What is Neckpain?

Neck pain, sometimes called cervicalgia, is pain in or around your spine beneath your head. Your neck is also known as your cervical spine. Neck pain is a common symptom of many different injuries and medical conditions.

You might have axial neck pain (felt mostly in your neck) or radicular neck pain (pain that shoots into other areas, such as your shoulders or arms). It can be acute (lasting from days to six weeks) or chronic (lasting longer than three months).

Fortunately, most causes of neck pain aren"t serious and improve with conservative treatments, like pain medicine, exercise and stress management.

Who is affected by neck pain?

Neck pain is common, affecting 10% to 20% of adults. It is more common in women and people assigned female at birth. Your chance of developing it increases with age.

What does neck pain feel like?

Some people describe the pain as:

• A persistent ache.
• A stabbing or burning pain.
• A shooting pain that travels from their neck to their shoulders or arms.

Other symptoms

Neck pain may involve other symptoms, including:

• Headache
• Stiffness in your neck, shoulders and upper back
• Being unable to turn neck or tilt head
• Numbness or tingling (pins and needles) feeling in your shoulders or arms

Who is affected by neck pain?

Neck pain is common, affecting 10% to 20% of adults. It is more common in women and people assigned female at birth. Your chance of developing it increases with age.