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Neck Injuries and Disorders
Summary
Any part of your neck – muscles, bones, joints, tendons, ligaments, or nerves – can cause neck problems. Neck pain is very common. Pain may also come from your shoulder, jaw, head, or upper arms.
Muscle strain or tension often causes neck pain. The problem is usually overuse, such as from sitting at a computer for too long. Sometimes you can strain your neck muscles from sleeping in an awkward position or overdoing it during exercise. Falls or accidents, including car accidents, are another common cause of neck pain. Whiplash, a soft tissue injury to the neck, is also called neck sprain or strain.
Treatment depends on the cause, but may include applying ice, taking pain relievers, getting physical therapy or wearing a cervical collar. You rarely need surgery.
Encyclopedia
- Branchial cleft cyst Medical Encyclopedia
- Hump on upper back (dorsocervical fat pad) Medical Encyclopedia
Specifics
- Burners American Academy of Family Physicians
- Cervical Dystonia (Spasmodic Torticollis) Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
- Cervical Radiculopathy (Pinched Nerve) American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
- Cervical Spondylosis Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
- Cervical Spondylosis (Arthritis of the Neck) American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
- Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy (CSM) American Academy of Family Physicians
- Cervical Stenosis, Myelopathy and Radiculopathy North American Spine Society
- Herniated Cervical Disc North American Spine Society
- Repetitive Motion Disorders National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
- Stiff Neck Nemours Foundation
- Whiplash National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
- Whiplash and Whiplash Associated Disorder (WAS) North American Spine Society
Living With
- Cervical Exercise: The Backbone of Spine Treatment North American Spine Society
Treatments and Therapies
- Cervical Laminoplasty North American Spine Society
- Chiropractic: MedlinePlus Health Topic National Library of Medicine
- Epidural Steroid Injections North American Spine Society
- Halo-Gravity Traction Nemours Foundation
- Radiofrequency Neurotomy Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
Patient Handouts
- Cervical MRI scan Medical Encyclopedia
- Cervical spine CT scan Medical Encyclopedia
- Cervical spondylosis Medical Encyclopedia
- Neck lump Medical Encyclopedia
- Neck pain Medical Encyclopedia
- Neck pain or spasms — self care Medical Encyclopedia
- Neck x-ray Medical Encyclopedia
- Spinal fusion Medical Encyclopedia
- Torticollis Medical Encyclopedia
Clinical Trials
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Cervical Vertebrae Injuries National Institutes of Health
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Neck Injuries National Institutes of Health
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Neck Pain National Institutes of Health
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Whiplash Injuries National Institutes of Health
Children
- Head Tilt (Torticollis) American Academy of Pediatrics
- Klippel-Feil Syndrome National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
Genetics
- Klippel-Feil syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
Find an Expert
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
Diagnosis and Tests
- Neck Pain American Academy of Family Physicians
- X-Ray Exam: Neck Nemours Foundation
Start Here
- Neck Pain American College of Rheumatology
- Neck Pain Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
- Neck Swelling (Symptom Checker) American Academy of Family Physicians
Journal Articles
Images
- Spinal fusion – series — Normal anatomy Medical Encyclopedia
- Spinal surgery – cervical – series — Normal anatomy Medical Encyclopedia