Your neck is made up of vertebrae that extend from the skull to the upper torso.颈椎间盘absorb shock between the bones.

The bones, ligaments, and muscles of your neck support your head and allow for motion. Any abnormalities, inflammation, or injury can cause neck pain or stiffness.

许多人偶尔会经历颈部疼痛或僵硬。在许多情况下，它来自良好的姿势或过度使用，或者在尴尬的位置睡觉。有时，颈部疼痛是由秋季伤害引起的，接触运动或鞭打。

Most of the time, neck pain isn’t a serious condition and can be relieved within a few days.

But in some cases, neck pain can indicate serious injury or illness and require a doctor’s care.

如果你的颈部疼痛持续超过一周，是严重的，或者伴有其他症状，立即寻求医疗。

Neck pain symptoms can 范围 严重程度和持续时间。通常，颈部疼痛是尖锐的，持续几天或几周。其他时间，它可能变得慢性。你的颈部疼痛可能是温和的，而且不会与您的活动或日常生活干涉，或者可能是严重和导致残疾。

颈部疼痛的症状可能包括：

  • Stiff neck.People with neck pain often describe feeling as though their neck is“stiff” or “stuck.”Neck pain can sometimes cause a decreased range of motion.
  • Sharp pain.Neck pain may feel like sharp or “stabbing” pain that is localized to one area.
  • 移动时疼痛。Neck pain is often exacerbated by moving, twisting, or extending your cervical spine, either from side to side or up and down.
  • Radiating pain or numbness.Your neck pain may radiate to your head, trunk, shoulder, and arms. If your neck pain involves the压迫神经, you may feel numbness, tingling, or weakness in either of your arms or hands. Neck pain that is from a pinched nerve may feel like a burning or sharp pain that starts at the neck and travels down the arm. Talk with a doctor if you experience this symptom.
  • 头痛。Pain that starts in your neck may also produce a headache called a cervicogenic headache. Neck pain with a headache may also be a symptom of amigraine headache.
  • Pain when palpated.Neck pain may increase if your cervical spine is palpated (physically examined).

Neck pain or stiffness can happen for a variety of reasons.

肌张力和菌株

This is usually from activities and behaviors such as:

  • 姿势不佳
  • working at a desk for too long without changing position
  • sleeping with your neck in a bad position
  • jerking your neck during exercise

受伤

The neck is particularly vulnerable to injury, especially in falls, car accidents, and sports, where the muscles and ligaments of the neck are forced to move outside of their normal range.

如果颈部骨骼（cervical vertebrae) are fractured, the spinal cord may also be damaged. Neck injury from sudden jerking of the head is commonly called鞭打.

心脏病发作

Neck pain can also be a symptom of a心脏病发作. It often presents with other symptoms of a heart attack, such as:

If your neck hurts and you have other symptoms of heart attack, call 911 or go to the emergency room immediately.

Meningitis

Meningitisis an inflammation of the thin tissue that surrounds the brain and spinal cord. In people who have meningitis, they may experience:

  • stiff neck
  • headache
  • 恶心
  • 呕吐
  • 对光的敏感性
  • 发热

脑膜炎可能是致命的，是医疗紧急情况

如果您有脑膜炎的症状，请立即寻求医疗帮助。

Other causes

Other causes of neck pain include the following:

  • 类风湿关节炎导致疼痛、关节肿胀和骨刺s. When these occur in the neck area, neck pain can result.
  • Osteoporosis弱骨头，可以导致小骨折。这种情况经常发生在手或膝盖中，但它也可能发生在颈部。
  • Fibromyalgiais a condition that causes muscle pain throughout the body, especially in the neck and shoulder region.
  • 随着年龄的增长，宫颈盘可以堕落。这被称为脊柱轴病, or osteoarthritis of the neck. This can narrow the space between the vertebrae. It also adds stress to your joints.
  • When a disc protrudes, as from a trauma or injury, it may add pressure on the spinal cord or nerve roots. This is called aherniated cervical disc，也称为破裂或滑动的盘。
  • Spinal stenosisoccurs when the spinal column narrows and causes pressure on the spinal cord or the nerve roots as it exits the vertebrae. This can be from long-term inflammation caused by arthritis or other conditions.

在罕见的情况下，由于：

  • 先天性异常
  • 感染
  • 脓肿
  • tumors
  • 脊柱癌

If symptoms persist for more than a week, consult a doctor. Also see a doctor if you have:

  • 严重的颈部疼痛无明显原因
  • 脖子上的肿块
  • 发热
  • headache
  • 肿胀的腺体
  • 恶心
  • 呕吐
  • trouble swallowingor breathing
  • weakness
  • numbness
  • tingling
  • 疼痛that radiates down your arms or legs
  • inability to move your arms or hands
  • inability to touch your chin to your chest
  • 膀胱或肠功能障碍

如果您已经发生了意外或跌倒，并且您的颈部疼，请立即寻求医疗保健。

医生将进行体检，并带来完整的病史。准备好告诉他们症状的细节。还让医生知道您一直在采取的所有处方和柜台（OTC）药物和补充剂。

Even if it doesn’t seem related, let your doctor know about any recent injuries or accidents you’ve had, too.

颈部疼痛的治疗取决于其原因。除了彻底的历史和医生体检外，您还可能还需要以下一项或多项成像研究和测试，以帮助您的医生确定颈部疼痛的原因并进行诊断：

Depending on the results, your doctor may refer you to a specialist. Treatment for neck pain may include:

替代疗法包括：

Make sure you’re seeing a licensed professional when using these methods.

If you have minor neck pain or stiffness, take these simple steps to relieve it:

  • 前几天涂冰。之后，用a施加热量加热垫, hot compress, or by taking a hot shower.
  • TakeOTC疼痛Revievers.，如布洛芬或乙酰氨基酚。
  • Take a few days off from sports, activities that aggravate your symptoms, and heavy lifting. When you resume normal activity, do so slowly as your symptoms ease.
  • 每天锻炼你的脖子。慢慢伸展头部到侧面和上下运动。
  • Practice good posture.
  • 避免在你的脖子和肩膀之间摇篮手机。
  • Change your position often. Don’t stand or sit in one position for too long.
  • Get a gentle neck massage.
  • Use a special neck pillow for sleeping.
  • 没有医生的批准，不要使用颈部支架或衣领。如果您不正确使用它们，他们可以使您的症状更差。

Many people experience neck pain because of poor posture and muscle strain. In these cases, your neck pain should go away if you practice good posture and rest your neck muscles when they’re sore.

如果您的颈部疼痛与家庭治疗没有改善，请与医生预约。