Few things are as annoying and functionally debilitating as neck pain. From the type that hits you in the morning after a poor night's sleep to the nagging pain that accompanies arthritis, neck pain can limit your mobility, compromise your comfort and challenge the cheeriest among us.

Determining the proper treatment for your kind of neck pain requires understanding the source of the problem. You don't treat whiplash the same way you would arthritis, and a stiff neck that occurs after sleeping in an odd position requires a different approach than blunt trauma injuries.

Acute Onset Pain Caused by Strain or Sprain -

Barring an accident or aging, the most common source of neck pain is a simple strain or sprain. Sleeping wrong, overexerting yourself at the gym or poor posture can lead to such an injury. Generally, people will notice a sore or stiff neck first thing in the morning when they get up because they can't turn their head the way they usually do.

More a nuisance than anything else, this kind of injury is best treated at home with ice, some anti-inflammatory medication and rest. Take a day or two off from the gym, do some gentle stretching and ice the sore area for about 20 minutes out of every hour. By the next day you should be feeling much better.

To prevent a recurrence, evaluate what may have caused the injury. Did you sleep in an odd position? It may be time to change the pillows. Do you have good posture while working at a computer or your desk? Have someone take a few photos of you while you are seated at work to evaluate your posture. Perhaps you engaged in a strenuous workout? Consider asking a friend to spot you next time and check your head position.

While irritating in the extreme, this kind of neck injury is generally fairly quick to heal.

Chronic Neck Pain may have a Deeper Source -

For those who suffer from chronic neck pain, a cure can be elusive. As always, knowing the source is critical to solving the problem. Whiplash is one of the most common sources of chronic neck pain; without proper treatment, whiplash pain can last for years. You can get whiplash without having a car accident, although that is the most common source of the injury.

Whiplash occurs when the head is thrown back rapidly, and results in injury to the anterior neck muscles. Patients experience headaches, neck and upper back pain, numbness and tingling in one or both arms and many more symptoms. The damage of whiplash can sometimes be seen on an MRI.

Studies suggest that soft tissue work such as massage and chiropractics are the most effective long term treatments for whiplash.

Arthritis, a condition that occurs when the cartilage between the vertebrae wears away, is incurable. Nevertheless, exercise, acetaminophen and manual therapies can make life bearable and help you maintain function for as long as possible.

When dealing with neck pain, the best place to start is your doctor. A thorough examination is your first step towards recovery.