Neck pain is a common medical condition that can result from many types of stresses. Bad posture, accidents, injuries and degenerative disorders may all be responsible for causing pain in a person’s neck. In other cases, underlying disease, such as fibromyalgia, may cause neck pain. Rarely, infection of the covering of the brain can cause neck pain.

The neck is composed of seven bones called vertebrae that begin in the upper torso and end at the base of the skull. Other features of the neck include muscles, tendons, ligaments, facet joints, nerves and shock-absorbing intervertebral discs that separate the vertebrae.

The vertebrae in the neck comprise the cervical spine. The bony vertebrae and ligaments of the neck provide stability to the spine, and the muscles allow for support and motion. The nerves in the neck also spread down into the arms.

The neck allows for a great degree of motion and supports the head, which can weigh up to 10 pounds (4.5 kilograms). However, the neck also is vulnerable to many potential injuries and disorders that produce pain and limit range of motion.

In most cases, neck pain resolves with minimal treatment within a period of weeks. However, some forms of neck pain require professional medical care, including prescription medications, physical therapy and other treatments. In the most extreme cases, surgery may be required to treat neck pain.

A physician should be promptly contacted if neck pain is associated with any of the following:

• Severe pain due to injury. Patients should always seek medical care after head or neck trauma, such as whiplash or a blow to the head. Significant pain over a bone might indicate a fracture or an injury to a ligament.
  
  
• Shooting pain. Pain that radiates from the shoulder and continues through the shoulder blades or down the arm may indicate nerve impingement or irritation. Numbness or tingling in the fingers also may indicate such irritation. Nerve irritation can last from three to six months or longer. Chest pain that radiates to the neck, arm or jaw may be due to a heart attack.
  
  
• Loss of strength. Weakness in an arm or leg (often evident when a person suddenly drops things, or walks with a stiff leg or shuffling feet) indicates the need for immediate evaluation.
  
  
• Change in bladder or bowel habits. Significant changes may indicate a neurological problem. This is particularly true of incontinence (the inability to control the passage of urine or feces).