When you sneeze, your body goes through a series of involuntary muscle contractions. If you have any underlying medical conditions or biomechanical issues that affect the nerves, muscles, or structure of your head or neck, these contractions can cause pain. Some medical conditions that can trigger pain during sneezing include cervical radiculopathy, Arnold-Chiari malformation, and meningitis. Biomechanical factors such as muscle strain, vertebral subluxation, ligamentous laxity, and facet joint dysfunction can also contribute to pain.