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There are many possible causes ofneck pain, regardless of whether you’re a woman or a man. Neck pain is common, especially in older adults, and it can result from muscle strain, injury, arthritis, a more serious cause (such as cancer spreading to the cervical spine), and several different diseases.
Could Neck Pain Mean Parkinson’s?
Sometimes the effects of Parkinson’s disease can cause pain. Difficulty moving, tremors, and stiffness can contribute to muscle cramps, which can be painful. Sometimes, physically struggling to overcome the motor limitations of this movement disorder can contribute to pain as well.
Cramps and pain associated with Parkinson’s disease are most common in the muscles in your back, neck, calf, and feet.
Some people begin to have neck pain or another type of pain early in the course of the disease, and about 30 percent to 50 percent of Parkinson’s patients experience pain at some point over the course of their illness.
While Parkinson’s disease-associated pain can begin in the early stages of the disease, it usually won’t precede symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. A rare exception would be if you have tremors, bradykinesia, and stiffness and are fighting against these movements, but are not noticing them.
If you already have arthritis in your neck, it’s possible that having Parkinson’s disease can add to your neck discomfort.
Talking to Your Healthcare Provider
How do you know if your neck pain is potentially related to your Parkinson’s disease?
2 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Misailidou V, Malliou P, Beneka A, Karagiannidis A, Godolias G.Assessment of patients with neck pain: a review of definitions, selection criteria, and measurement tools.J Chiropr Med. 2010;9(2):49–59. doi:10.1016/j.jcm.2010.03.002Fil A, Cano-De-La-Cuerda R, Muñoz-Hellín E, Vela L, Ramiro-González M, Fernández-De-Las-Peñas C.Pain in Parkinson disease: A review of the literature.Parkinsonism & Related Disorders. 2013;19(3):285-294. doi:10.1016/j.parkreldis.2012.11.009Additional ReadingRezak M. Is Pain a Symptom of Parkinson’s Disease? American Parkinson Disease Association website.
2 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Misailidou V, Malliou P, Beneka A, Karagiannidis A, Godolias G.Assessment of patients with neck pain: a review of definitions, selection criteria, and measurement tools.J Chiropr Med. 2010;9(2):49–59. doi:10.1016/j.jcm.2010.03.002Fil A, Cano-De-La-Cuerda R, Muñoz-Hellín E, Vela L, Ramiro-González M, Fernández-De-Las-Peñas C.Pain in Parkinson disease: A review of the literature.Parkinsonism & Related Disorders. 2013;19(3):285-294. doi:10.1016/j.parkreldis.2012.11.009Additional ReadingRezak M. Is Pain a Symptom of Parkinson’s Disease? American Parkinson Disease Association website.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Misailidou V, Malliou P, Beneka A, Karagiannidis A, Godolias G.Assessment of patients with neck pain: a review of definitions, selection criteria, and measurement tools.J Chiropr Med. 2010;9(2):49–59. doi:10.1016/j.jcm.2010.03.002Fil A, Cano-De-La-Cuerda R, Muñoz-Hellín E, Vela L, Ramiro-González M, Fernández-De-Las-Peñas C.Pain in Parkinson disease: A review of the literature.Parkinsonism & Related Disorders. 2013;19(3):285-294. doi:10.1016/j.parkreldis.2012.11.009
Misailidou V, Malliou P, Beneka A, Karagiannidis A, Godolias G.Assessment of patients with neck pain: a review of definitions, selection criteria, and measurement tools.J Chiropr Med. 2010;9(2):49–59. doi:10.1016/j.jcm.2010.03.002
Fil A, Cano-De-La-Cuerda R, Muñoz-Hellín E, Vela L, Ramiro-González M, Fernández-De-Las-Peñas C.Pain in Parkinson disease: A review of the literature.Parkinsonism & Related Disorders. 2013;19(3):285-294. doi:10.1016/j.parkreldis.2012.11.009
Rezak M. Is Pain a Symptom of Parkinson’s Disease? American Parkinson Disease Association website.
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