Pain in the neck is common and may be a natural consequence of aging in people over 50.Your neck has a hard job — holding up your head. The neck is formed by seven square-shaped bones (cervical vertebrae) stacked one atop the other. The vertebrae are named for their position in the neck, C1, C2, C3, down to C7. Together with the supporting ligaments and the overlying long neck muscles, they form a strong spinal canal that surrounds and protects the spinal cord. Poor posture certainly contributes to neck pain. But the design of your neck also makes it vulnerable. All the interconnected structures that give your neck its incredible range of motion are subject to the wear-and-tear damage of arthritis and the "overstretching" injuries of whiplash. Neck pain accompanied by a headache and fever could be a symptom of meningitis, an infection of the membranes that surround your brain. If your neck is so stiff that you can't touch your chin to your chest, you should seek immediate medical attention.