Symptoms

Neck pain may:

• Spread to the upper back or arms.
• Be worse with movement.
• Make your neck stiff or tender.
• Cause headaches. These are common and may last for months.

Nerve-related symptoms caused by pressure on the spinal nerve roots or spinal cord include:

• Numbness, tingling, or weakness in your arm or hand.
• A burning feeling when you are touched on the skin of the arm or hand.
• A pain that feels like a shock and extends into your arm or hand.
• Leg numbness or weakness, and loss of the ability to control urination (bladder control) or bowel movements. This can occur when there is pressure on or injury to the spinal cord.

What Happens

When neck pain is caused by activities, such as computer use or sleeping position, it usually gets better within 4 to 6 weeks with treatment that includes taking steps to relieve pain, modifying activities, and doing exercises or physical therapy.¹

When neck pain iscaused by injuries, such as a fall resulting in a herniated disc, it usually improves within 3 months with nonsurgical treatment. Neck pain caused by an injury such as whiplash may take longer but usually improves within 6 to 12 months with occasional recurring pain.¹

Chronic neck pain

Neck pain may become long-lasting (chronic) when it occurs in combination with other health conditions, such as conditions associated with increasing age. These include narrowing of the spinal canal (cervical spinal stenosis) and arthritis of the neck (cervical spondylosis). In some cases, chronic neck pain can be caused by repeated and prolonged movements, such as long hours working at a computer.

Chronic neck pain can make it hard to cope with daily life. Common side effects of chronic pain include fatigue, depression, and anxiety. For more information, see the topic Chronic Pain.