What are the Most Common Causes of Burning Neck Pain?

Neck discomfort described as a burning pain is generally caused by poor posture, stress, repetitive motions, improper lifting, or sleeping on the stomach. These habits put stress on muscles that support the neck and maintain proper spine alignment. The pain can be described as sudden or re-occurring, but usually resolves favorably to treatment. Surgery is rarely needed for burning neck pain.

Acute neck pain appears suddenly and often comes from a soft tissue injury, such as a muscle strain. It usually goes away within a few weeks with rest and treatment. This type of pain can be caused by a damaged tendon or disc when lifting a heavy object. Acute neck pain may be treated with medication to relax the muscles and reduce inflammation.

Chronic neck pain lasts more three months or resurfaces again and again. If poor posture is the cause of burning neck pain, it can be remedied by changing body alignment. The condition is often seen in people who work on the telephone, holding the handset against the shoulder. Slouching at the computer for hours on end also contributes to this problem, along with improper neck alignment while sleeping. Therapeutic exercises, relaxation techniques, and a cervical collar, along with medication for pain, are common treatments for chronic neck pain.

Whiplash is another common cause of burning neck pain. It causes injury to the soft tissue of the neck from the rapid forward and backward motion of the head, such as during a car crash. Often, the pain is not felt immediately after an automobile accident or other forceful injury. It could be 24 hours or more before pain develops. Severe whiplash may include damage to the spine, discs, and ligaments, but this is rare.

Patients describe neck pain differently. A physician routinely checks for any underlying disease or injury when a patient complains of neck pain. Neck pain can develop from injury, spinal problems, or conditions that develop in the disc or muscle of the spine. If a vertebra is fractured or a disc in the vertebrae bulges, burning pain can occur. Several degenerative diseases also cause neck pain, including stenois, spondyloysis, and osteoarthritis.

Burning neck pain accompanied by loss of bladder control, tingling in the extremities, or numbness could signal a more serious problem like a pinched nerve or meningitis. If a fever, headache, or nausea is present, prompt medical attention is needed.