What causes neck pain after an injury?

Accident and work forces can injure the neck in several ways. The most common is whiplash — a soft-tissue strain — but neck pain can also come from herniated or bulging discs, pinched nerves, or muscle and ligament injuries. Identifying the exact cause is the first step to the right treatment.

Ligament injury is its own diagnosis: a cervical sprain tends to produce a deeper ache and a sense of instability rather than the tight, spasming pain of a pulled muscle.

Symptoms

• Neck pain and stiffness
• Reduced range of motion
• Headaches starting at the base of the skull
• Pain, numbness, or tingling radiating into the shoulder or arm

Diagnosis & treatment

We examine your neck and nerve function and image when indicated to distinguish a strain from a disc or nerve injury. Most neck pain improves without surgery using physical therapy, chiropractic care, and pain management.

Headaches starting at the base of the skull — a cervicogenic pattern of post-traumatic headache

Long Island offices & service areas

We treat neck pain across Nassau and Suffolk County from offices including Medford, Islandia, East Islip, Mineola, Bohemia, Smithtown and Stony Brook. Find your nearest office →

Not near one of our offices? We can help arrange transportation to your appointment, or coordinate your care with providers in our Long Island network — call (631) 560-8357 to ask.

Neck pain FAQ

Is my neck pain whiplash or something else?

Whiplash is the most common cause after a crash, but an exam and imaging tell whether a disc or nerve is involved — which changes the treatment plan.

Should I see a doctor if the pain started days later?

Yes. Delayed neck pain is common after an accident and should be evaluated.

Is treatment covered?

Accident-related care is billed to No-Fault and work injuries to Workers’ Comp, so eligible visits are typically $0 out of pocket.

Why do I get headaches with my neck pain?

The upper neck joints and muscles share nerve pathways with the head, so an injured neck commonly refers pain to the base of the skull and forward across the head. These cervicogenic headaches often ease when the neck itself is treated. A headache that is new, severe, or worsening after an accident should be evaluated.

What position should I sleep in with neck pain?

Most people do best on their back or side with a pillow that keeps the neck in line with the spine — not propped so high that the head is pushed forward, and not so flat that it drops back. Sleeping face down holds the neck rotated for hours and tends to aggravate symptoms. Your therapist can adjust this to the structures that were actually injured.