According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of the Health or NIH, neck pain may be caused by nerve injuries, which can lead to numbness, tingling, weakness and pain in the arm and hand on the affected side. Simultaneous neck and arm pain usually indicates problems with one or more spinal nerve roots--offshoots of the spinal cord. Nerve root compression can cause significant neck and arm pain.
Cervical Disc Herniations
A cervical disc herniation occurs when a portion of a cervical or neck intervertebral disc--the gel-like nucleus pulposus--breaks through the disc's outer ring, the annulus fibrosus. If the herniated disc material protrudes into the intervertebral foramen--a hole through which spinal nerve roots exit the spinal column--it can compress a nerve root and cause neck and arm pain and other symptoms. Common signs and symptoms associated with a cervical disc herniation include the following: dull or sharp pain in the neck and between the shoulder blades; pain that radiates into the arm, hand or fingers; and numbness, tingling or weakness in the upper extremity on the involved side. Certain head and neck positions can make the pain worse.
Degenerative Joint Disease
The Merck Manuals Online Medical Library states that degenerative joint disease, also known as osteoarthritis or hypertrophic osteoarthritis, is a chronic condition that damages joint cartilage and nearby tissues. Degenerative joint disease is associated with joint pain, stiffness and reduced range of motion. The body's tissues respond to the damage caused by degenerative joint disease by generating more cartilage, bone and other tissue. In fact, degenerative joint disease can cause bone spurs to form at the edges of a joint. If large enough, the bone spurs can affect the spinal nerve roots as they exit the spinal column through the intervertebral foramen. Common signs and symptoms associated with cervical spine degenerative joint disease include neck and arm pain, neck tenderness and stiffness, and reduced range of motion in the neck.
Spinal Tumors
According to MayoClinic.com, spinal tumors are malignant or benign growths that manifest in or around the spinal cord or within the vertebrae or spinal bones. Spinal tumors are an extremely rare source of neck and arm pain. In most parts of the body, benign tumors are not problematic. The spine, including the neck, however, is an exception, as a spinal tumor can affect the spinal nerve roots or the spine itself, causing spinal and extremity pain, neurological problems and, in severe cases, even paralysis. Common signs and symptoms associated with cervical spine tumors include neck pain that radiates into one of the upper extremities, arm muscle weakness, and reduced sensitivity to pain and temperature extremes. Tumor-related signs and symptoms largely depend on the type and location of the tumor.
