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Neck pain



Neck pain
Neck pain


Neck pain

Alternative Names:

Pain - neck; Neck stiffness
Home Care:


For minor, common causes of neck pain:

  • Take acetaminophen or ibuprofen.
  • Apply heat or ice to the painful area. One good method is to use ice for the first 48 - 72 hours, then use heat after that. Heat may be applied with hot showers, hot compresses, or a heating pad. Be careful not to fall asleep with a heating pad on.
  • Perform slow range-of-motion exercises -- up-and-down, side-to-side, and from ear-to-ear -- to gently stretch the neck muscles.
  • Have a partner gently massage the sore or painful areas.
  • Try sleeping on a firm mattress without a pillow or with a special neck pillow.

Call your health care provider if:
  • One week of self care hasn't helped.
  • You have a fever and headache, and your neck is so stiff that you cannot touch your chin to your chest. THIS MAY BE MENINGITIS -- CALL 911 or get to a hospital.
  • You have numbness, tingling, or weakness in your arm or hand.
  • Your neck pain was caused by a fall, blow, or injury (if you cannot move your arm or hand, have someone call 911).
  • You have swollen glands or a lump in your neck.
  • Your pain does not respond to standard doses of over-the-counter pain medication.

What to expect at your health care provider's office:

Your doctor will perform a physical examination and ask detailed questions about your neck pain, such as:

  • Is your pain in the front, back, or side of your neck?
  • Are both sides of your neck affected equally?
  • When did the pain first develop?
  • Is it painful all the time or does pain come and go?
  • Can you touch your chin to your chest?
  • What makes your neck feel worse? What makes your neck feel better?
  • Do you have neck weakness or neck stiffness?
  • Do you have any accompanying symptoms like numbness, tingling, or weakness in your arm or hand?
  • Do you have swollen glands or a lump in your neck?
The following diagnostic tests may be performed:

If the pain is due to muscle spasm or a pinched nerve, your doctor may prescribe a muscle relaxant and possibly a more powerful pain reliever. Prescription drugs are not necessarily better than over-the-counter medications. The doctor may prescribe a neck collar or, if there is nerve damage, refer you to a neurologist or neurosurgeon for consultation.

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