Recent research shows that the joints can become jammed at time of impact . Injuries to these joints and the ligaments that hold them together can cause chronic neck pain . Facets can swell like other joints. This pain is usually worse in the morning or with less activity. It gets better as the day goes on and the tissues get warmed-up.
Many patients say that they feel more pain when a storm front comes through.
The pain usually occurs in one spot, but can be in many areas. The pain is described as deep, sharp, and often aching. It can also refer to other areas as seen in this diagram of facet pain referral patterns. Each facet joint is represented by it's designation. This type of pain usually gets worse when the facet joint is compressed.