Neck Pain, Stiffness & Sore Throat: What It Means & Treatment

It’s not unusual to experience simultaneous symptoms of a sore throat with neck pain or stiffness, as these areas are in close proximity. Conditions affecting one area can often impact the other.

Common causes include infections, injuries, and inflammation, but neck pain and a sore throat can also signal more serious conditions like cancer. In this article, we’ll explore the possible causes of a sore throat with neck pain or stiffness.

Understanding the possible causes, how they are diagnosed, and treatment options can help you determine when to seek medical care.

Are neck pain or stiffness and a sore throat typically related?

While neck pain or stiffness and a sore throat can have separate causes, the symptoms are often related to the same condition. Infection, inflammation, or injury in one of these areas frequently affects the other due to their close proximity in the body.

Causes of simultaneous neck pain or stiffness and a sore throat

The causes of simultaneous neck pain or stiffness and a sore throat can be categorized as infectious and non-infectious.

Infections, bacterial or viral, and sometimes fungal in those with weakened immune systems, are common. Non-infectious causes include allergies, chemical or pollutant exposure, dry air, vocal cord strain, trauma, tumors, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

Viral infection

Neck pain and stiffness can result from infections of the pharynx, larynx, tonsils, or deep neck tissues neck due to swelling in the surrounding tissues and lymph nodes. Meningitis, an infection of the tissues and spinal cord, can also cause these symptoms alongside a sore throat.

Many viral illnesses will resolve on their own within a week. If your symptoms last more than a week, seek medical care.

Viral infections that may affect the throat and neck include:

• Flu
• Common cold
• Infectious mononucleosis, caused by the Epstein-Barr virus
• COVID 19
• Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)
• Herpes simplex virus
• Acute HIV infection
• Viral meningitis

If a viral illness is the cause of your sore throat and neck stiffness or pain, you may also have the following symptoms:

• Pink eye
• Runny nose and sneezing
• Cough
• Hoarseness

Bacterial infections

Several bacterial infections, including strep throat, gonorrhea, and meningitis, can cause a combination of sore throat, neck pain, and stiffness, each presenting with distinct symptoms and severity. If you suspect your symptoms are caused by a bacterial infection, seek medical care.

Strep throat is the most common bacterial infection associated with a sore throat and neck stiffness. Caused by the bacteria Group A Streptococcus, it’s typically marked by fever, patchy white spots on the back of the throat, and swollen lymph nodes at the front of the neck. Other symptoms may include headache, abdominal pain, and a rash.

Neisseria gonorrhea, the bacteria responsible for the sexually transmitted infection gonorrhea, can also cause a sore throat and neck pain or stiffness.

Bacterial meningitis is a more serious cause of neck stiffness and pain and can sometimes irritate the throat. It is usually accompanied by a high fever and headache.

Allergies

Allergies to mold, pet dander, dust mites, pollen, and foods can cause inflammation and irritation in the throat and neck.

Allergies typically cause a dry, scratchy sensation in the throat and may be associated with the following symptoms:

• Post-nasal drip
• Congestion
• Stuffy nose
• Sneezing or a runny nose
• Itchy, red, or watery eyes
• Hives
• Swelling or tingling in the lips or tongue
• Fatigue
• Nausea

You should seek medical care if symptoms worsen, persist, or interfere with breathing or swallowing.

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)

Gastroesophageal reflux disease, also called GERD, occurs when stomach acid flows back into the esophagus, irritating its lining. Being overweight or pregnant can increase the risk of developing GERD.

Along with sore throat and neck pain or stiffness, common symptoms include:

• Frequent heartburn
• Sour or metallic taste in the mouth
• Pain or difficulty with swallowing
• Feeling of a lump in the throat
• Hoarseness
• Regurgitation
• Bloating or gas

You should consult a doctor if symptoms persist, worsen, or interfere with daily activities or swallowing.

Irritants

Various environmental factors, such as dry air, pollution, and tobacco smoke, can irritate the throat and surrounding tissues, especially during winter. You should seek medical care if throat irritation persists, worsens, or is accompanied by difficulty breathing or swallowing.

Cancer

In rare cases, throat cancers, such as those affecting the pharynx or larynx, can cause both sore throat and neck pain or stiffness. Other cancers in the head and neck,, such as oral or salivary gland cancers, can produce similar symptoms. Common signs include swelling in the face or neck, difficulty swallowing, unexplained weight loss, persistent sore throat, and unusual lumps.

Although head and neck cancers are relatively rare, they should be considered if symptoms persist. Seek medical care if you suspect, or are unsure, that cancer could be the cause of your neck pain and sore throat.

How to treat a stiff or sore neck with throat pain

Treatment of your neck and throat pain will depend upon the underlying cause. Home remedies may offer temporary relief, but you should consult your healthcare provider for further treatment if symptoms are severe or persist for more than a few days.

Prevention

You can prevent many episodes of sore throat and neck pain or stiffness by paying attention to personal hygiene, which decreases the risk of infection. This includes thorough hand-washing, disinfecting door knobs and other items you frequently handle, and avoiding touching your face.

You should avoid close contact with sick people, get regular vaccinations against viruses, such as the flu vaccine, avoid tobacco smoke, and wear a mask when exposed to chemicals or air pollution.

Over-the-counter or home remedies

If you develop a sore throat along with neck stiffness or pain, these remedies that can relieve your discomfort:

• Over-the-counter medications, such as ibuprofen, naproxen, or acetaminophen, relieve pain and reduce inflammation.
• Warm compresses can increase blood flow to the affected area, improving healing and reducing pain and swelling.
• Gargling with warm salt water reduces inflammation and relieves pain.
• Hydration: drinking lots of fluids during the day moistens your throat and reduces irritation. Drink clear liquids like water, tea, or broth.
• Use a humidifier.
• Suck on throat lozenges or hard candies. This will increase your saliva production and moisten the throat.

Lifestyle changes

If GERD is causing your symptoms, weight loss can help reduce GERD symptoms. Making dietary changes, such as avoiding meals before bedtime, can also provide relief.

If environmental irritants are causing your symptoms, avoid smoking, secondhand smoke, and exposure to chemical irritants. When air pollution levels are high, using a mask can offer protection from irritants that may worsen symptoms.

Antibiotics

Your doctor will prescribe an antibiotic if you have a bacterial infection like strep throat. It’s essential to take all medication prescribed to prevent the infection from spreading or recurring. Sometimes, a doctor may prescribe an antiviral medication for select viral infections.

How doctors diagnose neck pain or stiffness and a sore throat

When you visit a doctor about a sore throat and neck pain or stiffness, they will review your medical history and symptoms, then perform a physical exam.

Based on their findings, they may order tests, such as blood tests or throat swabs, to diagnose specific infections like strep throat. If airway obstruction is suspected, X-rays may be used to check for neck swelling. For concerns about tumors or cancer, imaging tests like an MRI or CT scan, or an endoscope, may be used to detect any abnormalities.

When to see a doctor about a sore throat and neck pain or stiffness

It’s essential to know when to see a doctor about your symptoms.

You should see a doctor if you notice any of the following:

• Sore throat lasting longer than a few days
• Earache
• A lump in your neck
• Swelling in the neck or face
• A hoarse voice lasting longer than two weeks
• Blood in your saliva or mucus
• Joint swelling or pain
• Worsening symptoms

You should go to the emergency room if you are experiencing any of the following:

• Severe throat or neck pain that is not relieved by over-the-counter or home remedies
• Temperature greater than 101℉ (38.3℃)
• Trouble breathing
• Difficulty with swallowing or opening your mouth
• Muffled voice
• Bulging in the back of the throat
• Rash
• Severe headache or confusion
• Injury to the neck

Frequently Asked Questions: Neck Pain and a Sore Throat

Here are some frequently asked questions about neck pain and a sore throat.

What if you’re only experiencing neck pain on one side?

An infection can sometimes affect one tonsil or cause a swollen lymph node in just one side of the neck, but neck pain on one side can also suggest an abscess may have formed. An abscess is a pocket of pus that forms in infected tissues and will need to be drained.

Both benign and cancerous tumors can affect only one side of the neck, but this is a more unusual cause of one-sided neck pain.

What if you’re feeling neck pain and sore throat, but no fever?

A neck pain and sore throat without a fever can suggest a viral infection, acid reflux, irritation, or allergies. A tumor is another possible cause, particularly if you have other associated symptoms. You should see your doctor if your symptoms don’t resolve within a week.

What if you’re feeling fatigued as well?

Fatigue is not unusual when your body fights an infection or other disease. Rest will give your body time to heal if you have an infection.

Is a stiff neck and sore throat a sign of COVID?

COVID-19 can cause a sore throat and neck pain. If you have been exposed to COVID-19 or if your symptoms worsen, see your doctor.

Managing a sore throat and neck pain or stiffness

Most causes of sore throat and neck pain resolve on their own, and symptoms can often be managed with readily-available remedies. However, it’s important to see a healthcare provider if your symptoms are severe or persistent.

General Medicine follows a strict editorial process, including using real experts to write our articles, vetted primary sources, fact-checking, a secondary medical review, and updates as necessary. This article was medically reviewed and fact checked by Dr. Pallabi Sanyal-Dey, MD.

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