General Neck Pain Advice 

Your neck (also known as the cervical spine) is strong and designed to move. Neck pain is very common. It can be distressing but it is rarely serious or long-term. Most people will experience neck pain in their lifetime. Most episodes improve within 12 weeks. Some people experience neck pain following an injury, whereas others have no obvious trigger.

Neck pain is often caused by irritation of muscles, joints, ligaments or other soft tissues. It is not always possible to identify the exact source of the pain, but this usually does not change how it is treated. The best approach to improve your symptoms is to stay as active as possible. There are lots of self-help treatments that you can use. Further investigations are rarely needed.

Steps to take to recovery

Adjust Activities

Try to temporarily reduce or change activities that make your pain worse. If you have had a recent injury, your neck may need a little time to settle. In the early stages avoiding irritating your neck may be helpful. Try to change position regularly and avoid prolonged static postures.

Use Ice or Heat: Some patients find this helpful to reduce their pain. If you have had a recent injury it may help to apply an ice or cold pack (15-20 minutes a few times a day in the initial 48 hours). If you have a longer-standing issue, then heat packs may help soothe some of your pain. Wrap ice or heat packs in a towel and do not place them directly onto your skin to avoid ice or heat burns.

Staying at work is good for you in the long run. If you are struggling to do your job you may want to speak to your employer about temporary changes to your duties for a few weeks. You may need short rests between tasks but try to keep doing your normal activities as best as possible.

Exercise

Consider light aerobic exercise at first such as walking, swimming, or cycling. Gentle mobility exercises and graded strength exercises can also be helpful. Start with gentle stretches to improve flexibility and range of motion. Focus on moving in a tolerable range. It is common to feel some discomfort when exercising. This does not usually mean you are causing harm, as long as your symptoms settle soon afterwards. See the Arthritis UK neck exercises which may help. 

Pain Relief

Over-the-counter medicines: Over-the-counter pain relief may help you stay active. Always follow the advice provided with the medicine.

Topical creams: Some people find topical creams or gels helpful for short-term relief of pain and stiffness.

It is important to check whether you can take these medicines. If you are unsure whether you can take these medicines, speak to a pharmacist or another healthcare professional.

The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy have further information about causes of neck pain.

To find more information on specific neck problems please select a condition to learn more. This is not an exhaustive list. We have only included the most common problems. Each page explains the condition, common symptoms, treatment options and how physiotherapy may help. If you would like further support from our team, you can refer yourself to physiotherapy. 

Neck pain is common and is influenced by our overall health. Physical activity levels, carrying excess body weight, long-term stress, and sleep quality all play a big role in neck pain. Smoking, high alcohol consumption and other lifestyle factors may also affect general health and recovery. Improving general physical and mental health can help reduce symptoms and support long-term neck health. More support with health and lifestyle factors can be found on our Your Musculoskeletal Health webpage.

Seek medical advice if:

The symptoms described in the "When to seek further advice" box can be a sign of a condition called cervical myelopathy. Although uncommon, it needs urgent medical assessment because early treatment is important. If untreated it can lead to permanent leg, arm, bladder, bowel and/or sexual dysfunction. You can find more information about degenerative cervical myelopathy on NHS inform. 

There are many causes of neck pain. Although the symptoms can be distressing, most do improve with time. There are circumstances where a medical opinion is appropriate. If you are experiencing any of the following, please contact 111 or your GP for advice.

  • Neck pain with severe dizziness, fainting, double vision, difficulty speaking or difficulty swallowing.
  • A severe new headache with neck pain, especially if you also have a fever or feel very unwell.
  • Severe pain that is getting worse, especially at night and not relieved by changing position.
  • Neck pain and new arm or leg weakness or lack of co-ordination
  • Pain that started after a serious accident, such as after a car accident
  • Neck pain and a history of previous cancer
  • Neck pain with a diagnosis of osteoporosis

When to seek further advice

Most neck pain, arm pain, numbness or weakness is not caused by a serious problem. However, new or worsening symptoms affecting your nerves or spinal cord require urgent medical assessment. 

Please contact your GP urgently if you develop any of the following:

Changes to your hands or arms

  • New or worsening weakness in your hands or arms
  • Difficulty with tasks that require hand coordination, such as fastening buttons, using cutlery or writing
  • Increased clumsiness or dropping objects

Changes to your walking or balance

  • New problems with balance or walking
  • Feeling unsteady on your feet
  • New difficulty controlling your legs

Changes to bladder or bowel function

  • New difficulty controlling your bladder or bowel
  • New changes in your ability to pass urine or open your bowels

Other concerning changes

  • Numbness or altered sensation that is getting worse or spreading
  • Symptoms that are progressively worsening over time

These symptoms can sometimes be a sign of degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM), where the spinal cord in the neck becomes compressed. Although uncommon, early assessment is important as treatment can help prevent further deterioration.