How Do I Relieve My Stiff Neck?

Most people have experienced the pain or irritation of a stiff neck from time to time.

How Does a Stiff Neck Feel?

The stiff neck is normally described as having soreness in the neck area and difficulty moving it. This can be especially true when you're trying to turn your head from side to side. You may also have shoulder pain, arm pain or even a headache. Some people refer to this as having a crick in their neck. The pain can last for a couple of days or even up to a week. Some people may not feel actual pain, just stiffness. For others, the pain can be severe and limiting.

The most common cause of a stiff neck is muscle strain or sprain. There is a particular muscle that is located at the back and side of the neck which is where the cervical spine meets the shoulder. This is a common area of sprain. Some causes of a sprain in that area include poor sleeping positions, poor posture and excessive stress that turns into neck tension.

Stiff Neck = Misalignment?

Sometimes, a stiff neck may indicate a misalignment of the vertebrae in the neck. If the bones are shifted out of position, the surrounding muscles and nerves will become affected. Think about how heavy your head is. Your neck has to bear the weight of your head and keep it upright throughout the day. If you don't have proper alignment in the vertebrae of your neck, you are putting stress and strain on the surrounding muscles and nerves.

A trained chiropractor or pain specialist is able to evaluate the spine to make sure that there are no mis-alignments or other issues that could be causing the stiff neck. They can also assess the patient to see if poor sleeping habits or desk posture are a factor.

Improper posture will fatigue postural muscles and contribute to burning and knots in a person's muscles. This can lead to nerve irritation and neck stiffness. For people who experience this kind of pain and stiffness, getting the proper diagnosis and treatment is imperative.

A trained pain specialist will be able to do the proper diagnostic testing to find out where the source of the pain is and develop a specific treatment plan for that. Instead of just taking anti-inflammatory medication, it makes sense to see a pain specialist who can properly diagnose the problem and correct it.