Neck pain
What is neck pain?
Neck pain is common in people of all ages. It can affect up to 70% of people at some time in their lives. The underlying cause of neck pain is varied and very rarely anything to be concerned about. This page will give you practical advice on simple strategies to optimise your recovery.
‘Neck pain’ is a term that relates to pain around the front, sides and back of the neck. It can sometimes coincide with pain being referred between the shoulder blades and down the arm/s.
Symptoms may include
- Pain or stiffness in the neck.
- Pain may be provoked by a range of activities. Examples include prolonged static positions like sitting, getting comfortable in bed or turning or bending the neck.
- Pain which radiates down the arm(s) or into the shoulder blades.
Call 999 or go to A&E if you experience:
- A loss of feeling (numbness) or persistent pins and needles in part of your face, an arm or hand.
- Weakness or difficulty coordinating your arms or legs.
- Problems with walking or sitting upright.
- Persistent dizziness, fainting, double vision or problems with your speech or swallowing.
- An “electric shock” feeling in your neck/back which may go into your arms/legs.
7 facts about neck pain
Scans are important but only in a minority of people. They may be indicated if there has been a traumatic injury or a loss of sensation and power in the arms, but they are unhelpful at showing the cause of neck pain in most cases.
There is no one posture which prevents or lessens neck pain. Regular, relaxed movement is far more important than posture.
Learning to relax the neck and to move the neck in all directions is not only safe, but it’s also healthy for the neck.
For instance, it’s perfectly safe to sleep on your front with the neck turned to the side. Find whatever feels comfortable for you. All sleeping positions are safe.
The neck and the surrounding tissues are highly robust and stable, designed to withstand load, force and movement.
Immobilising the neck (such as using a neck collar) may avoid pain in the short term but it will likely make the problem worse in the long term.
Surgery is rarely needed for neck pain and most disc bulges shrink over time.