Neck pain

Neck pain is common with two-thirds of the population experiencing neck pain in their lives.

Neck pain, although felt in the neck, can be caused by numerous spinal problems. Neck pain can be due to muscular tightness in the neck and upper back, or pinching of the nerves emanating from the cervical vertebrae. Joint disruption in the neck can also cause neck pain.

Prevalence

 * Katrina Berne reports a prevalence of 65-95% for muscle and/or joint pain, neck pain.

Symptom recognition

 * In the Canadian Consensus Criteria, pain is a required criteria for diagnosis. It requires that "there is a significant degree of myalgia. Pain can be experienced in the muscles, and/or joints, and is often widespread and migratory in nature. Often there are significant headaches of new type, pattern or severity."

Possible causes

 * Cervical spinal stenosis


 * Chiari malformation
 * Craniocervical instability