At some point in life, most adults experience some level of neck pain. Whether you woke up in the morning with a “crick in your neck” or you have felt the constant dull pain of a spine condition, you understand the frustration neck pain can cause.
Regardless of the cause of neck pain, the discomfort often originates in the cervical spine — the top seven vertebrae of the backbone. The cervical spine’s first vertebra is located at the base of the skull, and the seventh cervical vertebra is located at approximately shoulder level. A small pulled muscle near the spine or a more severe damaged disc within the spine can equally press against a nearby nerve root, causing your pain. Being able to identify the symptoms of your neck pain may help you determine if your pain is caused by a minute injury or a more serious spine condition.