Why Does My Neck Hurt? Here is the Answer!

Excruciating pain may make you wonder, why does my neck hurt? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Doctors estimate that 7 out of 10 people experience neck pain at least once during their lifetime. However, neck pain presents itself in different ways.

There are different reasons for neck pain, including neck stiffness, muscular tension, and pulled ligaments compressing a nerve. Also called cervicalgia, the neck pain can also result from bad posture or wrong sleeping positions.

The cervical spine has many blood vessels, nerves, ligaments, and joints. These structures are important for neck movement as they help you move your head forward and backward.

The neck joints also allow rotation. Any trauma or injury to the neck muscles and ligaments can make the neck stiff and cause pain.

If you haven’t experienced an injury but suffer from neck pain, you may wonder, “Why does my neck hurt?” Let’s look into the various reasons why your neck hurts.

Types of Neck Pain

Neck pain presents a combination of symptoms depending on the type of neck pain. The different types of neck pain are axial neck pain, radicular neck pain, and acute and chronic neck pain.

Axial neck pain affects the neck, while radicular neck pain radiates to the shoulder and arms. Acute pain lasts from a few days to six weeks, while chronic pain lasts longer than three months.

Neck pain impacts the quality of life by restricting movement. Most causes of neck pain, such as stiffness and muscular tension, aren’t that serious, while others, such as medical conditions, present problems.

Symptoms of Neck Pain

Neck pain can cause a combination of symptoms. Some common symptoms include the following.

• Neck stiffness
• Muscular tension in the neck
• Difficulty moving your head
• Sharp pain
• Pain that radiates to the shoulder from the neck
• Cervicogenic headache
• Neck numbness

Why Does My Neck Hurt? Four Common Causes

Why does my neck hurt? This is a question you may ask yourself due to unbearable pain. Understanding common causes of neck pain will help you assess whether your neck pain results from a common condition or medical causes.

1. Muscle Strain

Any injury or trauma to the ligaments or tendons is called a strain. You can strain your neck ligaments due to bad posture.

Sitting in front of computers or using a smartphone continuously strains the neck. Slouching puts pressure on the shoulders, neck, and head.

The neck muscles work harder to hold your head in an unnatural position, causing continuous strain and muscle fatigue.

Poor posture for an extended period causes soreness and inflammation. When your neck doesn’t align with the spine, your muscles are aggravated, which causes more discomfort, causing neck pain.

2. Muscle Spasm

A muscle spasm occurs when the muscles in the neck powerfully contract. The stiffness that comes with a muscle spasm makes it difficult to move your head.

Your neck may feel stiff. Injuries can cause muscle spasms, but certain medical conditions, such as a problem with your spinal disc or nerve compression, may also be the culprit.

3. Injury or Trauma

Any injury or trauma to the back may leave you wondering, why does my neck hurt? Acute pain in the neck after a back injury is common.

Car accidents or sports activities can often impact your neck muscles if your head jerks forward. This causes a strain or muscular spasm, pulling the muscles and tendons of the neck.

Trauma to the spine can also cause backache, accompanied by neck aches, restrict neck movement, and cause stiffness.

4. Poor Sleeping Positions

Woke up with a stiff neck and sore muscles? A poor sleeping position is likely the cause. We don’t give much thought to sleeping positions, but the height of the pillow, comfort of the mattress, and neck position while sleeping are a few factors that cause neck pain.

According to research, sleeping problems are the root cause of up to 5% of chronic pain cases. If you frequently wake up with neck pain, consider sleeping on a comfortable pillow that aligns your spine. Sleep on a mattress that does not sag under your body weight so your spine doesn’t bend.

Why Does My Neck Hurt? Three Common Medical Conditions

Besides bad posture and sleeping positions, certain medical conditions can also cause neck pain. If you frequently have neck pain, you should look into the following conditions.

1. Cervical Spondylosis

Cervical vertebrae refer to the bones in your neck. Cervical spondylosis is a degenerative disease affecting the vertebrae.

Each vertebra has a soft disc that provides cushioning. When these discs become compressed, you experience neck pain.

More than 85% of people aged 60 and above suffer from cervical spondylosis. While many remain asymptomatic, meaning they don’t experience symptoms, many others might have neck pain, muscular tension, and stiffness.

2. Herniated Discs

A herniated disc is an intervertebral disc injury. Our spine has discs sitting between each vertebra, acting as a cushion for shock absorption. A trauma or strain to the intervertebral disc in the cervical region causes neck pain.

When this inner gel-like substance in the disc pushes through the crack, the leaked material presses on the surrounding spinal nerves, causing numbness and neck pain. This pain can also radiate to the shoulders and arms.

3. Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is a widespread muscle pain and tenderness accompanied by symptoms such as sleep disturbances, fatigue, and restricted movement. This condition causes deep aching pain in the neck and causes sensitivity to pressure.

How to Treat Neck Pain?

While there isn’t one definitive treatment for neck pain, a few tips might help. Medical treatment options include laser therapy, yoga, massage, acupuncture, and aquatic therapy.

Besides this, you can use cold and hot compresses on the neck to reduce numbness and tingling sensation. If neck pain results from bad posture and poor sleeping positions, you should make adjustments.

Take regular breaks from work, stretch your neck lightly, and practice neck muscle strengthening exercises. If you spend hours in front of a screen, you can also buy a neck pillow for support.

Wrap Up

Neck pain has many causes. If the pain becomes unbearable and you cannot pinpoint a reason for neckache, look into the most common causes.

Recognize the symptoms and consult a doctor. While preventive measures can help you prevent neck pain and manage your condition, it’s best to see a doctor to understand underlying medical conditions.