What is cervical spine pain?

23 January 2026

This type of pain is quite frequent, and its origin can be due to multiple causes, ranging from muscular, bone, nerve, or ligament problems, to conditions that have nothing to do with the musculoskeletal system.

Cervical spine pain, neck pain, or cervicalgia, usually occurs in the neck area, although it can sometimes radiate to the head, arms, or back, causing numbness in the hands.

Among the most frequent causes are:

  • Trauma and muscular or ligament injuries.
  • Osteoarthritis.
  • Cervical stenosis.
  • Fibromyalgia.
  • Disc herniation.
  • Muscle spasms.
  • Cervical spondylosis.

Other possible causes unrelated to the musculoskeletal system include:

  • Spinal infections.
  • Heart attack.
  • Angina pectoris (chest pain).
  • Dissection of a neck artery.
  • Meningitis.
  • Spinal tumors.

Signs and symptoms Cervical Spine Pain

  • Sore neck.
  • Limited range of motion.
  • Headache (migraine).
  • Dizziness.
  • Nausea.
  • Stiffness.

When the following symptoms are present, they may be indicative of a serious condition, making immediate consultation important:

  • Weakness.
  • High temperature (fever).
  • Lack of strength in the limbs.
  • Confusion.
  • Drowsiness.
  • Chest pain.

Diagnosis and treatment Cervical Spine Pain

After the doctor analyzes your symptoms and clinical history, they will perform a physical examination and a series of tests to determine the cause of the neck pain, including X-rays, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT scan), electromyography (EMG), and nerve conduction studies.

The treatment to follow will depend on the cause of the condition, but generally includes analgesics, anti-inflammatories, physiotherapy, and in severe cases, surgery.

At the Center for Orthopedics and Traumatology, we seek to improve the lives of patients restricted or immobilized by musculoskeletal disorders or injuries. We specialize in the care of the locomotor system by integrating the latest medical, biological, and technological advances, in strict adherence to the highest international standards of patient care.

Related centers and departments Cervical Spine Pain

Orthopedics and Traumatology Center
High Specialty Surgery Center
Radiology and Molecular Imaging
Clinical Laboratory

Sources:

  • cun.es
  • topdoctors.es
  • elsevier.es
  • middlesexhealth.org
  • mayoclinic.org
  • medlineplus.gov
  • msdmanuals.com
  • medigraphic.com
  • Pila BM. Fractura cervical subaxial de C7. Rev Cubana Neurol Neurocir. 2021;11(2):1-12.
  • Horta TEE, Acosta GLC, Mejías SDA, et al. Fusión cervical anterior C2-C3 para espondilolistesis traumática del axis grado III. Revista Cubana de Ortopedia y Traumatología. 2020;34(1):1-9.
  • González RPP, Pérez RJ, Mantilla HJP. Síndrome de la apófisis odontoides coronada, una manifestación inusual de dolor cervical Presentación de un caso. Rev Fac Med UNAM. 2020;63(3):23-25.

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