Pain located in the neck is a common medical condition. Neck pain can come from a number of disorders and diseases of any tissues in the neck, such as degenerative disc disease, neck strain, whiplash, a herniated disc, or a pinched nerve. Pain in the neck can be due to: injury, a mechanical or muscular problem, a trapped nerve caused by a bulge in one of the discs between the vertebrae or from arthritis of the neck.

Neck pain is a common condition and is more frequently seen in women than men. Neck pain is also referred to as cervical pain. It can range from mild discomfort to severe, burning pain.

Many things can trigger neck pain. These include:

• trauma or injury
• worry and stress
• falling asleep in an awkward position
• prolonged use of a computer keyboard.

There are several theories about why so many people suffer neck pain, but they are not supported by scientific proof. For most people, no specific reason for the pain can be found. Finally, road traffic accidents involving whiplash injury may result in acute or chronic neck pain that takes several months to improve.

Neck pain is commonly associated with dull aching. Sometimes pain in the neck is worsened with movement of the neck. Other symptoms associated with some forms of neck pain include numbness, tingling, tenderness, sharp shooting pain, fullness, difficulty swallowing, pulsations, swishing sounds in the head, dizziness or lightheadedness, and gland swelling.

In diagnosing the cause of neck pain, it is important to review the history of the symptoms. Tenderness is detected during palpation of the neck. An examination of the nervous system is performed to determine whether or not nerve involvement is present.
Further testing of undiagnosed neck pain can include x-ray evaluation, CAT scan, bone scan, MRI scan, myelogram, and electrical tests such as electromyography (EMG) and nerve conduction velocity test (NCV).
In most cases, a neck problem can be diagnosed by carrying out a thorough examination that may include all or some of the following:

• testing the movement of the neck
• testing for trapped nerves
• examination of the muscles
• examination of the movement of the joints of the spine, neck and hands
• X-rays, scans or blood tests may be necessary to make a precise diagnosis.

Painkillers taken on a regular basis, eg paracetamol, are often sufficient alone.
Medicine used in the treatment of mild muscle pain includes non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). These are generally effective in those who can tolerate them. But they may cause side-effects in patients with a past medical history of indigestion or asthma and be unsuitable for certain patients with kidney impairment, heart failure and high blood pressure.

Consult your doctor or pharmacist if you think this might apply to you.

People with weak neck muscles are more prone to neck problems, and in such cases an exercise programme to strengthen the neck is a good idea.

Neck pain is accompanied by severe pain in the back. The patient feels ill or is running a fever, as well as feeling neck pain. Neck pain is accompanied by severe headache or continuous vomiting.
In some cases, neck pain may be a symptom of meningitis & neck pain can be a symptom of head injury or disc trouble in the neck. Vision, hearing, taste or balance are affected
The muscle power in arms or legs is reduced

Acute pain at the base of the skull may well disappear without treatment.
For short-term problems, manual treatment (chiropractic or physiotherapy) and pain-relieving medicine are recommended.
With longer-term pain (i.e. three months or more) there's the following choice of treatment:

• chiropractic treatment
• intensive muscle training
• physiotherapy, including advice on posture and the use of a supportive pillow
• acupuncture provides relief for significant numbers of people with chronic neck and shoulder pain, although this is not routinely available on the NHS.