Neck Pain

Fast Facts

• A common cause of neck pain is whiplash from car accidents.
• Diagnosis is determined by medical history and physical exam, and rarely requires expensive or uncomfortable tests.
• Most people improve by taking over-the-counter medicines and staying active.
• Most people are better in 1–2 weeks; more than 90% have no pain after 8–12 weeks.

What Causes Neck Pain?

Neck pain can be a sign of overuse problems, most often with the structures of the cervical spine (neck). Only 10% of neck pain is associated with systemic illnesses, such as polymyalgia rheumatica, spondyloarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, tumors, and infections.

Common mechanical disorders that can cause neck pain are:

• Muscle strains related to prolonged physical inactivity, such as sitting at a computer for long periods of time or sleeping in an awkward position.
• Osteoarthritis resulting from the narrowing of intervertebral discs of the spine. Bones grow spurs in response to increased pressure put on them. Bone spurs related to nerve compression can cause pain in the neck or arm.
• Herniated intervertebral discs cause arm pain more often than neck pain. The pinching of a nerve in the neck causes severe arm pain.
• Spinal stenosis is narrowing of the spinal canal that causes compression of the spinal cord. Sometimes it is associated with leg numbness, weakness, and loss of bladder or rectum control.
• Whiplash is a sudden fast forward and backward injury to the soft tissues of the neck, most commonly caused by rear-impact car accidents. The pain and stiffness associated with these accidents generally develop 24–48 hours after the injury.

Pain can be localized to the cervical spine or may travel down an arm. All age groups are at risk of developing neck pain. About 30% of the population has an episode of neck pain each year. Neck pain may occur slightly more often in women than men.

Diagnosing Neck Pain and Treating Neck Pain

The key parts of an evaluation are medical history and a physical exam. People who do not respond to initial therapy may also undergo X-rays, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), or computerized tomography (CT).

Maintaining motion is an important part of therapy for neck pain. The use of neck braces should be kept to a minimum. You may also consider seeing a physical therapist or occupational therapist. Ice applied to a painful area within the first 48 hours of the start of pain can help relieve pain, as can heat, which relaxes the muscles. Over-the-counter pain relievers, such as acetaminophen and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), frequently are enough to control episodes of neck pain. A small number of neck pain patients, particularly those with arm pain or signs of spinal cord compression, require cervical spine surgery.

Living with Neck Pain

The best way to live with neck pain is to try to prevent it. Take stretch breaks if at the computer for long. Smoking is a predisposing factor for neck pain. If you are overweight, try to increase your activity level and eat healthier.

Updated April 2025 by Laura Ray, MA, MLS, and reviewed by the American College of Rheumatology Committee on Communications and Marketing.

This information provided for general education only. Individuals should consult a qualified health care provider for professional medical advice, diagnosis and treatment of a medical or health condition.