Neck pain is one of the most common types of pain after low back pain. Around 20% of people worldwide have this problem, but it is often not reported in mild cases.
This type of pain may be located in the neck only or be radiated to the arms or another part of the body. It can be located on the posterior part of the neck -in which case it is probably a muscular or spinal problem- but it could also be found on the anterior part of the neck.
The anterior part of the neck has many structures, and pain located in this area may have different causes. So, besides muscular and skeletal problems, we should also consider things like thyroid disease, swollen lymph nodes, and sometimes meningitis.
In this article, we’re going through different causes of neck pain. Then, we’re pointing out a few symptoms that people typically report in each case.
1What causes neck pain
For educational purposes, let us divide the causes of neck pain into anterior and posterior neck pain. Then, we will go through different causes for each one:
Causes of pain in the front neck
- Tonsil, larynx, or pharynx inflammation: The tonsils, pharynx, and larynx are located in the neck area. When they are inflamed, they usually cause a type of sore or burning pain. It is a sore throat that may compromise our ability to swallow and is often accompanied by symptoms such as fever and malaise.
