While some of the challenges associated with neck pain may seem like minor distresses, they can greatly hinder your everyday life and evolve over time into severe, ongoing pain. By discovering the instigator of your neck pain and treating the underlying condition, you may be able to obtain relief. A number of conditions may be causing your neck or shoulder pain, including:

• Muscle Strain or Ligament Sprain

Improperly lifting heavy objects or conducting repeated motions (such as sitting at a desk all day) can stress muscle tissue and ligaments, leading to pain that can often develop into a chronic condition.

• Arthritis

Arthritis causes inflammation, rigidity and pain in joints. Cervical spondylosis, commonly called the “arthritis of the neck,” occurs as the discs in the spine age and lose water content. This places more pressure on facet joints, which begin to degenerate. Rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune condition that encourages the body to attack joint-lining tissues, can also incite painful swelling in the cervical region.

• Nerve Compression

• When a cervical disc is herniated, its soft, inner nucleus seeps out of a weak point in its hard outer casing. Pain in the neck and shoulders may result as weight is redistributed and nerves are compressed. Similar issues arise when a disc bulges or a vertebrae fractures.

• Sudden Injury

Unexpected damage to the cervical spine may be caused by falls, excessive motion, motor vehicle accidents, direct blows to the face or to the back or top of the head, sports-related accidents and comparable events. Victims of motor vehicle accidents often suffer whiplash, a type of pain that occurs when the head is suddenly forced forward and then snapped backward, or vice versa.

• Disease

Certain illnesses can lead to neck and shoulder pain. Meningitis agitates the tissues around the brain and spinal cord and can become a life-threatening ailment. Flu tends to make the neck and the rest of the body ache constantly. Fibromyalgia may cause pain in the muscles and soft tissues, even in areas where there is no obvious injury or inflammation.

• Cervical Spinal Stenosis

Stenosis occurs when the spinal canal narrows, compressing the spinal cord and disrupting the organization of tissues, ligaments and bone in the surrounding areas.

• Tumor

Even benign tumors can cause significant pain in the cervical area if they interfere with the proper functioning of muscles, ligaments and bone. Tumors may also crowd sensitive nerves.

• Referred Pain

Sometimes, a health issue in one part of the body causes pain in another seemingly unrelated place. For example, a dental concern in the teeth or jaw or a medical issue in the heart can lead to significant neck pain.

• Torticollis (Wryneck)

Extreme muscle tightness or a shortened muscle on one side of the neck may cause torticollis, which tilts the head to one side. Generally, torticollis stems from other syndromes.

Many factors can increase your risk of developing neck pain, such as poor posture, an unhealthy diet, sleeping on your stomach, stress or depression, smoking, drug abuse and lack of exercise or activity. By making mindful lifestyle changes, you can often lessen the likelihood of encountering neck pain and mitigate the effects of already existing discomfort.