Pain in the neck can be due to injury, a mechanical or muscular problem, trapped nerve or from arthritis of the neck. The pain can range from very mild discomfort to severe, burning pain.

If the pain is 'acute' - sudden and intense - it is called a crick in the neck, facet syndrome or muscular rheumatism but if the pain has lasted more than three months, it is termed 'chronic' neck pain.

Neck pain is a very common condition and is more frequently seen in women than men, most people will experience pain in the neck at some point in their life.

The neck is very likely to get injured because of the constant pressure from supporting the head any number of incidents can cause the neck pain including:

• trauma or injury
• worry and stress
• falling asleep in an awkward position
• prolonged use of a computer keyboard
• Motor vehicle accident
• Contact supports

Neck pain can have many curses from abnormalities in the soft tissue to a pinched nerve, neck pain can also be caused by diseases such as degenerative disc disease or Osteoarthritiss which usually occurs in old people due to wear and tear of the bones and joints.

The pain is general pain located in the neck area as well as stiffness in the neck muscles and may radiate down to the shoulder or between the shoulder blades.

Acute pain can give rise to abnormal neck posture in which the head is forced to turn to one side; this condition is known as torticollis and the pain at the base of the skull may be accompanied by a feeling of weakness in the shoulders and arms. There may be a prickly or tingling sensation in the arms and fingers.

The most common injury usually occur to the soft tissue of the neck and can recover in a few weeks however the more severe injury including fractures may damage the spinal cord and result the damage could be paralysing.