of vertebrae extending from the skull to the upper torso. The bones, ligaments, and muscles present in the neck region provides support to our head and allow for any kind of motion. The cervical discs present between the bones helps to absorb any kind of external shock.

Why do you experience pain in your neck?

The main cause of neck pain or stiffness can be due to the presence of any abnormalities, inflammation or injury.

What causes neck pain?

Neck pain and stiffness can happen due to a variety of reasons which are as follows:

• Muscle tension and strain: Certain activities can result in muscle tension and strain such as poor posture of neck and body during working or sleeping. It could also be due to accidentally jerking your neck during exercises.
• Injury: An injury caused due to accidents or sports can force the muscles and ligaments of the neck to move outside of their normal range leading to neck pain and stiffness. If the neck bones become fractured, the spinal cord may get damaged and can lead to tremendous neck pain.
• Heart attack: Neck pain can also be a symptom of heart attack, but in this case it comes coupled with the other symptoms of heart attack such as shortness of breath, sweating, nausea, vomiting, arm or jaw pain.
• Meningitis: It is a condition that causes excessive neck pain due to the inflammation of the thin tissue that surrounds the brain and the spinal cord. People having meningitis also experience fever and headache along with neck stiffness. This condition can prove fatal and therefore it is necessary to seek medical emergency.
• Rheumatoid arthritis: This condition is responsible for pain, swelling of joints and bone spurs. When the neck region gets affected by rheumatoid arthritis, severe neck pain can be the first symptom.
• Osteoporosis: It is a condition that usually occurs in hands and knees but can also occur in the neck. It weakens the bones which can lead to small fractures and immense pain.
• Fibromyalgia: It is a condition that causes muscle pain throughout the body especially in the neck and shoulder regions.
• Spondylosis: Osteoarthritis of the neck which is also known as Spondylosis can occur as you age when the cervical discs degenerate adding stress to the neck joints leading to pain in the neck.
• Herniated cervical disc: If past trauma or injury causes the disc to protrude, it can add stress on the spinal cord or nerve roots causing pain in left side of neck. This is also known as ruptured or slipped disc.
• Spinal stenosis: This condition takes place when the spinal cord narrows causing pressure on the spinal cord or nerve roots leading to long-term inflammation and pain in the neck.

Are there any rare causes of neck pain?
Yes, even though there are rare cases, neck pain can be also be attributed to:

• Congenital abnormalities
• Infections
• Tumors
• Spine cancer

When is it time to seek a Doctor?

Most of the times, a neck pain isn’t a serious issue and gets resolved within a few days. But, if you experience neck pain that persists for more than a week and is accompanied by other symptoms such as fever, vomiting, etc, then it is advisable to seek a doctor immediately.

The symptoms that can show along with your neck pain are as follows:

• Formation of a lump in your neck
• The onset of sudden fever
• A headache
• Swollen glands in the neck or throat region
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Trouble swallowing and breathing
• Weakness
• Numbness
• Inability to move your arms or hands
• Inability to touch your chin to your chest
• Bladder or bowel dysfunction

In case, your neck pain is associated with above-mentioned symptoms, then pay a visit to your doctor immediately and tell him or her about the specifics of your symptoms. Your doctor may have to perform several physical tests or exams to find out the definitive cause of your neck pain.