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Types and causes of cervical pain
Last reviewed: 04.07.2025
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The cervical spine is the most flexible of all the sections. That is why it consists of a mass of vertebrae and vertebrae, which tend to rub against each other, become inflamed and hurt under prolonged loads. What types of neck pain are there and how to get rid of them?
Reaction from past traumas
Even if we injured our neck many months or years ago, it may not respond with pain at the same time. But past injuries (microtraumas) can make themselves known after a long time. And then suddenly the neck begins to hurt, seemingly for no reason, and we are surprised: there seemed to be no overload, where does the pain come from?
And there are also situations (and they are common) when microtraumas accumulate, leading to deformation of the cervical vertebrae, which a person may not even suspect. The health of the neck depends on how quickly you react to the slightest pain in the neck. Because even small pains in the cervical spine can signal serious problems with the health of the neck.
It is very important, first of all, to direct the vertebrae into the correct position and combat the manifestations of their deformation, even if there is no pain yet or it is very weak and infrequent.
Causes of neck pain
- Permanent sedentary work with overstrain of the cervical vertebrae
- Traumas and microtraumas, blows, vertebral fractures
- Too much stress on the spine as a whole, as well as ligaments and joints
- Age-related changes that deform the cartilage tissue and the body of the cervical vertebrae
- Infections of different types and localizations
- Tumors, growths in the body of the vertebrae and between them
- Weak muscles, lack of physical activity, the same neck position for hours
- Stretching of the cervical ligaments under heavy loads without warming up
- An uncomfortable sleeping position that causes neck muscles to become stiff and sore
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How do negative changes occur in the cervical vertebrae?
Very often, a person has problems with discs. They are located in the area of the vertebrae. What is a disc? It is a connective tissue between the vertebrae, which has the property of changing its shape due to injuries, with age or from excessive strain on the cervical vertebrae.
When discs change their shape, become distorted, curved, this process is called disc degeneration by doctors. When such degeneration occurs too quickly and intensively, the pain can be simply unbelievable, and it becomes increasingly difficult to correct the situation.
When the cervical vertebrae are injured, this causes degeneration, which very often happens unnoticed. A person may not even suspect that his cervical vertebrae are changing shape, wearing out, and becoming crooked. Together with the vertebrae, the connective tissue of the discs also wears out and becomes deformed. Therefore, it is important to be examined by a doctor at the slightest pain in the neck.
Different types of neck pain
Everyone's neck hurts differently: severely and sharply, so that it's difficult to move, tediously and at first "tolerable", and then it can shoot through in sharp attacks. And the causes of neck pain are also different.
Mechanical neck pain
Why mechanical? Because it directly depends on how and how much we move. Mechanical neck pain is also chronic, it is difficult to get rid of it if you are not a fan of physical exercise and relaxation.
With constant tension in the neck and almost complete lack of movement (for example, when working at a computer), the joints of the neck become inflamed, and the connective tissue in the discs slowly and imperceptibly begins to degenerate (change shape). At first, the neck does not respond with pain, but this is only at first. Then the pain can become your constant annoying companions and occurs with the slightest overexertion.
As soon as the neck gets a load, the muscles may spasm, and you cannot move either to the right or to the left because of the pain. It is better not to let this condition happen and give the neck muscles a break by changing positions and bending in different directions.
Radiculitis of the neck
This disease is also called cervical radiculopathy. Cervical radiculitis affects the nerve roots of the neck, which become inflamed and begin to transmit strong pain signals to the brain. Bundles of nerves are located in the spinal cord. They spread along the shoulder and further along the arm. This is why, when these roots are inflamed or pinched, pain in the neck can radiate far into the arm and make it difficult to move.
Nerve roots can be pinched by a deformed vertebra or a thorn growing in it. The neck muscles then become weak, painful, and can even go numb not only in the neck but also in the entire arm. This condition is dangerous because of the severe pain, which can even cause a person to lose consciousness.
Cervical radiculitis and disc herniation
When a person puts a lot of physical strain on the neck, the discs between the cervical vertebrae quickly become unusable and deformed. Then a disc herniation may occur, that is, the disc nucleus protrudes beyond the disc ring (the so-called fibrous ring). The nerve roots are strongly compressed, and this causes sharp and severe pain.
The damaged disc can "bite" with the help of protruding parts that formed during the damage. The muscles of the neck and arm go numb, the pain increases, weakens and only emergency medical care can help with this type of radiculopathy.
It is noteworthy that a herniated cervical disc may not necessarily occur in elderly people. Patients under 30 are also at risk if they lead a sedentary lifestyle or, conversely, abuse intense physical activity.
Cervical myelopathy
In other words, this disease is called spinal stenosis. Stenosis is a dangerous disease of the cervical vertebrae, which signals a strong deformation of the cervical vertebrae. How does stenosis occur?
Spines – osteophytes – can grow on the vertebrae due to heavy loads on the neck, poor nutrition and a series of injuries. These spines can compress the nerve roots, which become inflamed, and then a sharp pain in the neck occurs. In myelopathy, it is typical that not only the nerve roots are compressed, but there is also a strong load on the spinal canal. It is compressed, the spinal cord becomes inflamed, and a sharp pain in the neck does not allow a person to move. As an unpleasant addition to this situation, arm movements may be difficult, because the pain radiates there as well.