Types of Neck PainDifferent types of neck pain include:Axial pain, or the kind you mainly feel in your neckRadicular pain, which migrates to other areas like your shoulders or armsMuscle spasm, or abrupt pain or tension in your neck musclesWhiplash, or neck strain that happens after a sudden force or movement Neck Pain SymptomsIf your neck hurts, you may notice other symptoms, including: that gets worse when you hold your head a certain way while working on a computer, driving, or doing other tasksMuscle tightness or spasmsTrouble moving your neck or headNeck Pain and HeadacheSometimes, you may get a headache along with neck pain. There are several possible causes of this, such as:Migraine. Known for headaches, migraine can also cause neck pain.Headaches. Sinus, tension, and cervicogenic headaches usually bring head pain but often affect the neck, too.Bad posture. Poor posture can lead to head and neck aches.Injuries. Trauma, like whiplash, can result in head and neck pain, sometimes with serious damage to the skull, spine, or nerves.Concussion. This type of mild brain injury commonly causes headaches and neck pain.Meningitis. An infection of the brain’s lining causes head and neck pain, often with stiffness and fever.Pinched nerve. Arthritis or spinal issues can compress nerves, leading to head and neck pain.Herniated disk. A damaged spinal disk may press on nerves, causing head and neck pain.Brain bleeding. Brain bleeding can cause serious head and neck pain, possibly with seizures or loss of consciousness.Neck Pain and DizzinessIf you have both dizziness and neck pain, it could be the result of these conditions:Cervical vertigo. Also called cervicogenic dizziness, this condition happens with certain neck conditions or a cervical spine injury. Multiple sclerosis (MS). Inflammation in the brain and spine can cause neck pain, dizziness, and other symptoms.Migraine. Often linked with headaches, migraine can also cause dizziness.Poor sleep. Tiredness from a lack of quality sleep, especially in poor sleeping positions, can lead to neck pain and dizziness.Flu. In serious cases, the flu can cause sudden dizziness and neck stiffness.Neck Pain and NauseaHealth conditions such as cervical vertigo and meningitis can cause neck pain and nausea. Talk to your doctor to figure out the root cause of these symptoms.Neck Pain CausesMany things can cause your neck to hurt:Poor postureRepetitive motionBad habitsGritting your Carrying a heavy bag or pursePinched nervesSports injuries or other injuriesCar accidents involving InfectionTumorsA fractured or collapsed vertebra, which can be related to osteoporosisA slipped (herniated) diskNarrowed spaces within your spine ()Can Neck Pain Be a Sign of Something Serious?Yes, neck pain could be a symptom of a serious health condition such as traumatic injury or stroke. Contact your doctor if neck pain disrupts work or daily life, and get help right away if it:Follows an accidentIncludes loss of bowel or bladder controlDoesn't go away whether moving or stillComes with headache, dizziness, nausea, or vomitingAppears along with chills, fever, or unexplained weight lossCauses numbness or tingling in your arms, shoulders, or legsLeads to leg weakness or coordination issues in your arms or legsDoesn’t improve with over-the-counter medicationsLasts more than a weekHow Is Neck Pain Diagnosed?To diagnose what's causing your neck pain, your doctor may ask:When did the pain start?Have you been injured?Do you have numbness or weakness in your arms or hands?Does moving your neck in a certain way make things better or worse?Does or make the pain worse?Your doctor has many tools to figure out what’s wrong. They could order X-rays, an , a CT scan, an EMG (), or tests.Neck Pain TreatmentTreatments could include medications called muscle relaxants, , a padded neck collar, or traction.In rare situations, you may need shots of cortisone or even surgery.With treatment, your neck will usually stop hurting in a few days. Use medicines like acetaminophen, aspirin, or ibuprofen to ease pain. Put an ice pack on your neck for the first 2 to 3 days to help lower swelling. After that, use moist heat, like a hot shower or a heating pad, to help it heal. There are also exercises you can do at home (or in front of your computer at work) to gently stretch your neck muscles.You can also visit a or get a neck for short-term relief.How Can You Prevent Neck Pain?Fix your posture to fix your neck pain. Sit or stand with your shoulders directly over your hips and your head straight. Adjust your chair or desktop so your computer monitor is at level. Take frequent breaks. Don’t tuck your phone between your and shoulder. Use a speakerphone or headset instead.Try not to carry heavy bags with shoulder straps.Try a different pillow if you’re waking up with neck pain from sleeping. Some people find that a relatively flat one, or one with built-in neck support, works best. Sleeping on your back or side, not your belly, also allows your neck muscles and ligaments to get the rest they need.Neck Pain ExercisesHere are a few exercises you can try to ease a sore neck. Be sure to hold each position for a few seconds and repeat several times on each side:Neck stretch. Keeping the rest of your body still, push your chin forward and backward, gently stretching your throat and neck muscles.Neck turn. Turn your head to the right and left, keeping your chin neutral.Side neck tilt. Looking straight ahead, tilt your head to each shoulder, keeping your shoulders steady.Down neck tilt. Slowly tilt your head down and then back to a neutral position. TakeawaysNeck pain, or cervicalgia, happens with discomfort in the neck. Causes range from poor posture and poor sleep to injuries like whiplash. Types of neck pain include axial pain, radicular pain, muscle spasms, and tension from strain. In some cases, neck pain may signal serious conditions, such as nerve compression, infection, or trauma, requiring medical attention. Treatment options include physical therapy, medications, ice, heat, and specific exercises.SourcesUpdate HistorySharePrintSOURCES:American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons: "Neck Pain," "Neck Strain."Reference.com: “How Much Does A Human Head Weigh?”Mayo Clinic: "Neck Pain Basics," “Neck pain,” “Osteoporosis,” “Herniated Disk,” “Spinal Stenosis, "Multiple sclerosis."Cleveland Clinic: "An Overview of Neck and Shoulder Pain," "Neck Pain," "Whiplash (Neck Strain)," "Cervical Vertigo," "Muscle Spasms (Muscle Cramps)."American Osteopathic Association: "Chronic Neck Pain Tip Sheet."Spine-Health.com: “10 Tips To Prevent Neck Pain.”National Health Service (U.K.): “Fibromyalgia," "10 headache triggers."American Academy of Family Physicians: "Concussion in Sports."CDC: "Facts About Concussion and Brain Injury."Diagnostics: "Cranial Autonomic Symptoms and Neck Pain in Differential Diagnosis of Migraine."Health Direct: "Headaches."MedlinePlus: "Concussion."NHS: "Meningitis."UC Health: "Pinched nerve."Dignity Health: "Herniated disc."Johns Hopkins Medicine: "Subarachnoid Hemorrhage."The Migraine Trust: "Vestibular migraine."Sleep Epidemiology: "Sleep and dizziness in middle-aged and elderly persons: A cross-sectional population-based study."Harvard Health Publishing: "Can changing my sleep habits help with neck pain?" "When a pain in the neck is serious."Montana State University: "Symptoms of the Flu."Versus Arthritis: "Neck Pain."SharePrintMore on Pain Management Recommended FEATURED Top doctors in , Find more top doctors on Search Related LinksPoliciesAboutFor Advertisers © 2005 - 2025 WebMD LLC, an company. All rights reserved. WebMD does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. , How can someone tell when neck pain is serious and requires medical treatment? Learn about signs of severe neck pain and when to seek medical care., Neck pain, or cervicalgia, can have many causes. Treatments include medicines, physical therapy, steroid injections, surgery and at-home pain relief remedies..