A stiff neck may last a few days or even weeks but it usually heals quickly because of the durability of the cervical spine. Sometimes, something as simple as sleeping wrong can cause a stiff neck and occasionally a stiff neck can have more serious implications.
Read on to learn about five common causes of a stiff neck and what you can do to alleviate your neck pain.
Figuring Out How You Developed a Stiff Neck
You might be able to figure out why your neck is sore by tracing it back to an event. You may have helped a friend move, worked in the garden over the weekend, or gotten rear-ended. But other stiff neck issues are not as apparent. The following are the usual culprits that can lead to a stiff neck:
Muscle Strain or Sprain
The levator scapula muscle running the length of the back and side of the neck connects the cervical spine to the shoulder and is controlled by the third and fourth cervical nerves. A muscle sprain or strain particularly to this area can lead to a stiff neck. You can strain this muscle while doing many everyday activities, such as:
Sleeping without proper support from a pillow and in a poor posture can stretch this muscle unnecessarily.
Any repetitive activity that involves turning the head from side to side, as in swimming, can result in a stiff neck.
Poor posture that tilts the head, like when cradling the phone between the neck and shoulder, or viewing the computer monitor for long hours which contracts the neck muscle.
Stress that causes tension knots in the neck.
Cervical Spine Disorders
The cervical spine consists of the spinal cord, vertebrae, and discs of the upper part of your neck. When any part of the cervical spine becomes misaligned, it will cause pain and stiffness to the neck. The stiffness in the neck can be an indicator of an underlying disorder such as:
Facet joint disorders- occur when the facet joints at the back of the spinal structure that help with movement wear out because of osteoarthritis.
Herniated Disc- is a serious condition that can cause terrible irritation and pain to the nerve roots in the disc of your neck and pain along your arms too.
Cervical osteoarthritis- can cause muscle spasms and neck stiffness from blocked nerve pathways in the cervical spine.
Meningitis / Infection
Bacterial infection in the fluid membrane of the brain and spinal cord causes inflammation and stiffening of the neck along with a high fever, headache, and nausea. Seek immediate medical attention if you notice any such symptoms as it is an indication of meningitis. Other rare but serious infections can also cause stiff neck symptoms, such as meningococcal disease or vertebral osteomyelitis, that occur in the cervical spine and vertebral body. When you have a stiff neck, fever, feel nauseous and are sensitive to light, then it can also be a sign of a common viral infection like the flu.
Injury
Neck injuries from an accident, sports mishap or falls where your head has been jerked around violently may result in muscle injuries, sprains, and perhaps even strains on the ligaments in your neck. The main symptom of these injuries is neck stiffness and pain.
Arthritis
Osteoarthritis is daily wear and tear of your neck joints as you age and can lead to stiffness and limiting neck movement. By comparison, rheumatoid arthritis, or RA, is an autoimmune disorder that can affect your neck joints along the upper part of your neck resulting in severe neck pain and stiffness. Sometimes arthritis also leads to your spinal canal narrowing which results in a pinched nerve causing neck stiffness and associated radiating pain down your arms and legs.
Stiff Neck Treatments
If stiff neck symptoms persist for more than a week, you may need medical attention, especially if there are the additional symptoms mentioned above. Your physician may order an X-ray or computed tomography (CT) scan along with a physical examination to diagnose the cause of your stiff neck. Your treatment will depend on what is causing it, but generally, in the case of the more common strained neck muscles, initial treatment may include:
Non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs or NSAIDs to relieve pain
Icing the stiff neck for the first 48 to 72 hours to reduce inflammation, then switch to a heat wrap or heat pad or take a hot shower to soothe your muscles
A cervical collar to rest your neck muscles
Limiting physical activities that can strain your neck
Physical therapy
Massage and/or acupuncture treatment
Neck stretching exercises like slowly moving your head up and down and side to side
Changing your mattress or pillow to ensure proper neck support
This article is excerpted from：
https://www.ibji.com/blog/orthopedic-care/5-common-causes-of-a-stiff-neck/
JK-Clive Pain Clinic specializes in management of acute and chronic pain caused by various "sports injuries" and "degenerative diseases",we are located in Beijing Sanfine International Hospital and our services can be paid directly by most of the international insurance.
JK will always care about your health!
Practical medical science will be shared constantly!
If you have any questions about muscles and joint pain.
Past recommendations
1.Muscle Pain (Myofascial Pain Syndrome)
2.Symptoms, Causes And Treatment Of Bad Posture
Light up sharing, like, watching
Look who's watching with you
