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Neck Problems and Injuries

Overview

Most people will have a minor neck problem at one time or another. Our body movements usually don't cause problems. But sometimes symptoms can develop from everyday wear and tear, overuse, or injury. Neck problems and injuries most often occur during sports or recreation activities, work-related tasks, or projects around the home.

Neck pain may feel like a "kink," stiffness, or severe pain. Pain may spread to the shoulders, upper back, or arms. Or it may cause a headache. Neck movement may be limited, usually more to one side than the other. Neck pain means pain anywhere from the area at the base of the skull into the shoulders. The neck includes:

The bones and joints of the cervical spine (vertebrae of the neck).
The discs that separate the cervical vertebrae and absorb shock as you move.
The muscles and ligaments in the neck that hold the cervical spine together.

Neck pain may be caused by an injury to one or more of these areas. Or it may have another cause. Home treatment will often help relieve neck pain caused by minor injuries.

Activities that may cause neck pain

Neck pain is often caused by a strain or spasm of the neck muscles or inflammation of the neck joints. Examples of common activities that may cause this type of minor injury include:

Holding your head in a forward posture or odd position while you work, watch TV, or read.
Sleeping on a pillow that's too high or too flat or that doesn't support your head, or sleeping on your stomach with your neck twisted or bent.
Spending long periods of time resting your forehead on your upright fist or arm ("thinker's pose").
Stress. Tension may make the muscles that run from the back of the head across the back of the shoulder (trapezius muscle) feel tight and painful.
Work or exercise that uses your upper body and arms.

Sudden (acute) injuries

Minor neck injuries may occur if you trip, fall a short distance, or twist your spine too much. Severe neck injuries may be caused by whiplash in a car crash, a fall from a high place, a direct blow to the back or the top of the head, a sports-related injury, a penetrating injury such as a stab wound, or external pressure applied to the neck, such as strangulation.

Pain from an injury may be sudden and severe. Bruising and swelling may occur soon after the injury. Acute injuries include:

An injury to the ligaments or muscles in the neck. Examples of this are a sprain or strain. When neck pain is caused by muscle strain, you may have aches and stiffness that spread to your upper arm, shoulder, or upper back. Shooting pain that spreads down the arm into the hand and fingers can be a symptom of a pinched nerve (nerve root compression). Shooting pain is more serious if it occurs in both arms or both hands rather than just one arm or one hand.
A fracture or dislocation of the spine. This can cause a spinal cord injury that may lead to lifelong paralysis. It's important to use correct first aid to immobilize the injured person and then move the person the right way to reduce the risk of lifelong paralysis. If you think that the spinal cord may be injured, don't try to move the person.
A torn or ruptured disc. If the tear is large enough, the jellylike material inside the disc may leak out (herniate) and press against a nerve or the spinal cord (central disc herniation). You may have a headache, feel dizzy or sick to your stomach, or have pain in your shoulder or down your arm.

Emergency care is required for a neck injury that causes damage to the spinal cord. Symptoms of a spinal cord injury include loss of movement or feeling, numbness, tingling, trouble controlling the muscles of the arms or legs, and loss of bowel or bladder control.

Conditions that may cause neck problems

Neck problems may not be related to an injury.

Arthritis or damage to the discs of the neck can cause a pinched nerve. Neck pain caused by a pinched nerve most often affects one side of the neck and the arm on that side. Other symptoms may occur, such as numbness, tingling, or weakness in the arm or hand.
Meningitis is a serious viral or bacterial illness. It causes inflammation around the tissues of the brain and spinal cord. Symptoms come on quickly and include a severe headache, a stiff neck, a fever, and sometimes vomiting. The neck stiffness makes it hard or impossible to touch the chin to the chest.
The flu, which usually is not serious, can cause symptoms similar to meningitis. When neck pain is caused by flu, the neck and the rest of the body tend to ache all over. But there is no severe neck stiffness.
Neck pain that occurs with chest pain may be caused by a serious problem with the heart, such as a heart attack.
Stress and tension may make the muscles that run from the back of the head across the back of the shoulder (trapezius muscle) feel tight and painful. You may not be able to move your head without pain.
Torticollis is caused by severe muscle contraction on one side of the neck. This causes the head to be tilted to one side. The chin is usually rotated toward the opposite side of the neck. Torticollis may be present at birth (congenital) or caused by injury or disease.

Treatment

Treatment for a neck problem or injury may include first aid, physical therapy, manipulative therapy (such as chiropractic or osteopathic), and medicine. In some cases, surgery is needed. Treatment depends on:

The location and type of injury, and how bad it is.
Your age, health condition, and activities (such as work, sports, or hobbies).

Health Tools

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Neck Exercises

Check Your Symptoms

Do you have a neck injury or other neck problem?

Yes

Neck problem or injury

How old are you?

Less than 5 years

5 years or older

Are you male or female?

Male

Female

The medical assessment of symptoms is based on the body parts you have.

If you are transgender or nonbinary, choose the sex that matches the body parts (such as ovaries, testes, prostate, breasts, penis, or vagina) you now have in the area where you are having symptoms.
If your symptoms aren’t related to those organs, you can choose the gender you identify with.
If you have some organs of both sexes, you may need to go through this triage tool twice (once as "male" and once as "female"). This will make sure that the tool asks the right questions for you.

Have you had surgery on your neck in the past month?

Yes

Neck surgery in the past month

Could you be having symptoms of a heart attack?

If you're having a heart attack, there are several areas where you may feel pain or other symptoms.

Yes

Symptoms of heart attack

Have you had a major trauma in the past 2 to 3 hours?

Yes

Major trauma in past 2 to 3 hours

Do you have any numbness, tingling, or weakness or any moderate to severe pain that started after the trauma?

Yes

Symptoms after major trauma

Have you had a neck injury in the past month?

Yes

Neck injury in the past month

Are you having trouble moving your neck or either arm normally?

Yes

Difficulty moving neck or arm

Are you able to move your arm or hand?

Yes

Able to move arm or hand

Unable to move arm or hand

Have you had trouble moving your neck or arm for more than 2 days?

Yes

Difficulty moving neck or arm for more than 2 days

Do you have numbness, tingling, or weakness in your arms or hands?

Weakness is being unable to use the arm or hand normally no matter how hard you try. Pain or swelling may make it hard to move, but this is not the same as weakness.

Yes

Numbness, tingling, or weakness in arms or hands

Did the numbness and weakness start right after the injury?

Yes

Numbness and weakness began immediately after injury

Have the symptoms lasted for more than an hour?

Yes

Numbness, tingling, or weakness for more than 1 hour

Do you have a deep wound in your head or neck?

This is more than a minor cut. This type of injury usually is caused by an object going through all the layers of skin to the tissue beneath.

Yes

Deep wound to head or neck

Has sudden, severe weakness or severe numbness affected the whole arm or the whole hand?

Weakness is being unable to use the arm or hand normally, no matter how hard you try. Pain or swelling may make it hard to move, but that is not the same as weakness.

Yes

Severe or sudden numbness or weakness in the whole arm or hand

Do you have trouble moving your neck?

Yes

Difficulty moving neck

Is it very hard to move or somewhat hard to move?

"Very hard" means you can't move it at all in any direction without causing severe pain. "Somewhat hard" means you can move it at least a little, though you may have some pain when you do it.

Very hard

Very hard to move

Somewhat hard

Somewhat hard to move

How long have you had trouble moving your neck?

Less than 2 days

Difficulty moving neck for less than 2 days

2 days to 2 weeks

Difficulty moving neck for 2 days to 2 weeks

More than 2 weeks

Difficulty moving neck for more than 2 week

Has the loss of movement been:

Getting worse?

Difficulty moving is getting worse

Staying about the same (not better or worse)?

Difficulty moving is unchanged

Getting better?

Difficulty moving is improving

Are you having trouble breathing (more than a stuffy nose)?

Yes

Difficulty breathing more than a stuffy nose

Would you describe the breathing problem as severe, moderate, or mild?

The symptoms in an adult or older child are different than the symptoms in a young child or baby.

Severe

Severe difficulty breathing

Moderate

Moderate difficulty breathing

Mild

Mild difficulty breathing

Is your ability to breathe quickly getting worse?

Yes

Breathing problems are quickly worsening

Do you have any swelling or a lump in your neck?

Yes

Swelling or lump in neck

Is it quickly getting worse?

Yes

Lump or swelling in neck is rapidly increasing

Are you hoarse or having trouble swallowing?

Yes

Difficulty swallowing or hoarseness

Is there any neck pain?

Yes

Neck pain

How bad is the pain on a scale of 0 to 10, if 0 is no pain and 10 is the worst pain you can imagine?

Signs of pain in a baby or toddler are different than signs of pain in an older child.

5 to 10: Moderate to severe pain

Moderate to severe pain

1 to 4: Mild pain

Mild pain

Has the pain:

Gotten worse?

Pain is increasing

Stayed about the same (not better or worse)?

Pain is unchanged

Gotten better?

Pain is improving

Do you have any neck pain?

Yes

Neck pain

How bad is the pain on a scale of 0 to 10, if 0 is no pain and 10 is the worst pain you can imagine?

8 to 10: Severe pain

Severe pain

5 to 7: Moderate pain

Moderate pain

1 to 4: Mild pain

Mild pain

How long has the pain lasted?

Less than 2 full days (48 hours)

Pain less than 2 days

2 days to 2 weeks

Pain 2 days to 2 weeks

More than 2 weeks

Pain more than 2 weeks

Has the pain:

Gotten worse?

Pain is getting worse

Stayed about the same (not better or worse)?

Pain is unchanged

Gotten better?

Pain is getting better

Do you think that the neck problem may have been caused by abuse?

Yes

Neck problem may have been caused by abuse

Do you think you may have a fever?

Yes

Possible fever

Do you have symptoms of a serious illness?

Yes

Symptoms of serious illness

How long have you had neck symptoms?

Less than 1 week

Symptoms for less than 1 week

1 to 2 weeks

Symptoms for 1 to 2 weeks

More than 2 weeks

Symptoms for more than 2 weeks

Many things can affect how your body responds to a symptom and what kind of care you may need. These include:

Your age. Babies and older adults tend to get sicker quicker.
Your overall health. If you have a condition such as diabetes, HIV, cancer, or heart disease, you may need to pay closer attention to certain symptoms and seek care sooner.
Medicines you take. Certain medicines, such as blood thinners (anticoagulants), medicines that suppress the immune system like steroids or chemotherapy, herbal remedies, or supplements can cause symptoms or make them worse.
Recent health events, such as surgery or injury. These kinds of events can cause symptoms afterwards or make them more serious.
Your health habits and lifestyle, such as eating and exercise habits, smoking, alcohol or drug use, sexual history, and travel.

Try Home Treatment

You have answered all the questions. Based on your answers, you may be able to take care of this problem at home.

Try home treatment to relieve the symptoms.
Call your doctor if symptoms get worse or you have any concerns (for example, if symptoms are not getting better as you would expect). You may need care sooner.

HomeTreatment

RelatedInformation

WhereToGo

Pain in children under 3 years

It can be hard to tell how much pain a baby or toddler is in.

Severe pain (8 to 10): The pain is so bad that the baby cannot sleep, cannot get comfortable, and cries constantly no matter what you do. The baby may kick, make fists, or grimace.
Moderate pain (5 to 7): The baby is very fussy, clings to you a lot, and may have trouble sleeping but responds when you try to comfort him or her.
Mild pain (1 to 4): The baby is a little fussy and clings to you a little but responds when you try to comfort him or her.

Pain in children 3 years and older

Severe pain (8 to 10): The pain is so bad that the child can't stand it for more than a few hours, can't sleep, and can't do anything else except focus on the pain. No one can tolerate severe pain for more than a few hours.
Moderate pain (5 to 7): The pain is bad enough to disrupt the child's normal activities and sleep, but the child can tolerate it for hours or days.
Mild pain (1 to 4): The child notices and may complain of the pain, but it is not bad enough to disrupt his or her sleep or activities.

Symptoms of difficulty breathing can range from mild to severe. For example:

You may feel a little out of breath but still be able to talk (mild difficulty breathing), or you may be so out of breath that you cannot talk at all (severe difficulty breathing).
It may be getting hard to breathe with activity (mild difficulty breathing), or you may have to work very hard to breathe even when you're at rest (severe difficulty breathing).

Severe trouble breathing means:

You cannot talk at all.
You have to work very hard to breathe.
You feel like you can't get enough air.
You do not feel alert or cannot think clearly.

Moderate trouble breathing means:

It's hard to talk in full sentences.
It's hard to breathe with activity.

Mild trouble breathing means:

You feel a little out of breath but can still talk.
It's becoming hard to breathe with activity.

Severe trouble breathing means:

The child cannot eat or talk because he or she is breathing so hard.
The child's nostrils are flaring and the belly is moving in and out with every breath.
The child seems to be tiring out.
The child seems very sleepy or confused.

Moderate trouble breathing means:

The child is breathing a lot faster than usual.
The child has to take breaks from eating or talking to breathe.
The nostrils flare or the belly moves in and out at times when the child breathes.

Mild trouble breathing means:

The child is breathing a little faster than usual.
The child seems a little out of breath but can still eat or talk.

Pain in adults and older children

Severe pain (8 to 10): The pain is so bad that you can't stand it for more than a few hours, can't sleep, and can't do anything else except focus on the pain.
Moderate pain (5 to 7): The pain is bad enough to disrupt your normal activities and your sleep, but you can tolerate it for hours or days. Moderate can also mean pain that comes and goes even if it's severe when it's there.
Mild pain (1 to 4): You notice the pain, but it is not bad enough to disrupt your sleep or activities.

Major trauma is any event that can cause very serious injury, such as:

A fall from more than 10 ft (3.1 m)[more than 5 ft (1.5 m) for children under 2 years and adults over 65].
A car crash in which any vehicle involved was going more than 20 miles (32 km) per hour.
Any event that causes severe bleeding that you cannot control.
Any event forceful enough to badly break a large bone (like an arm bone or leg bone).

Symptoms of serious illness may include:

A severe headache.
A stiff neck.
Mental changes, such as feeling confused or much less alert.
Extreme fatigue (to the point where it's hard for you to function).
Shaking chills.

Symptoms of a heart attack may include:

Chest pain or pressure, or a strange feeling in the chest.
Sweating.
Shortness of breath.
Nausea or vomiting.
Pain, pressure, or a strange feeling in the back, neck, jaw, or upper belly, or in one or both shoulders or arms.
Lightheadedness or sudden weakness.
A fast or irregular heartbeat.

For men and women, the most common symptom is chest pain or pressure. But women are somewhat more likely than men to have other symptoms like shortness of breath, tiredness, nausea, and back or jaw pain.

Call 911 Now

Based on your answers, you need emergency care.

Call 911 or other emergency services now.

Sometimes people don't want to call 911. They may think that their symptoms aren't serious or that they can just get someone else to drive them. Or they might be concerned about the cost. But based on your answers, the safest and quickest way for you to get the care you need is to call 911 for medical transport to the hospital.

Seek Care Now

Based on your answers, you may need care right away. The problem is likely to get worse without medical care.

Call your doctor now to discuss the symptoms and arrange for care.
If you cannot reach your doctor or you don't have one, seek care in the next hour.
You do not need to call an ambulance unless:
- You cannot travel safely either by driving yourself or by having someone else drive you.
- You are in an area where heavy traffic or other problems may slow you down.

Call 911 Now

Based on your answers, you need emergency care.

Call 911 or other emergency services now.

Do not move the person unless there is an immediate threat to the person's life, such as a fire. If you have to move the person, keep the head and neck supported and in a straight line at all times. If the person has had a diving accident and is still in the water, float the person face up in the water.

Seek Care Today

Based on your answers, you may need care soon. The problem probably will not get better without medical care.

Call your doctor today to discuss the symptoms and arrange for care.
If you cannot reach your doctor or you don't have one, seek care today.
If it is evening, watch the symptoms and seek care in the morning.
If the symptoms get worse, seek care sooner.

HomeTreatment

RelatedInformation

WhereToGo

Make an Appointment

Based on your answers, the problem may not improve without medical care.

Make an appointment to see your doctor in the next 1 to 2 weeks.
If appropriate, try home treatment while you are waiting for the appointment.
If symptoms get worse or you have any concerns, call your doctor. You may need care sooner.

HomeTreatment

RelatedInformation

WhereToGo

Call 911 Now

Based on your answers, you need emergency care.

Call 911 or other emergency services now.

After you call 911, the operator may tell you to chew 1 adult-strength (325 mg) or 2 to 4 low-dose (81 mg) aspirin. Wait for an ambulance. Do not try to drive yourself.

Postoperative Problems

Self-Care

First aid for possible spinal injury

The possibility of a spinal injury must be considered anytime an accident involves the head, face, neck, or back. Permanent paralysis may be avoided if the injured person is kept from moving (immobilized) and is transported correctly.

Do not move the person.

If you think the person may have a spinal injury, do not move them unless there is an immediate threat to their life, such as a fire. If there is immediate danger, keep the person's head and neck supported and in a straight line while you move them to a safe place.

Do not remove the person from the water if they were in a diving accident. Float the person face up in the water until help arrives.

Call emergency services.

Call 911 or other emergency services to transport the injured person if you think they may have a spinal injury. This will reduce the risk of more injury to the spinal cord.

Caring for a minor neck problem or injury

Try the following tips to help relieve minor neck pain, swelling, and stiffness.

Try using heat or ice.
- Use a heating pad on a low or medium setting for 15 to 20 minutes every 2 to 3 hours. Try a warm shower in place of one session. You can also buy single-use heat wraps that last up to 8 hours.
- You can also use an ice pack for 10 to 15 minutes every 2 to 3 hours.
Do your normal daily activities.
Keep doing your usual daily activities unless you have severe neck and back pain. Make changes to or avoid any activity that makes your pain worse.
Rub the area.
Gently massage or rub the area to help relieve pain and to encourage blood flow. Don't massage the affected area if it causes pain.
Watch your posture.
Avoid slouching or a head-forward posture.
Use a neck pillow.
When you sleep, place a small support pillow under your neck, not under your head.
Do neck exercises.
When the pain starts to get better, do exercises such as neck stretch to the side, neck stretch to the diagonal, and dorsal glide stretch. Don't do any exercises that cause pain.
Try a massage.
If tension is adding to your neck pain, massage may help.
Don't smoke or use other tobacco products.
Smoking slows healing because it decreases blood supply and delays tissue repair.

When to call for help during self-care

Call a doctor if any of the following occur during self-care at home:

New or worse weakness or numbness in arms.
Neck pain does not improve, or it gets worse.
Symptoms occur more often or are more severe.

Learn more

Over-the-counter medicines

More self-care

Preparing For Your Appointment

You can help your doctor diagnose and treat your condition by being prepared for your appointment.

Making the Most of Your Appointment

Related Information

Credits

Current as of: July 31, 2024

Author: Ignite Healthwise, LLC Staff
Clinical Review Board
All Healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.

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Health Tools

Current as of: July 31, 2024

Author: Ignite Healthwise, LLC Staff

Clinical Review Board
All Healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.