Neck pain and stiffness can happen due to over stretching of the neck muscles or spasms. Swelling in the neck joints can also lead to this condition. If you have a history of arthritis in the family or have somehow injured the disks in the neck, then that too can be the reason behind the pain.

Some of the reasons that can lead to pain in the neck are related to your posture like sitting idle at one place for a long time or using a pillow that doesn't support your head properly due to it's shape or asymmetry. Sleeping with your neck bent to a side or with your forehand pressed against your arm for a long duration can also cause neck pain. You can relieve your pain by changing your stance and being aware of your movements.

If a nerve in the head or neck area suffers damage, then it can impact the conduction of the nerve impulses to the areas of the body it supplies and this can be a reason for the pain in the neck and tissues supplied by the affected nerve. Over exercising can also strain and cause pain to the neck muscles.

There are several ways to relieve neck pain and stiffness. One of the best natural ways to prevent neck pain is to adopt a good body posture. If the pain is worse at the end of the day, analyze what you did during the day. When you work on a computer, the top of your screen should be at eye level and you should take short breaks periodically to avoid sitting in the same position for a long time as it adversely affects the blood circulation.

You can make your neck muscles stronger by exercising them at least once every day. When sleeping, make sure that your head stays straight and on the bed, not bent towards the floor. You should try and keep your nose along the center of your body. Observe the time of the day when you have the pain in your neck. If it's towards the morning hours, you may want to change your mattress with a more comfortable one.

If you have already tried the above mentioned methods and still haven't seen any improvement in your neck pain, then you should consult a doctor. If you have a stiff neck accompanied by fever and headache or a shooting pain that goes down in one of your arm or feel any tingling in his hands , then it could be due to a pinched nerve and you should immediately visit a doctor for the early diagnosis and treatment of the condition.