You know the frustration of persistent neck pain. More than 30% of adults in the United States experience neck pain annually. You want to understand why your neck hurts. This neck pain location chart helps you quickly identify potential causes based on where you feel your neck pain.
It empowers you with knowledge about your symptoms. For example, your neck pain might come from muscle strain or a pinched nerve. This chart serves as a helpful guide for initial understanding. Remember, while this chart is informative, it is not a substitute for professional medical diagnosis.
Key Takeaways
A neck pain chart helps you understand where your pain comes from. It links pain location to possible causes like muscle strain or nerve issues.
Dermatomes are skin areas linked to single spinal nerves. Understanding them helps explain why neck problems can cause pain in other body parts.
Upper, mid, and lower neck pain have different common causes. For example, upper neck pain often causes headaches, while lower neck pain can reach your middle finger.
Your body is complex, and pain varies for everyone. Sometimes, the chart is not enough. Doctors use exams and tests to find the exact cause of your neck pain.
Seek medical help for severe pain, numbness, weakness, or fever. Also see a doctor if your neck pain lasts more than three months.
Dermatomes and Neck Pain
What Are Dermatomes
You have skin covering your entire body. Specific areas of your skin receive their nerve supply from a single spinal nerve. We call these areas dermatomes. A dermatome is an area of skin supplied by sensory neurons.
These neurons originate from a spinal nerve ganglion. Think of “derma” as skin and “tome” as a segment. Each spinal nerve sends sensory signals from a particular skin segment to your brain.
A dermatome is an area of skin that receives its nerve supply from a single spinal nerve. These nerves transmit sensations, like pain, from that skin area to your central nervous system.
Each dermatome connects to a single spinal nerve. While you have 31 pairs of spinal nerves, there are only 30 dermatomes. The C1 spinal nerve typically lacks a sensory root. This means dermatomes begin with the C2 spinal nerve. Understanding dermatomes helps you pinpoint the source of your neck pain.
Dermatomes and Referred Pain
Sometimes, you feel pain in one area, but the actual problem lies somewhere else. This is called referred pain. It is different from radicular pain. Radicular pain follows a very specific nerve path. Referred pain, however, originates from structures like discs, facet joints, or muscles. It feels dull, aching, or like pressure. This type of neck pain can spread to a wide, non-dermatomal area. This makes it hard to pinpoint the exact spot.
For instance, neck pain from your cervical spine can cause pain in your chest, shoulder, or arm. This is a common pattern for referred pain. Understanding dermatomes helps you see how nerve irritation in your neck can cause pain you feel far away.
Neck Pain Location Chart: Pinpoint Causes
This neck pain location chart helps you understand where your pain comes from. You can quickly pinpoint potential causes based on where you feel your neck pain. This section breaks down common pain patterns by cervical spine level.
Upper Neck Pain (C2-C3)
You feel upper neck pain at the very top of your neck. This pain often extends to the back of your head. You might also experience pain behind your ears. Sometimes, you feel numbness on the side of your neck. This type of neck pain can also cause headaches. These are often called cervicogenic headaches. They can feel like pain radiating to your eyes.
Several factors cause this upper cervical neck pain. Muscle strain in your upper neck is a common culprit. You might have muscle spasms. Issues with your facet joints, which are small joints between your vertebrae, can also cause pain. Nerve impingement in this area leads to discomfort.
Referred pain from structures like discs or muscles can also manifest here. Cervicogenic headaches specifically stem from problems in your cervical spine. These problems involve your neck muscles, bones, or nerves. The pain refers from sensitive structures in the back of your head and upper neck. These structures include joints, ligaments, and nerve roots.
You might notice muscle imbalance patterns. For example, ‘Upper Crossed Syndrome’ involves specific muscle tightness and weakness in your cervical region. This contributes to cervicogenic headaches. Injuries to the C2-3 zygapophyseal joint can cause pain. Trauma or changes in the occipital joints of the C2 nerve also lead to discomfort.
Whiplash injuries are a common cause. Osteoarthritis, prolapsed discs, or pinched nerves can also be responsible. Sustained awkward head positions, like ‘Forward head motion’ from certain jobs, can trigger this pain. Falling asleep in an awkward position or pressing on your neck can also cause it.
Mid-Neck Pain (C4-C5)
Mid-neck pain typically affects the middle part of your neck. You might feel vague neck pain. This pain often spreads to your trapezius muscle, which is in your upper back and shoulder. Sometimes, you feel pain in your shoulder. This pain can radiate down the front of your arm to below your elbow. This is a common pattern for C5 nerve involvement. While pain related to cervical nerve roots often does not strictly follow dermatomes, C4 radicular pain can show a dermatomal pattern in some cases.
Many conditions cause mid-neck pain. Facet joint syndrome is common in this area. This condition involves pain and inflammation in your facet joints. Cartilage degeneration, repetitive movements, and poor posture contribute to this. Sports injuries and spinal disorders also play a role.
Degeneration thins your cartilage. This increases stress on your joints. It can also cause bone spurs that irritate or compress your cervical spinal nerves.
Herniated discs are another significant cause. A C4-C5 herniated disc can result from wear and tear over time. This weakens the outer layer of your disc. The C4-C5 segment is very mobile. It supports much of your neck movement. This makes it prone to motion-related injuries.
When the inner disc material pushes out, it can inflame your C5 nerve root. This impingement affects your shoulders, upper arms, and forearms. Cervical facet arthropathy, or cervical facet arthritis, also causes mid-neck pain. This involves degenerative changes in the small facet joints of your neck. These joints are crucial for neck movement. When they become inflamed or damaged, they cause pain and stiffness.
Poor posture, like ‘text neck,’ and trauma such as whiplash are common causes. Spinal stenosis, a narrowing of the spinal canal, can also cause mid-neck pain. This compresses your spinal cord and nerves. It leads to pain, balance issues, and reduced mobility. Degenerative disc disease also causes chronic neck pain, stiffness, and limited range of motion.
Lower Neck Pain (C6-C7)
You feel lower neck pain at the base of your neck. This pain often extends to your shoulders. It can radiate down your arm to your middle finger. You might describe this pain as sharp or burning.
It can increase with certain neck movements, like extending or straining. You may also experience numbness and tingling. This sensation often occurs in the back of your arm and your middle finger. Sometimes, you feel numbness in your palm, index finger, and middle finger. You might also have a dull ache or burning pain in your lower cervical area. Neck stiffness often accompanies this pain. The C7 dermatome covers skin areas on your shoulders, the back of your arms, and your middle finger.
C6-C7 disc herniation is a primary cause of this neck pain. The inner disc material can leak into your spinal canal. This forms a hernia. This hernia can contact your C7 nerve. This leads to pinching and inflammation. Trauma or injury to your cervical spine can cause cervical herniation.
Age-related degeneration and natural wear and tear also contribute. Over time, the ligaments connecting your disc to your vertebrae become less flexible. This makes them prone to tearing with minimal force. These are common possible causes of neck pain in this region.
Neck to Upper Back Pain (C8-T1)
Pain from your lower neck can extend into your upper back. This pain often affects your outer forearm. It can also reach the pinky side of your hand. You might feel tingling or numbness in these areas. Weakness can also occur in your finger flexors. This affects your handgrip.
Other associated muscles might also feel weak. The ulnar nerve carries C8-T1 fibers. It provides sensation to your fourth and fifth fingers. It also supplies the medial border of your hand. The medial antebrachial cutaneous nerve provides sensation to your medial forearm.
Cervical radiculopathy is a common cause of neck to upper back pain. This involves neurological dysfunction. It results from compression and inflammation of your cervical spinal nerves or nerve roots. Cervical disc herniation and cervical spondylosis are the most frequent causes.
Herniated discs account for a significant portion of cervical radiculopathy cases. Cervical spondylosis also contributes. This results from age-related degenerative changes. These changes decrease disc height. They can narrow the foramina, which are openings for nerves.
They can also cause bone spurs. All these factors compress your nerve roots. Compression of the C8 nerve root, often from a cervical herniated disc, leads to these symptoms. This neck pain location chart helps you identify these patterns. Cervical spine injuries can also lead to these issues.
| Region | Anatomical Area | Common Causes | Typical Symptoms | Pain Radiation / Related Areas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Upper Neck (C1–C2) | Just below the skull base (suboccipital area) | Poor posture, tension headaches, whiplash, atlas-axis dysfunction | Stiffness at skull base, headaches, dizziness | Radiates to back of the head, temples, and eyes |
| Mid Neck (C3–C5) | Middle portion of the neck, around the larynx area | Cervical spondylosis, muscle strain, facet joint irritation | Local stiffness, dull or aching pain, reduced range of motion | May radiate to shoulders or upper back |
| Lower Neck (C6–C7) | Base of neck near shoulders | Disc herniation, nerve compression, arthritis | Sharp or shooting pain, tingling, weakness | Radiates to shoulder blades, arms, or hands |
| Anterior Neck (Front) | Throat and front of cervical spine | Infection, thyroid issues, lymph node inflammation, trauma | Pain or swelling in throat, difficulty swallowing | Radiates to jaw or chest (in severe cases) |
| Posterior Neck (Back) | Nape of neck to upper back | Muscle strain, poor posture, tension headaches | Dull ache, stiffness, limited extension | May spread to upper back or occiput |
| Lateral Neck (Sides) | Along sternocleidomastoid (SCM) and scalene muscles | Muscle strain, lymphadenopathy, nerve entrapment | Tightness, tenderness, sometimes numbness | May radiate to shoulder or jaw |
| Cervicothoracic Junction (C7–T1) | Transition between neck and upper back | Postural strain, degenerative disc disease | Deep ache, stiffness, fatigue | May radiate into upper thoracic spine or scapular region |
Beyond the Chart: Key Considerations
You now understand how a neck pain location chart helps. However, you must know that your body is complex.
Several factors can influence your neck pain. The chart is a great starting point. You need to consider other things for a full picture of your neck pain.
Overlapping Symptoms
Sometimes, your neck pain symptoms can overlap. This means different conditions might cause similar feelings.
For example, a muscle strain and a minor disc bulge can both cause localized neck pain. You might feel a dull ache. You might also experience stiffness. This makes it hard to tell the exact cause from symptoms alone. You might have neck pain that spreads. This spreading pain can come from multiple sources. You need to consider all possibilities.
Individual Pain Variations
Your experience of neck pain is unique. Everyone feels pain differently. What one person describes as a sharp pain, you might describe as a burning sensation. Your pain tolerance also varies. Your emotional state can even affect how you perceive neck pain. This means two people with the same injury might report very different levels of neck pain. Your lifestyle, stress levels, and overall health play a role.
When Location Isn’t Enough
The neck pain chart gives you valuable clues. Sometimes, pinpointing the exact cause of your neck pain needs more investigation. Your doctor uses additional diagnostic tools. These tools help them understand your neck pain better.
Physical Exam Maneuvers:
Straight leg raise (SLR) test: Doctors use this for lumbar radiculopathy or sciatic nerve irritation.
Dermatomal sensory loss/Myotomal deficit: This indicates nerve root compression or damage.
Musculoskeletal maneuvers: These aim for anatomic localization of the pain driver. Examples include facet loading and sacroiliac joint maneuvers.
Investigations:
NCS/EMG (Nerve Conduction Studies/Electromyography): These detect neuropathy or radiculopathy.
Quantitative Sensory Testing: This provides a ‘sensory fingerprint’ of your pain mechanism.
MRI imaging: This identifies degenerative changes causing your pain syndrome.
Patient Questionnaires: Doctors use these for a symptom-oriented approach. They help identify a neuropathic component within your pain syndrome. Examples include ID Pain, LANSS, PainDETECT, DN4, and NPQ.
Diagnostic nerve blocks are a crucial tool. They help physicians pinpoint the specific source of your neck pain. They do this by selectively blocking pain signals along nerves. This method works with other diagnostic tools. These include imaging studies or electromyography. This provides a comprehensive evaluation of your neck pain condition. It ensures an accurate diagnosis.
When to Seek Medical Advice
You now understand many causes of neck pain. Sometimes, your neck pain needs a doctor’s attention. Knowing when to seek medical help is very important.
Red Flag Symptoms
Certain symptoms with your neck pain signal a serious problem. You need immediate medical attention if you experience these “red flag” symptoms.
Severe pain after injury: If you have severe neck pain after a car accident, sports injury, or fall, see a doctor right away.
Radiating pain, numbness, or weakness: Pain that shoots down your arms or legs, or new numbness and tingling, can mean nerve damage. Sudden weakness, especially on one side of your body, needs urgent evaluation. This could signal a stroke or other serious condition.
Systemic symptoms: Fever, unexplained weight loss, nausea, or trouble with balance and coordination are serious signs. A high fever with a stiff neck also needs immediate care.
Loss of control: If you suddenly lose bladder or bowel control with neck pain, seek help immediately.
Vision or speech changes: Trouble speaking or sudden vision changes with neck pain are urgent.
Persistent numbness: Numbness that is frequent, worsening, or affects both sides of your body needs checking.
These signs mean your neck pain might be more than just a muscle strain.
When Chronic Neck Pain Lingers
Your neck pain might not be an emergency, but it can still be a problem. If your neck pain lasts a long time, you need professional help. Doctors define chronic neck pain as pain that continues for more than three months. Some definitions say it lasts more than six months.
If your neck pain does not improve after a few days of rest and home care, or if it gets worse, see a doctor.
Delaying evaluation for persistent neck pain carries risks. Your pain can intensify. It can interfere with your daily activities, work, and sleep. Ignoring neck pain can lead to headaches, arm pain, or even depression. Persistent neck pain might also signal a more complex issue, like a herniated disc or nerve compression.
Delayed treatment for a compressed nerve can cause shooting pain, muscle weakness, and even permanent damage. Addressing your neck pain promptly often leads to quicker recovery. A professional assessment helps identify the root causes and prevents your neck issues from becoming chronic neck pain or more complicated. You need proper diagnosis and treatment to manage your neck pain effectively.
