What Causes Neck Pain and When to Seek Care

At Michigan Avenue Primary Care, our team sees neck pain every day — whether it’s from a sports injury, tension from screen time, or something more serious. Understanding the “why” behind your pain is the first step to relief, and knowing when it’s time to turn to us can keep minor problems from growing into major ones.

Common causes treated at our practice

Different types of neck pain stem from various sources. We group them into major categories to help you see where your pain might fit — and what we can do about it.

Muscle and ligament strain

This is the most frequent culprit. Poor posture, heavy backpacks, awkward sleeping positions, or overuse in workouts can pull your neck out of alignment and leave you stiff and sore.

At Michigan Avenue, we assess how your daily habits might be fueling the issue and help correct them.

Nerve irritation or disc problems

When a cervical disc bulges or a nerve gets pinched, you may feel sharp pain, tingling, numbness, or weakness in your arm or hand.

We’ll evaluate your symptoms and may use imaging or refer you to the right specialist if needed.

Degenerative or structural conditions

With age or wear-and-tear — like arthritis, spinal stenosis, or vertebral changes — neck pain can emerge more gradually and persistently. We’ll work with you on managing this long-term while preserving function and comfort.

Injury or trauma

Falls, car collisions, sports injuries, or sudden impact can cause fractures, whiplash, or soft-tissue damage. These need prompt injury assessment.

If you’ve been in an accident and your neck is acting up, we’re ready to evaluate what’s going on.

When it’s time to seek professional care

Some neck pain you can treat at home — rest, ice, stretching — but other signs call for prompt evaluation. Knowing the difference matters.

Look out for:

• Pain that lasts more than several weeks or gets worse
• Tingling, numbness, or weakness in your arms or hands
• Headache with fever or stiff neck
• Trouble breathing, swallowing, or sudden balance issues
• Neck pain after a significant injury or trauma

Any of these should prompt an appointment at Michigan Avenue Immediate Care or even an emergency evaluation.

We take these red flags seriously, and we act with urgency when needed.

How we ease your mind — and your neck pain

Once you schedule with us, here’s how we support your journey:

• Comprehensive evaluation to identify your cause
• Personalized management plan: posture correction, movement, sleep habits, ergonomic adjustments
• Access to imaging and diagnostic tools on-site or via our network
• Referral networks to physical therapy, spine specialists, or pain management as needed
• Ongoing follow-ups so your neck stays on track — not just a quick fix

Neck pain doesn’t have to slow you down or become a constant burden. With the right care and timely action, you can restore your comfort and keep your head held high.

Call or request an appointment online at Michigan Avenue Primary Care or Michigan Avenue Immediate Care in Chicago, Illinois, and let us help you get back to full-neck comfort and full confidence.