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Pain in the cervical spine
Last reviewed: 04.07.2025
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At different stages of our lives, many of us repeatedly encounter the fact that, as a result of one reason or another, pain is felt in the cervical spine. It can be different and there are a huge number of prerequisites for its occurrence. If the pain does not go away within a few days, this is a signal that you need to consult a chiropractor or another doctor (depending on the origin of the pain). Often, the prerequisite for pain in the cervical spine is an incorrect sleeping position. In this case, in addition to pain, there is stiffness in the neck. Such pain can go away on its own, a hot shower has a particularly good effect on its disappearance. Injury to the cervical spine in any case causes pain and, in addition, can be dangerous to a person's health and life. Pain in the cervical spine can also be a symptom of various diseases.
[ The most common causes of such pain
Most often, pain in the cervical spine is caused by the following diseases and reasons:
- Osteochondrosis (severe pain in the cervical spine, often also felt in the arm)
- Osteoarthritis (pain caused by damage to the intervertebral joints)
- Herniated disc (usually occurs in the lower cervical spine)
- Muscle spasm (most often occurs as a result of overexertion, hypothermia of the cervical spine, incorrect sleeping position, lifting heavy objects, carrying heavy objects for a long time)
- Spinal stenosis (leads to damage to the spinal cord, which is not always reflected in pain, but often leads to numbness in the limbs, disruption of the pelvic organs, general weakness)
Other diseases that have pain in the cervical spine as a symptom:
- Brain tumors
- Tumor of the cervical spine (in most cases, these are metastases from cancer of other organs: prostate, breast, lung, kidney, thyroid, melanoma; If pain in the cervical spine bothers a person throughout the day, is long-term and persistent, a tumor can be excluded)
- Meningitis (inflammation of the membranes of the brain causes pain in the cervical region, especially when trying to tilt the head forward)
- Retropharyngeal abscess
- Acute thyroiditis (the disease is quite rare, cases of purulent thyroiditis are known)
- Tuberculosis
- Osteomyelitis, etc.
Watch your spine
In addition to all the above-mentioned serious and dangerous diseases, pain in the cervical spine is very often caused by an incorrect position of the head or neck for a long time (sleep, constant work at the computer, etc.). It is not uncommon for such pain to be accompanied by a number of other, also unpleasant, symptoms: dizziness, nausea, limited ability to turn the head (when turning and tilting the head, a characteristic crunch is heard). Often, such pain is treated with manual therapy sessions. But, do not forget that each of us, by spending just a few minutes a day, can effectively prevent the appearance of changes in the cervical and thoracic spine. To do this, you must not disdain gymnastics for the neck and head (tilts, circular movements). You need to do such exercises as slowly, calmly, relaxed and deeply as possible, while avoiding strong discomfort. In the event that the nature of the pain and its duration causes you even the slightest concern, you must immediately go to see a doctor. Depending on the type of disease that causes pain in the cervical spine, treatment can be carried out by a traumatologist, neurologist, oncologist or rheumatologist.