Your neck connects your head to your shoulders.

Most of the time, your body movements won't cause problems in your neck area. Over time, however, the everyday wear and tear that comes with supporting and moving your head could create a neck problem.

It may feel like a "kink," like stiffness, or it may bring severe pain. It may stay in your neck, or spread into your shoulders, upper back, or arms, sometimes even causing a headache and limiting your movement. Often, this is caused by a strain or spasm of the neck muscles, or by inflammation of the neck joints. That can be caused by:

• Holding your head in a forward posture or odd position while working, watching TV, or reading.
• Sleeping on a pillow that is too high, too flat, or doesn't support your head; or sleeping on your stomach with your neck twisted or bent.
• Spending long periods of time resting your forehead on your upright fist or arm ("thinker's pose").
• Stress. Tension may make the muscles that run from the back of the head across the back of the shoulder (trapezius muscle) feel tight and painful.
• Work or exercise that uses your upper body and arms.

Most injuries to your neck can be categorized in one of two types: acute injury, which is caused by a sudden jolt or twist to the neck; or overuse injury, caused by everyday wear and tear on the neck.

Listed below are several neck injuries that fall into these two categories. These listings are intended for informational purposes only; if you believe you have injured your neck, please click here to request an appointment at OA, or call us at 812-424-9291 or 800-264-1208.

Acute Injuries

• Injury to the ligaments or muscles in the neck, such as a sprain or strain–When neck pain is caused by muscle strain, you may have aches and stiffness that spread to your upper arm, shoulder, or upper back. Shooting pain that spreads down the arm into the hand and fingers can be a symptom of a pinched nerve. Shooting pain is more serious if it occurs in both arms or both hands rather than just one arm or one hand.
• Fracture or dislocation of the spine–This can cause a spinal cord injury that may lead to permanent paralysis. It is important to immobilize and transport the injured person correctly to reduce the risk of permanent paralysis.
• Torn or ruptured disc–If the tear is large enough, the jelly-like material inside the disc may leak out (herniate) and press against a nerve or the spinal cord (central disc herniation). You may have a headache, feel dizzy or sick to your stomach, or have pain in your shoulder or down your arm.

Emergency care is required for a neck injury that causes damage to the spinal cord. Symptoms of a spinal cord injury include loss of movement or feeling, numbness, tingling, difficulty controlling the muscles of the arms or legs, or loss of bowel or bladder control.

Overuse Injuries

• Arthritis or damage to the discs of the neck can cause a pinched nerve. Neck pain caused by a pinched nerve generally affects one side of the neck and the arm on that side. Other symptoms may develop, such as numbness, tingling, or weakness in the arm or hand.
• Meningitis is a serious viral or bacterial illness that causes inflammation around the tissues of the brain and spinal cord. Symptoms come on quickly and include severe headache, stiff neck, fever, and sometimes vomiting. The neck stiffness makes it difficult or impossible to touch the chin to the chest.
• Stress and tension may make the muscles that run from the back of the head across the back of the shoulder (trapezius muscles) feel tight and painful. You may not be able to move your head without pain.
• Torticollis is caused by severe muscle contraction on one side of the neck, causing the head to be tilted to one side. The chin is usually rotated toward the opposite side of the neck. Torticollis may be present at birth (congenital) or be caused by injury or disease.

Source: American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons