Neck pain most often comes from tense muscles when you work at a screen and from wear in the vertebrae over the years.
A stiff neck usually comes on suddenly, after sleeping in an awkward position, and passes within days. Pain that builds slowly and keeps coming back is more often linked to posture, work and stress. When the arm goes numb, a nerve is probably affected.
Which page to read
- The neck is stiff and hurts towards the shoulders or the back of the head, sometimes with a headache: neck pain.
- The neck has been stiff for years, the X-ray shows wear, and the pain sometimes runs down the arm: cervical spondylosis (osteochondrosis).
When to start with a consultation
If the pain lasts more than a few weeks or your arm goes numb, start with a consultation to find out where it comes from. Weakness in the arm, an unsteady walk, or dizziness with double vision are reasons to see a doctor first.