Special health report from Harvard Medical School

Cover title

Where bone, muscle, and nerve converge. The bones ; Connectors: discs and facet joints ; Muscles, tendons, and ligaments ; Shoulder connections: how the neck and shoulders interact -- Evaluating neck pain. Describing your pain ; Types of pain ; Non-pain symptoms ; Your medical history ; Physical examination ; Imaging studies and other tests -- Common causes of neck pain. Neck strains and sprains ; Degenerative conditions ; Nerve pain ; Whiplash ; General pain syndromes ; Other causes -- Managing your pain. Initial steps ; Physical therapy ; Exercise -- Special section: Preventing further neck pain -- Pain medications. Acetaminophen ; Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs ; Muscle relaxants ; Opioids ; Antidepressants and anticonvulsants ; Corticosteroids ; Injectable drugs -- Complementary and alternative treatments. Mind-body therapies ; Other therapies -- Surgery for neck pain. Should you consider surgery? ; Selecting a surgeon ; Types of surgery ; Emerging surgical options -- Resources -- Glossary

Statement of responsibility from page 2 of cover