Injury : The neck injury due to falls, sports or sudden jerking of the head that is whiplash.

Heart attack. Neck pain can also be a symptom of a heart attack if it has other symptoms like shortness of breath, sweating, vomiting or jaw pain

Rheumatoid arthritis causes pain, swelling of the joints, and bone spurs. When these occur in the neck area, neck pain can result.

Osteoporosis weakens bones and can lead to small fractures. This condition often happens in hands or knees, but it can also occur in the neck

Fibromyalgia is a condition that causes muscle pain throughout the body, especially in the neck and shoulder region.

Spondylosis, or osteoarthritis of the neck. This can narrow the space between the vertebrae. It also adds stress to your joints.

When a disk protrudes, as from a trauma or injury, it may add pressure on the spinal cord or nerve roots. This is called a herniated cervical disk, also known as a ruptured or slipped disk.

Spinal stenosis occurs when the spinal column narrows and causes pressure on the spinal cord or the nerve roots as it exits the vertebrae. This can be due to long-term inflammation caused by arthritis or other conditions.

In rare instances, neck stiffness or pain occurs due to congenital abnormalities, infections, abscesses, tumors or cancer of the spine.