I always assumed it was muscular, but for me, it has felt like a sharp grabbing or shooting pain

Yes, my neck is also always very tight which if not handled, causes sharp pain in my neck, shoulders, back, etc. I see a chiropractor weekly (this had been the most helpful!) that not only gives me an alignment, but stretches my neck, uses the hydro-bed (heated, water massage) and electro-stim on my neck area.

On my own, I do basic yoga/stretches in the morning, use heading pads often and got my own hand held electro-stim machine which I use just about every day on varies sites around my body... whatever send to be hurting at the moment., but always a round for my neck.

Yes I do everyday! My neck is always very stiff. I use lidocaine cream on my neck then a heating pad.

Yes! I have been seeing an Upper Cervical Chiropractor for seven years. I have had severe migraines my entire life that leave my head feeling bruised and the base of my head and my neck are always tender. I try not to turn my head any more than I have to. We were able to slowly and gently improve this over time, But it will never be 100 percent. When I began I could hardly turn my head to the right without a snap of shooting pain going up and around my head. I too feel I have a rod going through my neck into the base of my skull and never want to disturb the "monster".

I also have pain in my neck. I put a nice warm washcloth on my neck. Some days are worse. So I might take a Flexeril. Good .