Neck Pain - Differential Diagnosis

Differential Diagnosis

Neck pain may come from any of the structures in the neck including: vascular, nerve, airway, digestive, and musculature / skeletal or be referred from other areas of the body.

Major and severe causes of neck pain (roughly in order of severity) include:

• Carotid artery dissection
• Referred pain from acute coronary syndrome
• Head and neck cancer
• Infections: retropharyngeal abscess, epiglottitis, etc.
• Spinal disc herniation – protruding or bulging discs, or if severe prolapse.
• Spondylosis - degenerative arthritis and osteophytes
• Spinal stenosis – a narrowing of the spinal canal

The more common and lesser neck pain causes include:

• Stress – physical and emotional stresses
• Prolonged postures – many people fall asleep on sofas and chairs and wake with sore necks
• Minor injuries and falls – car accidents, sporting events and day to day minor injuries
• Referred pain – mostly from upper back problems
• Over-use – muscular strain is one of the most common causes
• Whiplash
• Herniated disc
• Pinched nerve

Although the causes are numerous, most are easily rectified by either professional help or using self help advice and techniques.

More causes include poor sleeping posture, torticollis, head injury, rheumatoid arthritis, Carotidynia, congenital cervical rib, mononucleosis, rubella, certain cancers, ankylosing spondylitis, cervical spine fracture, esophageal trauma, subarachnoid hemorrhage, lymphadenitis, thyroid trauma, and tracheal trauma.