There are many causes of neck pain symptoms. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health, or NIH, neck pain can be caused by any neck structure, including muscles, ligaments, nerves, vertebrae and spinal discs. The NIH states that structures outside the neck--such as the jaw, head, shoulders and upper arms--can cause neck pain too. Neck pain is often accompanied by a reduced cervical range of motion.
Ankylosing Spondylitis
Ankylosing spondylitis can cause neck pain symptoms. According to the Spondylitis Association of America or SAA, ankylosing spondylitis is a type of arthritis that targets the spine, although it can affect other joints too.
Ankylosing spondylitis is characterized by spinal joint inflammation that causes chronic spinal pain and discomfort. In severe cases, ankylosing spondylitis-related inflammation can cause new bone to form on the spine, which in turn causes spinal fixation and immobility.
People with this ailment will possess a stooped posture, due to excessive forward spinal curvature or kyphosis. The SAA states that common signs and symptoms associated with ankylosing spondylitis include the following: spinal pain and stiffness, pain where ligaments and tendons attach to bone, eye pain, chronic stooping, fatigue, weight loss, bowel inflammation and anorexia or loss of appetite.
Fractured Vertebrae
Fractured cervical vertebrae can cause neck pain symptoms. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons or AAOS states that a fracture or break in one of the seven cervical or neck vertebrae is commonly referred to as a broken neck.
The most common cause of fractured cervical vertebrae is high-energy trauma, which may occur while playing sports such as football and hockey or during a motor vehicle accident. According to the AAOS, a cervical vertebral fracture can have life-threatening consequences, due to its proximity to the spinal cord.
Fracture-related spinal cord damage can cause paralysis from the neck down or death. Common signs and symptoms associated with fractured cervical vertebrae include severe neck pain, pain that radiates from the neck into the shoulders and arms, and bruising and swelling in the posterior or back side of the neck.
Laryngeal Cancer
Laryngeal cancer can cause neck pain symptoms. According to the National Cancer Institute or NCI, a division of the National Institutes of Health, laryngeal cancer occurs when cancer cells develop in the larynx, which is located in the front of the neck. The larynx is also known as the voice box.
Consuming tobacco and drinking excessive amounts of alcohol can increase the likelihood of developing laryngeal cancer. Two of the most common signs and symptoms associated with laryngeal cancer are a sore throat and ear pain. Other common signs and symptoms include a sore throat that fails to resolve, a lingering cough, difficulty with swallowing, ear pain, the sensation of a lump in the throat and voice hoarseness.
The NCI states that certain factors help determine the prognosis or outlook for a person with laryngeal cancer, including the disease stage, size and location of the cancer and the patient's age, gender and state of health.
