Neck Pain

Any structure in the neck can cause pain, but the common culprits are the discs and the joints. 
Muscle spasm (tightness) happens automatically to try to protect the sore structures underneath. This muscle tightness can itself cause pain, often at the base of the skull where the neck and head meet.

Symptoms

Most people experience pain in the back of the neck, typically at the base of the neck.
Sometimes neck pain can cause headaches and even jaw and facial pain.If a nerve is irritated or trapped in the neck pain may be felt in the arm. This can be accompanied by pins and needles, numbness and weakness of the arm muscles.

Treatment 

One common problem with neck pain is associated stiffness and loss of movement. To combat this, it is important to keep the neck moving with the correct exercises. Manipulation is often useful in the early stages of a neck problem.Long term neck problems tend to be associated with muscle imbalances / weaknesses. These can be corrected with special exercises called spinal stabilisation exercises. Poor posture is also a major factor in some peoples neck pain – this needs to be corrected to take some of the strain off the neck muscles and joints.