Neck pain is usually dull and achy, not sharp and severe. Your neck muscles and cervical spine — the bones and soft discs that provide flexibility and protection for your spinal cord — may stiffen from overuse. Sometimes, you’ll feel mild pain from a sudden twist or an awkward jerk. The pain you feel is often muscular and resolves itself with rest and ice or heat.


But your neck is the most flexible part of your spine, which makes it vulnerable to more serious injury and disease, such as arthritis. You may be having problems with your spine or spinal discs that require a NJ spine surgeon like Dr. Branko Skovrlj of NU-Spine: The Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery Institute, spine surgery center in Edison, New Jersey.


When problems with neck pain emerge, there are many reasons for the pain. Ask your doctor what is the best treatment for neck and shoulder pain. Since neck pain may be accompanied by lower back pain, your spine specialist can determine a treatment for you only after a thorough examination of your neck, mid-back and lower back.


What Causes Neck Pain?

Neck pain is a common complaint in the U.S. It affects up to 71 percent of all adults, with women being more susceptible than men. If you aren’t suffering from chronic neck pain, which is defined as constant for at least six months, you probably can recover in one or two weeks with rest and over-the-counter pain relievers.


The more serious causes of neck pain include injuries and degenerative medical conditions. These causes often require a doctor’s intervention for a full recovery. The more common reasons for neck pain include:

• Muscle strains. You can strain your neck muscles by sitting for long hours hunched over a computer. Even things like reading in bed, grinding your teeth or sleeping in an awkward position can put stress on your neck muscles.
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• Joint wear and tear. As you age, the bones, cartilage and discs in your cervical spine may start to wear down, and your vertebrae rub up against each other painfully. These degenerative, arthritic conditions cause bone spurs that limit your range in motion and cause pain every time you move.
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• Spinal nerve compression. Cervical radiculopathy is a pinched nerve, either from a bone spur or damaged intervertebral disc.
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• A herniated disc. A herniated disc in the cervical area describes a condition in which one of the discs in your neck has broken open, which can cause neck pain. Other types of damaged discs include a slipped or bulging disc or if you’re suffering from degenerative disc disease.
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• A neck injury. A whiplash injury forces the sudden movement of your head, backward and then forward. It causes a soft tissue strain, resulting in pain. A compression injury is more often the result from direct trauma to your neck. A spinal cord injury by any cause can leave you paralyzed.
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• Medical conditions and diseases. Other neck pain causes include: osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis, spondylosis, stenosis, kyphosis, meningitis, tumors and cancer.