Is stiff neck and pain in the neck the same?

Not really: A stiff neck @ me = not really painfull but achey with movement. Like if u slept wrong. It goes away on its own fairly fast. Pain means ouch with movement, muscles may b tight, and motion, jarriny, as bumps in the road driving and interferes with ur adls. Often follows a day or so after an injury of some sort. Rx with otc nsaids, rest, ice. If not better c ur pcp or ortho guy.

Sometimes: Neck pain usually comes from a degenerative joint or disc in the neck. Sometimes it's from a muscle strain or sprain. All of these can cause stiffness and/or pain. Early treatment options include a short course of nsaids (advil, aleve), gentle massage, moist heat, and focusing on posture. If pain lasts greater than 2 weeks see your physician.

Maybe.: A stiff neck generally refers to the muscles that support your neck. Neck pain could be arthritis of the cervical spine, a bulging or herniated disc, just to name a couple of possibilities. See an orthopedic cervical spine specialist.