Neck pain

What is neck pain?

Neck pain can be caused by many different illnesses or conditions. It may be caused by a muscle strain. A less common cause of neck pain is swollen lymph nodes. Monitor your child's pain closely. Persistent or worsening neck pain can be a sign of a more serious problem.

Symptoms

Symptoms that a child with neck pain experiences depends on the cause. They may have:

• pain in the back of the neck
• pain around the shoulder blades
• limited movement of the neck
  
• their head tilted slightly to one side
• swollen glands on the side of the neck that are tender to the touch

Soreness on one side of the neck differs from a stiff neck. If your child has a stiff neck, they may find it difficult to bend their neck forward to touch their chest with their chin.

Causes

Neck pain is most often caused by a muscle strain. Your child may have strained their neck by sleeping awkwardly or turning their head quickly. They may have been sitting in front of the computer for long periods of time, playing sports or doing other activities.

A sore neck and a fever may be early signs of an infected lymph node or a throat infection, but a stiff neck in a child with a fever can be a serious, early sign of meningitis.

Treatment for neck pain caused by muscle strain

Pain relief

Give your child acetaminophen or ibuprofen as directed by your child's health-care provider until they have 24 hours without any pain.

Heat

Apply a hot water bottle or heating pad to your child's neck for 20 minutes. This will help relieve muscle spasm. Repeat this up to six times daily if needed.

Sleeping position

Instead of using a pillow, have your child sleep with a "soft collar" or a rolled towel around their neck. This will stop their head from moving too much when they are sleeping. A "bean-bag" or buck-wheat-filled pillow may also help.

Exercise

Your child should avoid any neck exercises or physical activity until they are feeling better. Impact or high-risk sports should be avoided until they can move their neck without pain.

Prevention

Encourage your child to stretch the muscles in their neck before any physical activity. Helpful exercises include:

• touching the chin to each shoulder
• touching the ear to each shoulder
• slowly moving the head forward and backward

Do not apply any resistance to the head during these exercises.

When to see a health-care provider

Make an appointment with your child's health-care provider if:

• your child has a tender swollen lymph node or sore throat with fever
  
• the pain is unexplained and lasts three or four days
• the pain disappears for short periods of time but keeps coming back
• your child finds it hard to carry out daily activities

Go to the nearest Emergency Department or call 911 if:

• the pain is severe and lasts more than two hours after taking pain medication
• numbness occurs in the arms or back
• your child has a stiff neck and a fever over 38°C (100.4°F)
  
• your child is acting very sick

If your child injured their neck in a car accident, trampoline fall or high-impact activity, this may be a sign of a serious neck injury. Call 911 right away.