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Neck pain

• Overview
• Treatment

Alternative Names:

Pain - neck; Neck stiffness

Home Care:

For minor, common causes of neck pain:

• Take acetaminophen or ibuprofen.
• Apply heat or ice to the painful area. One good method is to use ice for the first 48 - 72 hours, then use heat after that. Heat may be applied with hot showers, hot compresses, or a heating pad. Be careful not to fall asleep with a heating pad on.
• Perform slow range-of-motion exercises -- up-and-down, side-to-side, and from ear-to-ear -- to gently stretch the neck muscles.
• Have a partner gently massage the sore or painful areas.
• Try sleeping on a firm mattress without a pillow or with a special neck pillow.

Call your health care provider if:

Seek immediate medical help if you have a fever and headache, and your neck is so stiff that you cannot touch your chin to your chest. This may be meningitis. Call your local emergency number (such as 911) or get to a hospital.

Call your health care provider if:

• Symptoms do not go away in 1 week with self care
• You have numbness, tingling, or weakness in your arm or hand
• Your neck pain was caused by a fall, blow, or injury -- if you cannot move your arm or hand, have someone call 911
• You have swollen glands or a lump in your neck
• Your pain does not go away with regular doses of over-the-counter pain medication
• You have difficulty swallowing or breathing along with the neck pain

What to expect at your health care provider's office:

Your doctor will perform a physical examination and ask detailed questions about your neck pain, such as:

• Is your pain in the front, back, or side of your neck?
• Are both sides of your neck affected equally?
• When did the pain first develop?
• Is it painful all the time or does pain come and go?
• Can you touch your chin to your chest?
• What makes your neck feel worse? What makes your neck feel better?
• Do you have neck weakness or neck stiffness ?
• Do you have any accompanying symptoms like numbness, tingling, or weakness in your arm or hand?
• Do you have swollen glands or a lump in your neck?

The following diagnostic tests may be performed:

• X-rays of the neck
• CT scan of the neck or head
• Blood tests such as a complete blood count or a thyroid test
• A spinal tap for a cerebrospinal fluid analysis if meningitis is suspected
• Occasionally, an MRI of the neck

If the pain is due to muscle spasm or a pinched nerve, your doctor may prescribe a muscle relaxant and possibly a more powerful pain reliever. Prescription drugs are not necessarily better than over-the-counter medications. The doctor may prescribe a neck collar or, if there is nerve damage, refer you to a neurologist or neurosurgeon for consultation.

If meningitis is suspected, you will be sent to an emergency department for further tests, antibiotics, and hospital admission.

If a thyroid condition is considered (due, for example, to a lump in the front of your neck), follow-up care for abnormal blood tests will be needed.

Prevention:

• Use relaxation techniques and regular exercise to prevent unwanted stress and tension to the neck muscles.
• Learn stretching exercises for your neck and upper body. Stretch every day, especially before and after exercise. A physical therapist can help.
• If you tend to get neck pain from exercise, apply ice to your neck after physical activity.
• Use good posture, especially if you sit at a desk all day. Keep your back supported. Adjust your computer monitor to eye level. This prevents you from continually looking up or down.
• If you work at a computer, stretch your neck every hour or so.
• Use a headset when on the telephone, especially if answering or using the phone is a main part of your job.
• When reading or typing from documents at your desk, place them in a holder at eye level.
• Evaluate your sleeping conditions. Make sure your pillow is properly and comfortably supporting your head and neck. You may need a special neck pillow. Make sure your mattress is firm enough.
• Use seat belts and bike helmets to prevent injuries.

References:

Kasch H, Bach FW, Stengaard-Pedersen K, Jensen TS. Development in pain and neurologic complaints after whiplash: A 1-year prospective study. Neurology . 2003; 60: 743 - 749.

Devereaux MW. Neck pain. Prim Care . 2004; 31(1): 19-31.

Phero JC. Pharmacological management of head and neck pain. Otolaryngol Clin North Am . 2003; 36(6): 1171-1185.

• Review Date: 5/17/2007
• Reviewed By: Benjamin W. Van Voorhees, MD, MPH, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Pediatrics and Psychiatry, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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