The phrase "pain in the neck" is a figure of speech. However, neck pain is real and can be debilitating. The causes of neck pain vary widely. You can often remedy neck pain by correcting your posture or making simple adjustments in the placement of your computer monitor, according to Health Works Rehab and Fitness. In other instances, neck pain is a symptom of a serious disorder that demands immediate medical attention.
Muscle Strain
Poor posture combined with long hours in front of a computer screen is a major cause of neck strain, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Spending long periods of time with your head bent forward puts strain on your neck muscles, causing pain. Even sleeping in an uncomfortable position can cause neck pain.
Many children and teenagers suffer neck and back strain from carrying backpacks that are too heavy, KidsHealth.org claims. In addition, many kids carry the entire weight of their backpacks over one shoulder, which results in uneven weight distribution. Carrying briefcases and heavy bags of groceries can also result in neck strain, according to the HealthWorks Rehab and Fitness website.
Spinal Compression and Wear
With age, your vertebrae can experience wear, resulting in osteoarthritis and neck pain, according to MayoClinic.com. Nerve compression resulting in stiffened or herniated disks, as well as bone spurs, can also result in neck pain. Herniated discs, also known as slipped discs, and spinal stenosis, or narrowing of the spinal cord, can also cause neck pain, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center website.
Meningitis
Meningitis occurs in two forms: viral and bacterial. With both types of meningitis, symptoms include a stiff neck accompanied by nausea and sensitivity to light. The only means of determining whether you have viral or bacterial meningitis is through a medical examination, including spinal fluid testing, according to MayoClinic.com.
Viral meningitis victims usually heal on their own, although symptoms may persist, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Bacterial meningitis can cause permanent brain damage or death within days without proper treatment with antibiotics, MayoClinic.com warns. One variety of bacterial meningitis, meningococcal meningitis, can occur in young people in close environments such as schools or college dormitories, the University of Maryland Medical Center website explains.
Whiplash
Whiplash is a common cause of neck pain. Whiplash occurs when the head is thrown suddenly thrown forward, then backward, resulting in injury, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center website. Common cases of whiplash include rear-end car collisions, injuries from sports, and abuse such as shaken baby syndrome, MayoClinic.com states. Approximately half of all whiplash victims suffer continued pain for months after their original injuries.
