If there is a history of recent trauma, symptoms down both arms, or inability to move the neck from side to side, in addition to the other two, this may indicate something more serious. The other main thing to watch out for would be an infection. It could also be caused by an infection. An infection of myelitis might lead to pain in the neck. Meningitis and many other infections can cause whole body stiffness, in which the neck can be included.