For adults with acute neck pain, current guidelines recommend offering oral analgesics such as ibuprofen, paracetamol, or codeine, depending on pain severity, personal preferences, tolerability, and risk of adverse effects NICE CKS.
Consider referral for physiotherapy treatment, including manual therapy, neck range of motion exercises, and scapulothoracic and upper extremity strengthening exercises, especially for those with mobility deficits NICE CKS.
Advice and education about maintaining activity, correcting posture, and reducing pillow height are also recommended as part of management NICE CKS.
There is limited evidence for the use of muscle relaxants, but expert opinion suggests they may have some benefit, with consideration of potential side effects NICE CKS.
Key References
- CKS - Neck pain - non-specific
- CKS - Neck pain - acute torticollis
- CKS - Torticollis (acute) - neck pain
- CKS - Cervical radiculopathy - neck pain
- NG59 - Low back pain and sciatica in over 16s: assessment and management
- CG173 - Neuropathic pain in adults: pharmacological management in non-specialist settings
- NG193 - Chronic pain (primary and secondary) in over 16s: assessment of all chronic pain and management of chronic primary pain