Neck pain is widespread in the U.S. At any given time, about 1 in 3 adults experience it. A wide range of injuries and underlying conditions can cause discomfort in your spine. Sometimes, neck pain results from the typical wear and tear that comes with age.
Finding the cause of neck pain helps your care team create an effective treatment plan. At Advocate Health Care, our team of spine specialists provides extensive evaluations to determine the cause of pain and find the treatment that will help bring relief.
What causes neck pain?
Your neck is the upper portion of your spine, also called the cervical spine. It contains a complex set of bones, muscles, joints, ligaments, tendons and nerves. Neck pain can be caused by irritation, injury or damage to any of these structures.
Your neck supports the weight of your entire head, so it’s naturally prone to injuries. Sometimes, these injuries are minor strains that get better in a few days. Other times, neck pain or stiffness may last for weeks or even months.
Muscle strains
Muscle strains are small tears that form in your muscle tissue. These strains commonly cause neck pain. There are many underlying reasons that you may strain a muscle. For example, you can strain your neck from working at a computer or simply sleeping in an uncomfortable position. Strains usually heal within a few days or weeks.
Joint wear and tear
Your joints are made of connective tissue that holds your cervical spine together. If a joint in your neck wears down or slips out of its typical position, it can cause pain.
A surprising reason for joint problems in your neck? Habitually cracking your neck. Cracking your neck puts extra pressure on your joints. Over time, this can lead to joint instability and neck discomfort.
Pinched nerves
The network of nerves in your neck helps you move and feel sensations. Damage to any of your neck structures can press on the nerves in your neck, causing pain. You may be more likely to have symptoms such as tingling or numbness in one or both arms if you have a pinched nerve.
Traumatic injuries
Traumatic injuries are a common cause of neck pain. For example, whiplash, an unexpected, forceful back-and-forth movement of your head and neck, is common in people who are in car accidents. Traumatic injuries can cause a range of neck pain symptoms, depending on the extent of the injury.
What conditions cause neck pain?
Some conditions can lead to damage that causes neck pain, including:
- Bone spurs (cervical osteophytes): Bone spurs are small growths that form at the ends of your bones. They often develop because of inflamed or damaged ligaments around your spinal bones (vertebrae).
- Cervical osteoarthritis: As you age, the cartilage (smooth covering between your spinal bones) wears down. If it wears away completely, it can cause your spinal bones to rub against each other, leading to inflammation and pain.
- Degenerative disc disease: Between each spinal bone, you have a spongy pad called a disc that provides shock absorption and cushioning. Discs naturally wear down as you get older. Degenerative disc disease occurs when this natural wear and tear causes pain.
- Herniated disc: Each spinal disc has a tough outer shell and a gel-like center. Sometimes, the outer shell of a disc can tear, causing the gel-like center to leak into the spinal canal. This is called a herniated disc or ruptured disc. The gel-like center can press on surrounding nerves and tissues, causing pain. A herniated disc usually results from an injury.
- Meningitis: This infection causes the membranes around your brain and spinal cord (meninges) to swell. The swelling can cause neck pain, neck stiffness and headaches. Meningitis isn’t often the root cause of neck pain. If you have meningitis, you usually also have other symptoms such as nausea, vomiting or fever.
- Rheumatoid arthritis: This autoimmune condition causes chronic inflammation throughout your joints. Inflammation of your neck joints can cause pain, swelling, stiffness and decreased mobility.
- Spinal stenosis: This condition occurs when your spinal column narrows, putting pressure on your nerves and spinal cord. Spinal stenosis often causes numbness, pain, tingling or muscle weakness.
Is neck pain related to the heart?
Neck pain isn’t usually related to your heart. But sudden or severe neck pain could be a sign of a heart attack. If you’re having a heart attack, you typically experience other symptoms along with neck pain, including:
- Arm, jaw, shoulder or upper back pain
- Chest pain
- Fatigue
- Heart palpitations or feelings of your heart pounding
- Lightheadedness or dizziness
- Shortness of breath
If you think you or a loved one is having a heart attack, call 911 right away. Timely treatment can lessen the damage to your heart and even save your life.
Risk factors for neck pain
Neck pain can affect anyone. But some people are more prone to it than others. For example, your profession can affect your risk of neck pain. If your job requires repetitive poor posture, you may be more likely to develop neck pain. Continually craning your neck up to paint ceilings, reaching for very high or low shelves in a warehouse or operating heavy machinery can put extra strain on your neck.
Other risk factors for neck pain include:
- Being female
- History of neck injuries
- Poor posture
- Smoking
