Poor posture, overexertion and stress can cause sporadic or brief neck pain to the neck and shoulder muscles and ligaments becoming fatigued or stiff. Most people have endured a “kink” or short-term neck pain at some point in their life, but steps should be taken as not develop a chronic condition in the neck. Rest, compresses and over the counter painkillers and anti-inflammatory medications like ibuprofen typically help until the muscles have recuperated and the pain should subside after a few days. Measures should be taken to correct behaviors that led to the strained neck because repeated neck strains can lead to chronic pain. Reposition your monitor or desk, read with your head up instead of facing down, and ensure your pillow has proper elevation.

Injuries to discs and spine

Sports injuries, falls, and rear-end car accidents can strain muscles and even damage discs and cervical vertebrae in your neck. Whiplash is caused by the inertia from a collision that is absorbed in the soft tissue when the head is jerked forward then backward. Whiplash and other sudden acute injuries can be quite painful and severe and can involve the neck, shoulders, and back. Typical recovery time from whiplash is about four to six weeks. If shooting pain or tingling (paraesthesia) spreads down the arms into the hands and fingers, a doctor should be contacted because this is a sign of nerve compression or disc damage. A fracture or dislocation of the spine is a severe spinal cord injury that may lead to permanent neck damage. Symptoms of a spinal cord injury include loss of movement or feeling, numbness, tingling, difficulty controlling the muscles of the arms or legs, or loss of bowel or bladder control. If you suspect someone has a spinal cord injury, the person should be immobilized and get emergency immediate medical attention.

Conditions that cause persistent neck pain

Alot of chronic neck pains are not necessarily caused by an injury. They can include cervical osteoarthritis or Spondylosis, meningitis, and torticollis. As you age, degenerative joint disease can cause the cushioning discs between vertebrae to become dry and stiff, narrowing the spaces in your spinal column where the nerves come out. Disc degeneration can lead to a herniated disc. Herniated discs are caused when the inner jelly-like cartilage material inside the disc leaks outside of the disc’s harder cartiladge covering and presses against a nerve or the spinal cord. Symptoms of a herniated disc include headache, nausea and dizzy spells or shoulder pain that travels down your arm. Older patients also can develop a condition where bony changes within the cervical spine cause spinal cord compression known as Cervical Spondylosis. Disc and spinal cord disorders can typically be diagnosed with an MRI.

Meningitis symptoms include high fever, stiff neck, nausea and vomiting, lethargy and Kernig’s sign. Kernig’s sign is a result of severe stiffness of the hamstrings, which causes an inability to straighten the leg when the hip is flexed to 90 degrees. Spasmodic Torticollis (ST), and/or cervical dystonia is thought to be a neurological disorder that causes neck spasms, causing the head to be pulled to one side. Symptoms may include a higher shoulder; neck and shoulder pain; and numbness or tingling sensations may be felt in the arm or hand. If tremors are present, they will generally be in the head.

Preventing chronic neck pain that isn't caused by injury or disease can be as simple as proper posture and sleep positioning. Avoiding prolonged periods in awkward positions or repetitive tasks should be moderated.