Possible causes of Neck ache or pain

40 conditions can cause this symptom. Most common are listed first.

• Cervical spine fracture (broken neck bone) Common Urgent Pediatric
• Cervical spine stenosis (neck spinal stenosis) Common
• Cervical spondylosis (neck arthritis) Common
• Herniated disc (slipped disc, ruptured disc) Common
• Torticollis, spasmodic (neck muscle spasm) Common Pediatric
• Whiplash injury Common Pediatric
• Brachial plexus injury (shoulder nerve injury) Pediatric
• Central cord syndrome (traumatic spine injury) Urgent
• Thyroid cancer
• Thyroiditis (thyroid inflammation)
• Abrasions
• Adhesive capsulitis of shoulder (frozen shoulder)
• Ankylosing spondylitis (spine arthritis)
• Arthritis (joint swelling)
• Back trauma (injury)
• Carotid artery dissection (tear) Urgent
• Cellulitis (skin infection)
• Cervical radiculopathy (pinched nerve in neck)
• Contusion (bruise)
• Discitis (back inflammation or infection) Urgent
• Enlarged lymph nodes (lymphadenopathy)
• Esophagitis (esophageal inflammation)
• Fibromyalgia
• Goiter (enlarged thyroid)
• Head injury Urgent
• Ligament sprain
• Meningitis (brain spine infection) Urgent
• Migraine
• Muscle spasm (charley horse)
• Muscle strain (pulled muscle)
• Neck trauma (injury) Urgent
• Osteoarthritis
• Peripheral neuropathy (nerve dysfunction)
• Retropharyngeal abscess (throat abscess) Urgent
• Rotator cuff syndrome (shoulder injury)
• Shingles (herpes zoster)
• Spinal abscess (collection of pus) Urgent
• Spinal cord injury, acute Urgent
• Tension headache (stress headache)
• Vertebral artery dissection (neck artery tear) Urgent