Neck Pain: Causes and Treatment Options

Clinically reviewed by Dr. Seth Hill, DC, President, Auto Injury Chiropractic. Last reviewed October 2026.

Between 30 and 50 percent of adults have neck pain in a given year, and it is more common in women than in men. Even when it goes away, it often comes back.

At Auto Injury Chiropractic, we treat neck pain every day, and we put this short guide together to help.

How to fix neck pain

Three things that help with neck pain:

1. Use heat or a cold pack for short-term comfort

Either can take the edge off for a while. Use it to help you keep moving, not as a treatment on its own.

2. Start exercising

Some research suggests that exercise and stretching help with neck pain. A 2025 review of 35 research reviews found high-confidence evidence that manual therapy combined with exercise works better than either one alone for neck pain (Reynolds et al., 2025).

3. See a chiropractor for neck pain

If your neck pain started after a car accident, see a chiropractor (and a massage therapist) soon, because it may be whiplash. Blurred vision, ringing in the ears, or memory problems after a crash can point to a concussion and need prompt evaluation. Our chiropractors examine you to find the cause and treat it.

What causes neck pain?

Swollen muscles
Muscle strain
Arthritis
Disc problems
Motor vehicle accident injuries

How long does a stiff neck last?

Neck stiffness and the symptoms that come with it (limited motion, tenderness) can last from a couple of days to several weeks or more, depending on the cause and whether you get treatment. If it doesn't settle, or if it started after a car accident, book an exam within a few days.

At each of our clinics, we examine you to find out what is going on and build a treatment plan around it.