Neck pain accounts for almost 1% of all visits to a primary care physician in the United States and may result from abnormalities in the soft tissues – the muscles, ligaments, and nerves – as well as in bones and joints of the spine. Neck pain can last for a few hours or weeks, in which case it is referred to as acute, or it can last longer and is then considered chronic.

Conditions causing neck pain are in many cases caused by abnormalities in the cervical spine. The cervical spine begins at the base of the skull and includes seven vertebrae (bones) and eight pairs of cervical nerves. You will see surgeons and physicians, such as Dr. Karahalios, refer to the vertebrae and nerves in the cervical spine as C1, C2, C3, C4, C5, C6 and C7 (nerves go through C8). The vertebrae of the cervical spine are smaller than the bones in the rest of the spine. Like all vertebrae, the ones in the cervical spine are designed to protect the spinal cord. The cervical spine vertebrae also support the skull and allow the head to rotate from side to side and bend from front to back.

The most common cervical spinal conditions are the following:

Many causes of neck pain are not serious. Poor posture, various sporting activities, and stress are all contributors to simple neck pain. However, in some instances, neck pain can indicate a more serious condition. Consult your physician or spine specialist, such as Dr. Karahalios, if you have very severe neck pain or if it has persisted for several weeks.