Pain In The Neck

Exploring Causes, Associated Injuries, and Effective Treatment Solutions

Schedule your appointment today

Jump to

Conditions
Injury
Treatment
Our Providers

Studies show that upwards of 70% of adults will experience neck pain^[1] at one point in their lives. Whether it’s a mild ache or sharp discomfort that limits movement, neck pain can make daily tasks—like working, driving, or even sleeping—more difficult. The good news is that understanding what’s happening is the first step toward finding relief

This article explores the causes of neck pain, associated conditions, and highlights remedies that may help relieve discomfort.

Defining Neck Pain

Your neck is a complex structure consisting of seven cervical vertebrae, muscles, ligaments, and nerves that support your head and allow for movement. It also houses the spinal cord, which connects your brain to the rest of your body. Because the neck supports your head’s weight and is so flexible, it’s vulnerable to strain, injury, and other issues that can lead to pain.

Neck pain can feel different for everyone, depending on the cause and severity. For some, it’s a mild stiffness that fades after a good night’s sleep. For others, it’s a sharp, persistent pain that makes even simple movements uncomfortable. Below are the different symptoms of neck pain:

Stiffness and limited mobility: Moving your head from side to side or up and down may feel difficult and uncomfortable, sometimes restricting your ability to perform daily tasks.
Sharp or aching pain: The pain may be a continuous dull ache or a sudden, sharp sensation that worsens with certain movements or prolonged positions.
Headaches: Tension in the neck muscles can trigger headaches that start at the base of the skull and radiate toward the forehead or behind the eyes.
Muscle spasms: You may experience sudden, painful muscle contractions in the neck, making it difficult to find a comfortable resting position.
Radiating pain: Pain may extend beyond the neck, affecting the shoulders, upper back, or arms, sometimes worsening with certain movements or activities.
Tingling or numbness: If a nerve is irritated or compressed, you may feel tingling, numbness, or weakness in your arms, hands, or fingers.

Potential Causes Leading To Neck Discomfort

Neck pain can develop for many reasons, ranging from everyday strain to more serious medical conditions. Understanding the potential causes can help you identify patterns in your discomfort and determine when to seek medical care.

Common Causes

Neck pain often results from daily habits, environmental factors, or physical strain. Many people experience discomfort due to posture issues, repetitive movements, or prolonged periods of inactivity. Mental stress or infections can also contribute to tension and inflammation in the neck. Identifying these common triggers can help you take steps to prevent or reduce pain.

Physical strain: Repetitive movements, heavy lifting, or sudden jerks can strain the muscles and ligaments in your neck, leading to soreness and stiffness.
Poor posture: Slouching, hunching over a screen, or sleeping in awkward positions can put excess pressure on your neck, causing pain over time.
Mental stress: Anxiety and tension often lead to muscle tightness in both the neck and shoulders, which can result in persistent discomfort or headaches.
Infection: Certain infections, like the flu or meningitis, can cause neck inflammation, leading to stiffness and pain that may require medical attention.

Underlying Medical Conditions

While neck pain is often linked to posture or strain, it can also stem from medical conditions that affect the spine, joints, or nerves. The following medical conditions may cause persistent discomfort, stiffness, or nerve-related symptoms like tingling and weakness.

Fibromyalgia: This chronic condition causes widespread pain, tenderness, and stiffness, often affecting the neck and shoulders along with fatigue and sleep disturbances.
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA): RA is an autoimmune disorder that causes stiffness, joint inflammation, and pain, which can affect the cervical spine and limit neck mobility.
Cervical spondylosis: Age-related wear and tear on the spinal discs and joints can cause stiffness, pain, and reduced flexibility in the neck.
Spinal stenosis: Narrowing of the spinal canal can put pressure on the spinal cord or nerves, leading to neck pain, weakness, or numbness in the arms and hands.
Ruptured disc: When a spinal disc in the neck bulges or ruptures, it can press on nearby nerves, leading to pain that radiates to the shoulders and arms.
Nerve compression: Pinched nerves due to herniated discs, bone spurs, or misaligned vertebrae can result in sharp pain, tingling, or muscle weakness.

Conditions That Could Be Causing Your Neck Pain

Certain medical conditions affecting the spine and nerves can lead to persistent neck pain, stiffness, and radiating discomfort. These conditions may worsen if left untreated, impacting mobility and daily function. Compass Pain and Wellness provides targeted treatments to help manage your pain as well as improve your quality of life.

Compass Pain and Wellness offers personalized, evidence-based treatments to help address the following conditions, focusing on pain relief, mobility restoration, and long-term wellness:

Cervical Radiculopathy

Cervical radiculopathy is nerve compression in the neck causing pain, tingling, or weakness in shoulders, arms, or hands.

Spinal Stenosis

Spinal stenosis is spinal canal narrowing that compresses nerves, causing pain, numbness, weakness, or walking issues.

Cervical Herniated Disc

A cervical herniated disc compresses neck nerves, causing pain, arm tingling, numbness, or weakness.

Injuries Associated With Neck Discomfort

Neck pain can result from injuries, especially those caused by sudden impact or trauma. If you’ve been in a car or bike accident, the force of the impact can strain your neck, spine, and surrounding muscles, leading to lingering discomfort or limited mobility. Even minor accidents can cause damage to soft tissue, nerve compression, or joint misalignment.

Some common injuries include:

Whiplash after an accident: A sudden back-and-forth neck motion can strain muscles and ligaments, causing pain, stiffness, and headaches.
Neck injury after a car accident: Impact from a crash can lead to muscle strain, nerve damage, or fractures, affecting neck mobility and comfort.
Spinal cord injury from a car accident: Severe trauma can cause spinal cord damage, leading to pain, weakness, or loss of function below the injury site.
Shoulder injury from a car accident: A sudden jolt or impact can cause shoulder joint damage, muscle tears, or nerve irritation, leading to pain and restricted movement.
Muscle strain after a car accident: Forceful movements can overstretch or tear neck muscles, causing soreness, tension, and difficulty turning the head.
Neck sprain from a car accident: Ligaments in the neck can overstretch or tear, leading to inflammation, stiffness, and pain that worsens with movement.
Bike accident shoulder injury: A fall or collision can damage the shoulder joint, rotator cuff, or collarbone, often causing pain that radiates to the neck.

How Early Detection Improves Treatment Outcomes

Ignoring your neck pain can lead to worsening symptoms and long-term complications. When caught early, the right treatment can help you recover faster, reduce pain, and prevent the condition from becoming chronic. Early detection allows for less invasive treatments, better symptom management, and a higher chance of restoring full mobility before the pain affects your daily life.

At Compass Pain and Wellness, your evaluation will help to pinpoint the cause of your discomfort and guide your treatment plan. This process may include:

Medical history review: You’ll discuss your symptoms, lifestyle, past injuries, and any existing medical conditions affecting your neck.
Physical examination: Your provider will check your range of motion, muscle strength, posture, and any tender or painful areas.
Imaging tests: X-rays, MRIs, or CT scans may help assess your spine, joints, and soft tissues for any structural issues.
Nerve testing: If nerve compression is suspected, tests like electromyography (EMG) or nerve conduction studies can help evaluate nerve function.
Personalized treatment plan: Based on your diagnosis, you’ll receive a tailored treatment plan focused on pain relief, mobility restoration, and long-term wellness.

Common At-Home Remedies To Ease Neck Pain

If you’re dealing with neck pain, small adjustments to your daily routine can help relieve discomfort and prevent it from getting worse. While professional treatment may be necessary for persistent or severe pain, at-home remedies can support recovery and improve mobility.

Here are some simple ways to ease neck pain at home:

Heat or ice therapy: Applying heat improves blood flow and relaxes tight muscles, while ice reduces inflammation and numbs sharp pain. Alternate between both for best results.
Activity adjustments: Avoid prolonged screen time, take frequent breaks, and adjust your workstation to maintain proper posture and reduce strain on your neck.
Over-the-counter pain relief: Medications like ibuprofen or acetaminophen can help reduce pain and inflammation when needed, but should be used as directed.
Gentle neck stretches: Slowly tilting your head from side to side, rolling your shoulders, or doing chin tucks can relieve tension and improve flexibility.
Supportive neck pillows: Using a pillow that properly supports your head and neck can reduce strain while sleeping and prevent stiffness in the morning.
Stress management: Practicing deep breathing, meditation, or yoga can help provide neck muscle tension relief caused by stress or anxiety.

We Provide Evidence-Based Treatments for Neck Pain

Treatment for neck discomfort always begins with a medical evaluation and may include physical therapy, massage, chiropractic care, or interventional pain procedures.

At Compass Pain and Wellness, we provide evidence-based, customized treatments to help manage pain effectively and prevent long-term complications. Whether neck pain or discomfort results from an injury, a medical condition, or daily strain, our team is dedicated to finding the best solution.

Don’t let neck pain limit your life. Seeking early treatment can improve outcomes and help you stay active, comfortable, and in control of your health.

Treatments for Neck Pain at Compass Pain and Wellness may include the following:

For a full list of all treatments we provide, click here.

Mindfulness and Meditation

Mindfulness and meditation help manage chronic pain by reducing stress and promoting emotional resilience.

Massage

Massage therapy eases muscle tension and improves circulation to support pain relief and overall well-being.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture stimulates targeted points on the body to reduce pain, support healing, and restore energy balance.

Chiropractic Care

Chiropractic care improves spinal alignment and joint function to reduce pain and enhance physical mobility.

Physical Therapy

Physical therapy improves strength, flexibility, and mobility while addressing pain from injury or chronic conditions.

Medication Therapy

Medication therapy uses tailored prescriptions to reduce chronic pain and improve daily function and comfort.

Trigger Point Injections

Trigger point injections treat muscle knots by relaxing tense tissue and relieving localized pain or stiffness.

Epidural Steroid Injection

Epidural steroid injections reduce spinal inflammation to ease pain radiating from nerve compression or irritation.

Nerve Block

Nerve blocks interrupt pain signals from specific nerves to reduce chronic or procedure-related discomfort.

Peripheral Nerve Stimulation

Peripheral nerve stimulation sends mild electrical signals to disrupt chronic pain from damaged peripheral nerves.

Radiofrequency Ablation

Radiofrequency ablation targets specific nerves to interrupt pain signals and provide lasting pain relief.

Spinal Cord Stimulation

Spinal cord stimulation delivers electrical pulses to block nerve pain and reduce discomfort in the back or limbs.

Our Providers

Meet our experienced and compassionate team of doctors who specialize in helping you manage your condition. With a patient-centered approach, our doctors work to understand your unique needs and provide compassionate, personalized care. Trust our providers to guide you on your journey to better health and improved well-being.