What Is Neck Stiffness?
The neck is often described to be stiff when a person feels difficulty turning or moving the head to one side.
Neck stiffness is a very commonly encountered problem. Most people have experienced it sometime in their lives due to wrong posture during sleeping, working for long hours or holding the head in an awkward position. This symptom doesn’t always point towards a disease process and but it may be a warning symptom of many physical ailments.
What Causes The Neck To Be Neck Stiff?
There are many causes for a stiff neck. These may include:
MECHANICAL:
- Postural (wrong sleeping posture, uncomfortable pillow).
- Whiplash injury (injury caused by over extension of the neck).
- Neck strain, neck sprain.
- Disc prolapse (vertebral column injury).
- Neck muscle disorders.
- Torticollis (condition in which head is tilted toward one side and the chin is elevated and turned towards the opposite side).
- Diseases of the spinal cord.
INFLAMMATORY:
- Infections (e.g. meningitis, encephalitis, etc).
- Rheumatoid arthritis.
- Spondylitis.
METABOLIC:
- Bone diseases (e.g. Osteoporosis, Osteomalacia).
NEOPLASTIC (cancerous conditions):
- Cerebral and spinal tumors.
What Should I Do If My Neck Is Stiff?
Neck stiffness may disappear after a day or two but special attention should be given to this symptom and medical advice should be obtained. You should see a doctor immediately especially if you are experiencing any of the following:
- You are experiencing other symptoms like fever, light sensitivity, vomiting etc along with neck stiffness.
- You had an accident in which your neck moved back and forth.
- You are having a grating feeling when you turn your head.
- You are having severe neck pain along with the stiffness that is not relieved by medications.
- You feel a lump in your neck.
- Your neck pain or stiffness is accompanied with numbness and tingling sensations that may even spread up to your hand.
- You are having trouble in swallowing or breathing.
- Your neck stiffness is persistently present for many days.
Is There Anything I Can Do To Relieve My Neck Stiffness?
There are various ways to get relief from neck pain and stiffness but as emphasized previously you should always consult your doctor for a proper diagnosis. The following methods may prove beneficial:
- Applying heat or cold therapy.
- Neck exercise (side to side, up and down, gentle stretching, circular movements).
- Get a good pillow.
- Gentle massage therapy.
- Topical ointments and analgesics may also be helpful.
What Can I Do To Prevent Neck Stiffness?
- Get a good pillow neck support.
- Do not bend your neck on the desk while writing or reading; try to keep your neck straight while doing so.
- Take frequent breaks while working and perform simple stretching exercises during the break.
- Avoid reading or watching television while lying down.
- Learn to perform relaxation exercises.
How Can Neck Stiffness Be Treated?
As neck stiffness can caused by a wide variety of disorders, treatment has to be targeted according to the cause. Your doctor should be able to advice you on the optimal treatment options, or refer you to a colleague if different expertise is required.
In many cases, patients are often started on medications, and physiotherapy by their doctors. Injections and surgery may also be discussed as possible options.
With the recent advances in medical technology, there are now quite a number of new treatment options available to patients with neck stiffness.
At The Pain Relief Clinic, we provide cost-effective and on-site Xrays, MRIs, and treatments for neck stiffness.
Even for patients with long-standing neck stiffness despite undergoing other treatments, we offer a number of particularly effective solutions for neck stiffness.
