Neck pain can be the consequence of an activity or injury that injures the neck or by other medical problem.

Activities that lead to neck pain
Most neck pain is the result of activities that cause repeated or prolonged movements to the neck’s muscles, ligaments, tendons, bones, or joints. As a result, a strain (an overstretched or overused muscle), a sprain (injury to a ligament), a spasm of the neck muscles, or inflammation of the neck joints may arise.

These activities include:
Maintaining your head in an improper position for a long time while working, reading, watching TV, or talking on the telephone.
Sleeping on an improper pillow that is too high or too flat or cannot have your head supported, or sleeping on your stomach with your neck bent or wried.
Resting your forehead on your upright fist or arm (“thinker’s pose”) for long.
Doing things that uses the upper body and arms, such as painting a ceiling or other overhead work.

Pressure and concentrating on a task can add to the severity of neck pain. Strain may grow in one or more of the muscles that are attached to the head, neck, and shoulders. As a result, tightness and pain will occur.

Injuries that cause neck pain
The spine is made of interlocking bones (vertebrae that support the body’s weight) and the discs, which separate the vertebrae and absorb the shock as you move. The part of the spine around the neck is named as the cervical spine. Muscles as well as ligaments make joint effort to support the cervical spine. Consequently, if one or more of these structures are injured, neck pain will arise.

Falls or excessive excise of the cervical spine will lead to injuries. Severe neck injuries may result from a painful case of whiplash in a car accident, falls from high position or heavy blows to the face or the back or top of the head, injuries caused by sports, a stabbing injury, or pressure on the outside of the neck, such as strangulation.

Injury may result in sudden and severe pain. Bruising and swelling may aggravate shortly after the injury. Sudden (acute) injuries can lead to:

A strain or a sprain in the neck.
A ruptured or dislocated of spine. The may bring about injury to spinal cord, which may result in lack of movement and feeling (paralysis). We must be cautious when fixing and moving the injured person in case that another injury may occur to him. If you want to know more about this, please consult first aid for a spinal injury.

A broken disc (herniated disc) in the cervical spine. If the rip is very wide enough, the jellylike material inside the spinal disc may run out and exert pressure on a spinal nerve. A herniated disc in the cervical spine can also arise during the process of aging. Look at a picture of a herniated disc.

Medical problems that leading to neck pain

Neck pain may result from or associated with another medical problem. This includes:
Problems related to aging, such as the narrowing of the spinal canal (cervical spinal stenosis) and arthritis of the neck (cervical spondylosis).

Illnesses such as meningitis, which leads to inflammation around the tissues of the brain and spinal cord, and the flu (influenza). When flu results in neck pain, the neck and the rest of the body tend to be painful all over, but no acute neck stiffness occur.

Chronic conditions such as fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, or ankylosing spondylitis.

Torticollis (wryneck). Torticollis is the result of acute muscle compression or a shortened muscle on one side of the neck, making the head lean to one side. Torticollis is usually a consequence of another medical problem.
Referred pain. Referred pain arises when a problem in one part of body is blamed for pain in another part. For instance, a problem with your jaw (temporomandibular disorder) or your heart (such as a heart attack) can result in neck pain.

Infection or a tumor in the neck area.

Side effects due to the use of some medicines.

Filed under: Causes

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