When you feel tense, the muscles around your neck can go into spasms. Tendinitis, inflammation of a tendon, the cordlike tissue that connects muscles to bone. Bursitis can be caused by injury, infection, overuse, arthritis, or gout. Aging can cause the joints to wear out, producing bony spurs that can press on nerves and cause pain. Accidents and falls.
Collarbones can break during falls or auto accidents.
Motor vehicle accidents. You can develop a whiplash injury when your vehicle is hit from behind. Arthritis or an injury to your neck can pinch a nerve in your neck. Pain from a pinched nerve usually runs down the arm on one side only. Prevention Stretching and strengthening routines, especially before exercising, helps prevent tendinitis.