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Why does my neck hurt and what to do?
Last reviewed: 05.07.2025
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When a person has neck pain, the last thing they want to do is to understand the reasons, and the most important thing is to immediately stop the suffering. Everyone could have encountered unpleasant sensations in the neck or shoulder area, but it is unlikely that everyone can immediately say what to do. The neck is a rather vulnerable place on the human body, which performs many important functions for the body. The vertebrae and neck muscles provide special mobility to the neck.
Diseases that cause neck pain
If your neck hurts and this pain is sharp and occurs unexpectedly, then the cause is probably a muscle or soft tissue strain. This is the main cause of short-term pain in muscle tissues throughout the body, not just in the neck. However, if the spine is damaged, then the neck pain will not go away on its own and you should find out the reason that causes it.
Many people complain about neck pain, regardless of gender or age. Doctors believe that the main cause, if it is not a sprain, is osteochondrosis and osteoarthrosis of the cervical spine. If we talk about the localization of pain, then with osteochondrosis it usually appears in the back of the neck and can periodically radiate to the chest and shoulders.
The prevalence of the above diseases increases in elderly people. Research conducted at a UK university shows that signs of osteochondrosis are found in 60% of men over 55 years of age.
Common causes of neck pain can also be injuries: severe sprains or ligament ruptures often occur during sports training or in an accident. Complications after an injury are possible if the soft tissues are damaged; if it is limited to a sprain, then after two weeks the neck muscles return to normal. Pain in the cervical spine can be caused by life-threatening diseases. For example, if women have neck pain for no apparent reason, then it is worth paying special attention to the fact that it is the female sex that most often suffers from rheumatoid arthritis, which can cause severe pain in the back of the neck. The neck hurts at the bottom with rheumatoid polymyalgia, although until recently doctors associated this disease with a dull pain in the forearms, but not in the neck itself.
Dangerous brain diseases have a feature of also being accompanied by a dull pain in the neck. If the neck and nasal sinuses hurt, there is constant pain in the temples, there is every chance of the formation of a small tumor of the brain, often malignant. Malignant tumors can appear in the upper spine with cancer of the kidneys or lungs.
Most often, people who do not pay close attention to their own posture and do not control the position of their head during long sleep are subject to unpleasant sensations in the cervical spine. Often, the neck periodically hurts only because of improper organization of the workplace, dim lighting, too low a table or an uncomfortable monitor. If your neck hurts after working out in the gym, you should consult a trainer, perhaps you are doing the exercises incorrectly or the load is too strong for you. If in the morning you feel discomfort and pain in the lower part of the neck, then pay attention to the pillow and the position in which you fall asleep.
Daily exercise will help you get rid of pain if it is not caused by chronic or serious diseases. Minimal physical activity will definitely improve your well-being, give mobility to the neck muscles and get rid of daily discomfort.
If we talk about children under 15, then if they have a sore neck, 90% of the time the cause is poor posture or a complication after tonsillitis or sore throat.
[ What to do if your neck hurts?
From the above information, one conclusion can be drawn: if the neck does not hurt constantly, but tends to go away after a day or two, then there is no reason to worry, you can get rid of the unpleasant sensations with the help of exercises, massage and manual therapy. If the neck hurts constantly, if the pain changes location and nature, then you should immediately undergo an examination by a vertebrologist and traumatologist in order to prevent the development of a dangerous disease and begin treatment in time.