Why Am I Suddenly Getting Neck Pain?

Your neck (cervical spine) is a highly coordinated system of bones, joints, discs, muscles, ligaments, and nerves that support and stabilize your head and allow you to move it easily. While this hard-working structure is inherently strong, flexible, and resilient, it’s also prone to various pain conditions. 

When neck pain comes on suddenly or unexpectedly — particularly if it’s persistent, severe, radiating, limiting, or all the above — you want relief ASAP. 

Our Spine Care of Manassas Chiropractic Center team can help. Read on as Dr. Lincoln German and Dr. Mikaela Foley explore common causes of acute neck pain and explain how getting to the bottom of the problem quickly can help you resolve it before it becomes a chronic concern. 

A common and disruptive problem

Neck pain (cervicalgia) is common, affecting up to one in five adults (20%) in the United States at any given time. For some, neck pain is a mild, periodic problem that seems to manifest during tension and stress; for others, it’s an ongoing condition that limits their daily activities and diminishes their quality of life.  

Neck pain has many potential causes, and the nature and severity of the underlying issue influence the nature and severity of your symptoms. When you’re dealing with neck pain that seems to have emerged out of nowhere, you might experience:

• A persistent ache along the back of your neck
• Stabbing or burning pain in your neck muscles
• Neck pain that radiates into your shoulders
• Tingling sensations in your shoulders or arms
• Stiffness in your neck, upper back, or shoulders
• Limited ability to turn your neck or tilt your head

Essentially, neck pain may feel sharp, tender, or sore in just one spot or less intense but spread across a broader area. Sometimes, it may trigger a headache or muscle spasms in the neck, upper back, or shoulders. 

Why does my neck suddenly hurt?

Acute (short-term) neck pain is characterized by its sudden onset and brief duration — it usually heals within several days to a few weeks and, by definition, doesn’t last longer than three months. Most cases of sudden neck pain are caused by one of the following:

Poor posture

A top cause of sudden neck pain is muscle strain brought on by poor posture. In today’s world, most cases of cervical muscle strain are a sign of “tech neck,” or the forward head posture that occurs when you’re hunched over a computer or smartphone screen. 

Bad sleep position 

If you sleep with your head twisted or at a bad angle, you can also strain your neck muscles at night and wake up in the morning with a stiff, achy neck. 

High-stress levels

Sudden acute neck pain can also result from ongoing stress and is associated with increased neck muscle tension — most people reflexively tighten their neck muscles when feeling stressed or agitated. 

Muscle overexertion 

A painful neck strain can occur when you overexert yourself while lifting something heavy or engage in a strenuous or repetitive activity you’re not fully conditioned for (i.e., sports, yard work). 

Traumatic injury 

 Any sudden impact — whether in a car collision, during an accidental fall, or on the sports field — can rapidly jar your head and cervical spine and give rise to sudden neck pain (immediately or later). 

These “whiplash” injuries may involve muscle or tendon strains, ligament sprains, disc, bone, and nerve damage, or all the above.    

Neck pain evaluation and diagnosis

Fortunately, our team can accurately diagnose most cases of acute neck pain with a physical exam, medical history, and detailed symptom review. After ruling out more serious causes of sudden neck pain, like a spinal infection, we:

• Discuss the onset and nature of your neck pain
• Ask about your habits, activities, and stress levels
• Discuss any recent injuries, accidents, or trauma
• Evaluate your head and neck range of motion
• Check for muscle spasms and signs of tenderness
• Assess your normal seated and standing posture

Suppose our initial assessment suggests that your neck pain could result from something beyond basic muscle strain. In that case, we may conduct diagnostic imaging tests to visualize your cervical spine and its supporting tissues. 

An evaluation for acute neck pain sometimes reveals deeper issues, like the onset of arthritis or degenerative disc disease — particularly among middle-aged and older adults. No matter what we find, an accurate diagnosis is the first step toward lasting relief.   

Holistic care for long-lasting relief 

When acute neck pain stems from minor muscle strain, as most cases do, you can expect it to resolve within a few days with a little TLC. Our team can help accelerate pain relief with massage therapy, cold laser therapy, and postural rehabilitation activities.

If your sudden neck pain is related to a recent injury, see us right away. Early treatment can mean the difference between going on to a full recovery or dealing with lingering pain that leads to chronic neck problems.   

Dealing with sudden neck pain? We can help. Call or click online to schedule a visit at Spine Care of Manassas Chiropractic Center in Manassas, Virginia, today.