Neck problems can cause a range of symptoms including:
In many cases, new or flare-up of long-standing neck problems should begin to settle within 6 weeks without the need to see a healthcare professional.
Neck problems are normally caused by an accident or normal age-related changes. They can also start for no obvious reason.
Neck problems are rarely due to any serious disease or damage.
Often neck problems can be accompanied by pain in your upper back or arms.
Pain sensations can include hot, burning, shooting, or stabbing pain in your shoulders or into one or both of your arms.
Neck pain can also cause headaches.
There are a number of things you can do to help your neck problem.
Keeping your neck moving is an essential part of your treatment and recovery.
After a neck problem you should:
Use of a collar isn’t recommended.
Keeping active’s the single best thing you can do for your general health.
Being physically active can:
Avoid sports or heavy lifting until you have less discomfort and good movement. Remember to warm up before sports.
It’s beneficial to do specific exercises that can help in your recovery. They may be challenging at the beginning so just do what you can and try to build it up over time.
Exercises to help with neck problems
The following can help to reduce the pain:
More about taking painkillers.
Remember to never place ice or heat directly on your skin. Use a barrier, such as a towel, to protect your skin from a burn. How long you use ice as a treatment can depend on the painful area but generally up to 15 minutes leaving a few hours between treatments.
You should stop treating the area with ice or heat and seek advice from a medical professional if you notice an increase in redness, discolouration or blistering of the skin.
If you have any issues with circulation or sensation, you shouldn’t use ice or heat as a treatment for neck pain.
It’s easy to start worrying about all the possible things that could be wrong, but research has shown that most neck pain settles with time.
Keeping as active as possible helps you to cope better and get back to your usual activities more quickly.
It’s recommended you stay at or return to work as quickly as possible during your recovery. This is important and usually the best way to get better. You don’t need to be pain and symptom-free to return to work.
You should speak to your employer to see if you need any workplace adjustments.
Following this advice, you should see gradual improvements over time.
You should see the biggest change in your symptoms within the first couple of weeks. Most problems should have improved within 6 weeks.
If your neck problem hasn’t improved within 6 weeks of following this advice, it’s a good idea to talk to a healthcare professional about your symptoms.
Last updated:
02 February 2023