Neck pain is the worst kind of overachiever. It's so common that it's the fourth-leading cause of disability globally, following ischemic heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, and lower respiratory infection. And it's not always centralized in the neck. It can radiate across your whole upper body, affecting your shoulders, arms and chest and can even cause headaches. Living with neck pain can be miserable, making it hard to focus and get through the day.
Neck pain can be debilitating and may interfere with day-to-day life, including your ability to sleep, feel productive, and enjoy time with friends and family. And it affects more than just your physical body. Studies have shown that chronic pain can have an impact on a person’s mental health; up to 90% of patients with chronic pain are affected by severe depression.
Symptoms
There are two basic types of neck pain:
Axial pain is mostly felt in the part of the spine that belongs to the neck (cervical spine), and sometimes spreads to the shoulders.
Radicular pain shootsalong the nerves – for example, up the back of your head or down into one of your arms. This type of pain is usually caused by irritated nerves – for instance, because one of the spinal disks in the neck area has changed and is pushing against a nerve. That may also affect your arm reflexes and muscle strength or result in a tingling feeling.
The symptoms arise after an accident
Stiff neck
Loss of bladder or bowel control
Headache together with nausea, vomiting, dizziness or sensitivity to light
Pain that stays the same, whether you're at rest or moving
Unexplained weight loss, fever or chills
Nerve problems and signs of paralysis such as tingling or difficulties moving your arm or fingers
Causes
Neck pain is most common in people over the age of 50. But beyond good old aging, the causes of neck pain are as varied as the list is long. Speaking of – here’s a list of some of the more common causes of neck pain:
Injury and Accidents:
Whiplash is a common neck injury sustained when the head is forced to move backward and/or forward beyond the normal range of motion. The unnatural and rapid movement of the neck affects the muscles and ligaments, which tighten and contract. This creates muscle fatigue resulting in pain and stiffness. Whiplash is most commonly sustained due to a car accident, but can also result from traumas such as a fall or a sports accident.
Nerve Compression: “When a [cervical] nerve becomes compressed, it can cause [radiating]pain that moves up into the head, behind the eyes, into the jaw, down the arms,” says Dr. Penhollow. Herniated discs are the most common cause of nerve compression and spinal stenosis (crowding of the spinal canal), but bone spurs can also compress nerves.
Health Conditions:
Osteoarthritis: Called spondylosis when it’s in spinal facet joints—is the most common form of arthritis. It’s caused by wear and tear and aging, and can create osteophytes (bone spurs) that crowd the spinal canal and compress nerve roots in the neck.
Other Forms of Arthritis: Many types of arthritis, particularly the inflammatory forms like rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, and juvenile idiopathic arthritis, can affect the cervical spine. Chronic inflammation in the neck causes damage of the joints that allow movement in the neck.
Other Disease Processes: Although neck pain is most commonly caused by strain, prolonged pain and/or neurologic deficit may be an indication of something more serious. These symptoms should not be ignored. Spinal infection, spinal cord compression, tumor, fracture, and other disorders can occur. If you have sustained a head injury, your neck has likely been affected, too. Seek medical attention promptly.
Lifestyle Issues:
Extra weight: Extra pounds put undue stress on the spine and weak abdominal muscles can fail to support it, both of which may disrupt the spine's balance and cause the neck to bend forward to compensate.
Stress: If you’re stressed—and who isn’t?—you may be clenching the muscles that move your neck without realizing it, potentially leading to a stiff, sore neck.
Poor Posture: Prolonged poor posture—looking at you, excessive smartphone usage—can lead to neck pain
Treatment
There isn't enough research on the effectiveness of most treatments for non-specific neck pain. Applying heat with hot water bottles or cushions is one easy way to try to reduce the pain. Other treatments include stretching and strengthening exercises, massages and painkillers.
Surgery is only considered if a clear cause has been found and the procedure might help. It may be an option, for instance, if spinal disk tissue is squashing or "pinching" a nerve. But slipped disks often improve on their own, so surgery usually doesn't have any major benefits. Spinal surgery in the neck area also carries risks, so it's important to carefully consider the advantages and disadvantages of surgery before deciding.
People who have severe chronic pain may benefit from pain management therapy. This is offered by doctors or psychotherapists who have specialized in helping people with long-lasting or severe pain. Pain management therapy can help you manage the pain in such a way that it no longer dominates your everyday life.
