Highly skilled care providers (PT s, bodyworkers ,chiros, some drs) can tell by feeling the (neck) muscles if they are in spasms or tight/locked up..
Also a good clear description of your pain should help them to narrow down the cause or part of the cause..

Some don't get it ..but the really good ones can tell, and they can help with various modalities to get the muscles to relax.

Ultra sound, massage, hands on trigger point work, low/cold laser, acupressure, Ifc stimulation, maybe even cupping ( some athletes used cupping during the Olympics)...
many things to try for soft issue/muscle pain relief..

Not all places use all the methods I listed..and there may be new things that I don't know about..