What Is Neck Pain?

During our lives, many of us will have neck pain, and most of us won't know exactly what caused it. In fact, neck pain can start from a whole range of causes. Maybe you slept funny and woke up with a crick that won't go away. You might've been rear-ended in your car and now you have whiplash. Perhaps you twisted it wrong one day in one of those high-intensity aerobic classes.

Even though most of us will experience neck pain, we won't all feel it in the same way. Sometimes, it's just on one side of your neck; sometimes, pain shoots down your arms. A problem in your neck may even cause terrible headaches or dizziness. Symptoms may be gone in a few days, or you may have long-term pain that limits what you can do every day.

No matter what's causing your neck pain, it hurts, and you're probably very eager to get rid of it. However, as you may guess since there are so many causes and symptoms of neck pain, there are many ways to treat it. You can use over-the-counter pain medication. Acupuncture is an option, as is massage. Most people with neck pain don't need surgery, but it may be best for you and your pain.

In our neck pain article series, you'll learn about all these things: neck pain causes, diagnosis, and treatments. Practical Pain Management, one of our sister sites, is also a good, trustworthy resource for neck pain information—especially chronic neck pain causing headaches. Visit the Practical Pain Management Neck Pain Center.

So as you can tell, neck pain isn't quite as simple as "just" a pain in the neck, but by learning more about it, you'll be better able to deal with it.