Neck Pain

Neck pain is pain or stiffness anywhere between the base of the skull and the shoulders. It is very common among office workers, students and anyone who spends long hours looking down at a phone or laptop. Most neck pain comes from the muscles and joints and settles within days to a few weeks.

Symptoms

• Stiffness and difficulty turning or tilting the head
• Aching or tightness across the neck and tops of the shoulders
• Headache starting at the back of the head
• Pain that worsens when the head is held in one position, such as while reading, driving or using a screen
• Sometimes, tingling or numbness spreading into an arm, which suggests a nerve may be involved

Causes

• Poor posture, especially bending the head forward over a mobile phone or computer for hours
• Sleeping in an awkward position or on a pillow that is too high or too flat
• Muscle strain from carrying a heavy bag on one shoulder or from a sudden jerk
• Mental stress, which increases muscle tension
• Whiplash injury in a road accident
• Age-related wear of the neck spine (cervical spondylosis) and disc problems
• Rarely, infection, inflammatory arthritis or a tumour

Diagnosis

Your doctor will ask about your work, screen habits, sleep and any injury, then examine neck movement, tender areas, and the strength, reflexes and sensation in the arms. Most people with simple neck pain need no tests. An X-ray may be advised after an injury or if pain continues. An MRI is useful when there are arm symptoms, weakness, signs of pressure on the spinal cord, or pain that does not improve with treatment.

Treatment

For most people, simple measures work well. Warm compresses, gentle neck movements and short breaks from the triggering activity help the muscles relax. Avoid keeping the neck completely still for long; a soft collar is used only briefly, if your doctor advises it. Pain-relieving medicines may be prescribed for a few days.

Physiotherapy teaches stretching and strengthening exercises for the neck and upper back and helps correct posture. Small changes matter: keep the screen at eye level, raise the phone instead of bending the neck, use a chair with good back support, take a break every 30 to 45 minutes, and use a single pillow that supports the natural curve of the neck.

Surgery is rarely needed for neck pain alone. It is considered only when a disc or bone spur presses on a nerve or the spinal cord and causes persistent symptoms or weakness despite treatment, and the decision is based on examination and MRI.

When to Seek Urgent Care

• Neck pain with fever, severe headache, vomiting or inability to bend the chin to the chest
• Neck pain after a fall, road accident or diving injury: keep the neck still and get help
• Weakness, numbness or clumsiness in the arms or hands
• Difficulty walking or loss of balance
• Loss of control over passing urine or stools
• Neck pain with unexplained weight loss or a past history of cancer

If any of these occur, go to the nearest emergency department immediately.

If neck pain keeps returning or does not settle, consult Dr. Prashant Sharma at Keshav Super Speciality Hospital, Meerut, for a careful assessment and advice on treatment.

Related Conditions

• Cervical Pain
• Cervical Spondylosis
• Lumbar Spondylosis
• Slip Disc
• All Spinal Treatment ›