Signs and symptoms
... Your neck contains bones, joints, tendons, ligaments, muscles and nerves, any of which can hurt. Neck pain also may come from regions near the neck, such as the jaw, head and shoulders. Conversely, pr...

Causes
... Muscle strains. Overuse, such as too many hours hunched over a steering wheel, often triggers muscle strains. Neck muscles, particularly those in the back of your neck, become fatigued and eventually...

When to seek medical advice
... Muscle irritations are usually easy to self-diagnose. They typically come on after excessive activity, a period of overuse or prolonged postures that put excessive strain on your neck muscles. But the...

Screening and diagnosis
... Your doctor often will be able to diagnose the cause of your neck pain and recommend treatment just by asking questions about the type, location and onset of your pain. In less clear-cut cases, your d...