Neck pain - treatments, causes and related symptoms - Healthdirect

What is neck pain?

Neck pain is a common condition that can be caused by many different things. It will affect most people at some point in your life.

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Most neck pain clears up by itself in a few days. It’s very rarely a sign of something more serious.

What symptoms are related to neck pain?

Neck pain often causes tightness and pain in your:

• neck
• shoulders

Neck pain can also cause:

• headaches
• difficulty in moving your head

Your pain may get worse when you hold your head in one position for a long time, such as at a computer.

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What causes neck pain?

Common causes of neck pain are:

• poor posture (the way your body is positioned when standing or sitting)
• sleeping with too many pillows
• prolonged use of a computer
• tension in your muscles
• injury such as a muscle strain
• wear and tear in the bones of your neck (cervical spondylosis)
• infection

Less common causes of neck pain are:

• damage to the vertebrae, spinal cord or nerves in your neck
• arthritis
• a slipped disc (herniated disc)
• a compressed nerve (cervical radiculopathy)
• tumours or cancer
• meningitis

When should I see my doctor?

You should see a doctor if your pain:

• is severe
• is getting worse
• doesn’t ease up in a week or so
• is causing you distress
• is affecting your daily life

You should also see your doctor if your neck pain is accompanied by other symptoms like:

• fever, sweats or chills
• changes to your vision or hearing
• pins and needles or numbness
• numbness or weakness in your arms or legs
• feel light-headed, dizzy, or unbalanced
• struggling to concentrate
• bowel or bladder problems

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How is the cause of neck pain diagnosed?

Your doctor will examine you and ask you about your pain. To diagnose a specific cause of your neck pain, they may arrange tests such as:

• an x-ray
• a CT scan
• an MRI

However, imaging is not needed for most people with neck pain.

How is neck pain treated?

If you have neck pain, the best things to do are to:

• keep gently moving your neck as much as possible
• adapt any activities that might be causing you pain

Your doctor or physiotherapist can give you simple set of exercises to help with neck pain.

Self-care at home

There are ways you can manage your neck pain yourself.

Using soft pillows or too many pillows can stretch your neck muscles. To avoid this, use a single pillow that is:

• comfortable
• supportive
• firm

Heat packs or ice packs may also be used to relieve neck stiffness and pain.

It’s also important to ensure your home and work environments are adjusted to your needs. You can:

• use a footstool to ensure your hips and knees are level
• adjust the height of your computer screen to avoid stretching your neck
• hold reading materials at eye level to avoid hunching over
• practice good posture while watching television

If you cannot fully move your neck left and right, your doctor may advise you not to drive until you have regained full neck movement.

If you can drive safely, adjust your headrest and seat so that your posture is properly supported.

If your neck pain lasts for a few days, you should also avoid tasks involving:

• lifting
• pulling
• punching
• repetitive bending and twisting

These activities can make your neck pain worse. Try not to overdo it.

Neck supports (braces and collars) are not considered useful for neck pain. These should only be used if your healthcare professional has advised you to wear one.

Medicines for neck pain

You can ask your doctor or pharmacist to recommend over-the-counter pain relief medicines.

They may suggest:

• paracetamol
• anti-inflammatory medicines, including analgesic creams or gels.

Long-term neck pain is sometimes treated with steroid injections.

Other treatment options

Your doctor or physiotherapist can show you how to safely stretch your neck muscles. Physiotherapy can help reduce how long your neck pain lasts.

Massaging your neck can give short-term relief of neck pain.

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Very rarely, surgery is used to treat neck pain.

Can neck pain be prevented?

It’s important to keep good posture, especially when you’re sitting, at work or driving. Try not to slouch or to poke your chin out.

A supportive pillow is also important to prevent neck pain.

Complications of neck pain

Sometimes neck pain doesn’t go away.

Chronic or persistent pain can continue even after the original problem has healed. There are different factors that may contribute to your pain, such as:

• emotional factors
• social factors
• environmental factors

A doctor can help you recognise and manage these factors. If your neck pain is chronic or persistent, speak to your doctor.

Resources and support

For more information about the causes and management of neck pain, you can visit these websites:

• painHEALTH
• Musculoskeletal Australia
• Chronic Pain Australia

You can also call the healthdirect helpline on 022 222 (known as NURSE-ON-CALL in Victoria). A registered nurse is available to speak with 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

About neck pain

The neck supports the head. It is made up of 7 bones (vertebrae) stacked one on top of the other. The vertebrae are connected by 2 facet joints and a disc. The vertebrae are also bound together with ligaments. Muscles provide movement and vital support for all structures of the neck.

The neck is very mobile, to allow us to see in all directions. Strains from poor postures, trauma and degenerative diseases, such as arthritis, are the most common causes of neck pain. There is good evidence to show that exercise helps reduce these symptoms.

Treatment for neck pain

Neck pain can generally be successfully treated by physiotherapists and your general practitioner, although there are other options such as osteopathy, chiropractic or remedial massage to consider. If you need short-term pain relief from medication, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.

Treatment for neck pain depends on the cause, but may include:

• information on what may be contributing to your neck pain
• advice to stay active as able
• suggestions on how to look after your neck to prevent unnecessary strains from work and everyday activities
• exercise programs to retrain and strengthen the neck muscles and encourage movement
• posture training exercises
• passive joint mobilisation or manipulation
• soft tissue massage
• taping to guide correction of posture
• relaxation therapy.

Poor postures and neck pain

Poor sitting or working postures may contribute to neck pain by putting extra strain on the joints and muscles.

Sitting and working with the shoulders slouched and chin poking forward, such as when working for many hours on a computer, may strain the neck as may playing with devices with your head down for long periods of time.

Sleeping on your stomach with your head turned around to breathe may also be a strain on your neck.

Suggestions on how to prevent posture-related neck pain include:

• Ensure your workstation is set up to help you sit in a good supported posture. When using a computer, ensure the screen is at a height so that your head is upright and the centre of the computer is viewed when you lower your eyes slightly.
• Change your posture regularly when either sitting or standing. To do this, 'grow tall' by rolling up from your pelvis. Then gently elongate the back of your neck and draw your shoulders back. Use no more than 10% effort. Hold the position for 10 seconds and then relax.
• Perform posture correction frequently while you are working (2 to 3 times per hour). This exercise keeps tone in the supporting muscles of the neck.
• Combat the tight or tired feeling of your neck by regularly performing the posture exercise.
• Get up and walk about regularly through the day to vary your posture and keep your muscles and joints moving.
• Try not to sleep on your stomach as it requires your neck to be fully turned to one side. A ‘neutral’ neck position supported by a comfortable pillow may be a preferable way to sleep.
• Check whether your pillow is the right size for you. Choice of pillows is very individual – there is no one pillow that suits everyone. Check the distance between the side of your neck and your shoulder. That gives you an idea of the pillow height you need to keep your head and neck supported when you sleep on your side.

Osteoarthritis and neck pain

Osteoarthritis is a common type of arthritis that affects many people. Its incidence increases as we grow older. Osteoarthritis can result from:

• previous joint injury
• overuse
• overweight (in cases of hip or knee osteoarthritis)
• genetic predisposition (in some people).

Symptoms of osteoarthritis include pain and stiffness and weakening of the muscles. Commonly affected areas include the neck, lower back, hands, hip and knee. There is no cure for osteoarthritis, but it can be managed well with exercise. Keeping the joints mobile and the muscles strong are the best ways to manage osteoarthritis.

Osteoarthritis in the joints of the neck commonly results in local neck pain. If the upper joints of the neck are affected, the neck pain may develop into a headache as well.

Osteoarthritis may occasionally cause some irritation of the nerves as they exit the neck. If you experience shooting pains down your arm, or numbness or lack of power in your arm or hand, see your doctor, as you may need further investigations, such as medical imaging.

You can manage neck pain related to osteoarthritis with:

• advice and education on how to care for and self-manage your neck
• pain management – speak to your doctor about taking pain relieving medication or using a heat pack to relieve neck pain
• gentle active mobilisation exercises to maintain neck movement
• gentle exercises focusing on retraining and maintaining muscle function
• gentle soft-tissue and joint mobilisation
• posture exercises
• strengthening exercises.

Neck pain – whiplash

An injury to the neck due to a motor vehicle crash is often referred to as a whiplash injury. Typically, this occurs as a result of a rear-end collision and any structure of the neck might be strained.

Symptoms of whiplash

Common symptoms of a whiplash injury include neck pain, headache and neck stiffness. Some people may also feel unsteady or light headed. Recovery from whiplash depends on the individual and the extent of the injury, but can vary from a few weeks to months.

Treatment for whiplash

Early treatment for whiplash may include:

• advice and education on how to care for and manage your neck to help recovery
• pain-relieving or anti-inflammatory medication
• relaxation and stress-management techniques
• gentle active mobilisation exercises
• gentle exercises focusing on retraining muscle function
• gentle soft-tissue and joint mobilisation
• posture exercises
• strengthening exercises
• resumption of usual activities, as your neck tolerates.

Maintaining as many of your normal daily activities as you can is ideal, although modifications in the early stages may be necessary to assist in the recovery of your neck.

Be adaptable and remain positive. If pain is severe or persists or if you have unusual symptoms associated with the injury, further examination or investigation by a healthcare professional may be required.

Acute neck pain – wry neck

Wry neck is the term used to describe a condition where your neck temporarily becomes stiff and painful. It can occur at any age, but is more common in teenagers and young adults. Turning your head to the side (generally one side more than the other) and looking up can produce an acute pain.

One or both sides of the neck may also go into spasm, and pain may be felt from the top of the neck down to the shoulder blade and even out to the top of the shoulder.

Causes of wry neck

There are many causes including:

• sleeping in an awkward posture
• a sudden flicking or jerking of the head
• carrying heavy unbalanced loads – such as a suitcase
• viral infection.

Treatment for wry neck

In most cases, if treated early, wry necks respond well to treatment in a few days. Heat and passive joint mobilisation can be used to loosen the neck joints and reduce the pain and muscle spasm.

In rare cases, particularly for people over 40, or very rarely in infants, wry neck can be caused by a medical condition. Your doctor or therapist can help with this diagnosis and give you a referral for appropriate care.

Self-care of wry neck

While you are recovering from wry neck:

• avoid sitting or lying with your neck in an awkward position
• avoid going out in the cold without being well wrapped up
• keep moving your neck (as pain allows)
• use a small heat pack (such as a wheat pack or similar) at home or at work for pain relief, or hot showers can help
• keep warm.

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about pain medication if your pain is severe.

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