Pain at the base of the neck may be caused by exertion, or it may be caused by neck muscle strain, cervical spondylosis and thyroid tumor. 1. Exertion: If the patient keeps a position for a long time or sleeps in an incorrect position at night causing a pillow fall, it will cause pain at the root of the neck. 2. Neck muscle strain: excessive strain will lead to tension or injury of neck muscles, congestion, oozing, edema and a series of inflammatory changes, the stimulation of inflammatory factors will lead to pain and discomfort at the base of the neck. 3. Cervical spondylosis: patients with cervical spondylosis will have pain at the base of neck, accompanied by headache, dizziness, limited neck movement, nausea and other symptoms. 4. Thyroid tumor: Huge thyroid tumor can cause obvious increase in the tension of thyroid envelope, which is manifested as swelling and pain at the root of neck. If the symptoms are serious, the trachea and esophagus may be compressed, and thus dysphagia may occur. When the patient has pain at the root of the neck, he should go to the hospital in time and take reasonable treatment under the guidance of the doctor.