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Definition
By Mayo Clinic staffLike most people, you're likely to have neck pain at least once in your life. Your neck is the least protected part of your spine, has a wide range of motion and supports the weight of your head, so it's particularly prone to injury and wear and tear.
Most neck pain lasts just a short time — a few hours or days. Neck pain that continues longer than several weeks is considered chronic. But even persistent neck pain can usually be helped by exercise, stretching, physical therapy and massage. Surgery is seldom recommended for neck pain, but it may be considered when there's a compressed nerve, which usually causes pain or weakness extending into your arm, hand or fingers.
