Neck pain often extends to the back or base of the skull. This transition area between the skull and the cervical joints is particularly susceptible to dysfunction because of its high degree of mobility and complex structure. According to MayoClinic.com, most causes of neck pain are not serious, but any pain that progresses or does not resolve within a few days, or is accompanied by neurological symptoms, should be diagnosed by a doctor.
Sprain/Strain
An injury that stretches or tears the muscles and ligaments of the cervical spine is referred to as a sprain strain injury. One of the most common ways that this injury occurs is in an automobile accident. Whiplash usually results from the quick snapping of the head forward and backward, which damages the soft tissues of the neck. According to MDSources.com, this whipping motion almost always causes some form of muscle damage. Many of the muscles that traverse the cervical spine extend up into the back of the head and can be the source of pain when strained. There are several other traumatic ways that the soft tissues and other structures of the cervical spine can become sprained or strained, such as sports injuries.
Poor Posture
Another more subtle form of sprain strain injury occurs through chronic poor posture, according to the American Chiropractic Association. When someone sits at a computer all day, every day, the muscles and ligaments that support the head and cervical spine become overstressed and stretched. With time, these structures will cause pain, weakness and stiffness in the neck and up into the head.
Bone Spurs
A bone spur, or osteophyte, is a bony projection that grows off of the normal joint surfaces in response to stress and dysfunction. Many people have the misconception that bone spurs are sharp and painful, but they are actually smooth and are not painful in and of themselves, according to MayoClinic.com. They can cause pain, stiffness, numbness and tingling and other symptoms by putting pressure on nearby nerves or other soft tissues when they occur in the cervical spine. Because of the great range of motion in the neck, bone spurs are a common occurrence. When they become symptomatic, pinched nerves and muscle spasms can cause pain to radiate throughout the neck and up into the back of the head.
Degenerative Disc Disease
Degenerative disc disease is not actually a disease process, but is the general wear and tear of the soft spongy discs that separate each of the cervical vertebrae. When these discs are subjected to abnormal stress and strain, they begin to wear out and break down. A common result of degenerative disc disease in the cervical spine is muscle spasm. When the muscles contract involuntarily they cause pain throughout the spine and at the base of the head. According to Spine Universe, patients with a previous history of whiplash injury are six times more likely to develop this condition.
