Neck pain is a common effect of aging. It may start with a slight twinge on one side of the neck or in the shoulder. Such slight twinge you may experience after awakening in the morning. Neck pain often worsens as the day goes on.

Sometimes the pain may spread down the arm to the hand. Over-the-counter pain relievers, rest, and heat applied to the area may help.

Over many years, our neck is subjected to repeated stress and minor injury. These injuries may not cause pain at the time of injury. Nevertheless, recurring injuries sum up, and can eventually cause the weakening of the cervical spine and develop neck pain.

Most neck pain is because of degenerate changes that occur in the neck. The general condition of the cervical spine usually regulates how fast you recover from an injury, and whether your neck pain will become a chronic problem.

For chronic neck, pain there may not be a quick fix or complete treatment. If you want to try to improve the problem causing pain and to slow down the degenerate process you will have to work with your health care team.

The most important thing that physician has to do in you treatment of neck pain is to find the main causes that require cure immediately. Your doctor will also try to prevent your neck pain from becoming a chronic condition. He or she will teach you how to reduce the degenerate process and avoid further injury.

- Neck pain can occur because of injury, a mechanical or muscular problem, a trapped nerve caused by a bulge in one of the discs between the vertebrae, or from arthritis of the neck.

- Neck pain can very from very slight discomfort to severe, burning pain.

- If the pain is “acute” it is called a crick in the neck, facet syndrome or muscular rheumatism.

- In case neck pain has lasted more than three months, it is termed “chronic” neck pain.

- It is more frequently seen in women than men.