Table: Some Causes and Features of Neck Pain - Merck Manuals Consumer Version

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Some Causes and Features of Neck Pain

Some Causes and Features of Neck Pain

Cause	Common Features*	Tests
More common but less serious causes
Sprains and strains Overview of Fractures A fracture is a crack or break in a bone. Most fractures result from force applied to a bone. Fractures usually result from injuries or overuse. The injured part hurts (especially when it is... read more	Pain that Usually occurs off to one side of the spine Worsens with movement and lessens with rest	A doctor's examination
Muscle spasms	Constant pain and stiffness, causing difficulty or pain when the head is turned one way or the other (sometimes both ways) No symptoms of nervous system malfunction (neurologic symptoms)	A doctor's examination
Osteoarthritis Osteoarthritis (OA) Osteoarthritis is a chronic disorder that causes damage to the cartilage and surrounding tissues and is characterized by pain, stiffness, and loss of function. Arthritis due to damage of joint... read more (without compression of the spinal nerve root)	Pain that Is sometimes constant Worsens with motion Often in people with arthritis in the joints of fingers, hips, and/or knees	A doctor's examination Sometimes neck x-rays
Cervical spondylosis Cervical Spondylosis Cervical spondylosis is degeneration of the bones in the neck (vertebrae) and the disks between them, putting pressure on (compressing) the spinal cord in the neck. Osteoarthritis is the most... read more (with compression of the spinal nerve root)	Pain that Often extends down the arm, sometimes to the hand Usually occurs in the arm more than in the neck itself Sometimes weakness and/or numbness in the arms	MRI of the neck
A herniated disk Herniated Disk A herniated disk occurs when the tough covering of a disk in the spine tears or ruptures. The soft, jelly-like interior of the disk may then bulge out (herniate) through the covering. Aging... read more (typically with compression of the spinal nerve root)	Same as for cervical spondylosis, above except neck pain can be as severe or more severe than the arm pain	MRI of the neck
Fibromyalgia Fibromyalgia Fibromyalgia is characterized by poor sleep, fatigue, mental cloudiness, and widespread aching and stiffness in soft tissues, including muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Poor sleep, stress, strains... read more	Aching and stiffness in many areas of the body (not just the neck) Sore areas that are tender to the touch Often poor sleep Most common among women aged 20 to 50	A doctor's examination
Less common but more serious causes
A tear in the lining of a neck artery	Usually constant head, neck, or facial pain Usually neurologic symptoms such as loss of balance or taste, confusion, weakness of an arm and leg on the same side of the body, and difficulty swallowing, speaking, and/or seeing	MRA (an MRI with injection of dye to allow doctors to see the arteries in the neck) Angiography
A tumor in the spine Spinal Cord Tumors A spinal cord tumor is a noncancerous (benign) or cancerous (malignant) growth in or around the spinal cord. People may have weak muscles, lose sensation in particular areas of the body, or... read more	Progressively worsening, constant pain (even at night), regardless of position or movement Sometimes night sweats or weight loss	MRI or CT Sometimes biopsy
Infection of bone or nearby tissues	Progressively worsening, constant pain (even at night) regardless of position or movement Sometimes night sweats, fever, and/or weight loss	MRI Usually culture of a sample of infected tissue
Meningitis Introduction to Meningitis Meningitis is inflammation of the layers of tissue that cover the brain and spinal cord (meninges) and of the fluid-filled space between the meninges (subarachnoid space). Meningitis can be... read more	Severe headache Neck pain that worsens when the head is bent forward, but not when rotated side-to-side Usually fever, lethargy, and/or confusion	A spinal tap (lumbar puncture) and analysis of spinal fluid
A heart attack Acute Coronary Syndromes (Heart Attack; Myocardial Infarction; Unstable Angina) Acute coronary syndromes result from a sudden blockage in a coronary artery. This blockage causes unstable angina or heart attack (myocardial infarction), depending on the location and amount... read more or angina Angina Angina is temporary chest pain or a sensation of pressure that occurs while the heart muscle is not receiving enough oxygen. A person with angina usually has discomfort or pressure beneath the... read more	Sudden and sometimes recurring sweating, difficulty breathing, and/or chest discomfort Usually risk factors for heart disease Usually also pain in the chest	Electrocardiography, blood tests to measure substances called cardiac markers to check for heart damage, and/or imaging tests such as cardiac catheterization or stress testing
* Features include symptoms and results of the doctor's examination. Features mentioned are typical but not always present. CT = computed tomography; MRA = magnetic resonance angiography; MRI = magnetic resonance imaging.