Stiff Neck – Symptoms And Treatment

Stiff neck when waking up? You too have probably woken up with a completely immobile and painful neck. In this article we will explain the symptoms to you. And of course we will show you what you can do about it.

A stiff neck means that the muscles in the neck area have tightened. Usually this happens due to poor posture during sleep. Such poor posture can make this area stiff and immobile, and it can also be very painful with every movement.

A stiff neck can also be caused by an unfavorable draft, or by unfavorable or sudden movements. So it is very important that you take good care of your neck and neck. Because a stiff neck can really be very uncomfortable and painful.

Stiff neck: what forms of it are there?

A stiff neck means the neck pain described above for the vast majority of people. This means that it is a muscle tension that quickly disappears with the appropriate treatment. But the causes of an immobile neck or a permanent crooked posture of the head can also be genetic or neurological. In these cases it is torticollis or torticollis. So it can happen that a baby is born with this bad posture.

A certain deformity occurs at birth. And then, due to problems during delivery in the baby, there is a shortening of a certain muscle called the sternocleidomastoid muscle.

Then the only solution is to have surgery as soon as possible. Otherwise the rest of the body will try to compensate for this muscle shortening. And that can lead to problems with the spine, for example.

In the case of congenital tilting of the head, the symptoms can be seen quite clearly. Clearly, as the newborn grows, its head tilts more to one side than the other. And when you try to correct this head posture, there is noticeable resistance. In addition, the baby feels a slight pain.

Surgery can sometimes be avoided, but it takes a lot of effort. In most cases, surgery is ultimately the only solution. In any case, it is important to follow the doctor’s instructions. Because only in this way will everything develop in the best possible way for the baby.

Stiff neck: what are the symptoms?

So, as you have seen, there is also an inherent tilt of the head, among other things. But in the following we will address the symptoms of the more common neck pain, also known as the stiff neck. Surely you too have had the dubious pleasure of getting to know this unpleasant problem. We’ll give you a few tips on how to alleviate these symptoms.

Restricted movement of the head

You wake up in the morning and get out of bed. You only make a very slight movement with your head and suddenly feel severe pain in your neck. A clear case: a stiff neck. Then your head may be in a crooked position or you can only move it to a very limited extent.

If you feel the painful area a little, you will notice: the muscle is completely stiff. The main thing to do then is to avoid making sudden movements. You should also keep the neck area warm and massage it gently. This at least temporarily alleviates the symptoms.

a headache

A stiff neck can also cause a headache. Especially if you already have a tendency to migraines or headaches. Because the whole neck area is stiff and immobile. And that usually brings with it headache as well as neck pain.

In these cases too, it is important to avoid sudden movements and try to protect the area. But maybe this is not possible because your work requires you to move. Then you can use a ruff. However, you should only use this temporarily and it must not increase the feeling of pain under any circumstances.

Shoulders are not level

Another typical symptom of a stiff neck is that one of your shoulders is slightly higher than the other. This fact is also due to the strong tension in the muscle. Because this leads to the head tilting to one side.

In this case, you can try doing very gentle and controlled stretches. This allows you to partially alleviate the discomfort and pain. As in the other cases, you should also avoid abrupt movements here. But the best is always rest and relaxation.

It should be mentioned again: If you decide to use a ruff, you should keep in mind that this measure should only be temporary. Because it is not practical for the neck to become even stiffer than it already is. It is important that you gradually begin to move it gently.

In addition, it should not be forgotten that the stiff neck will improve over time. Because the complaints usually last a maximum of three days. With the right treatment, your stiff neck will be a thing of the past even sooner than expected.

You can also prevent a stiff neck: for example, through a good position when sleeping and proper sleep hygiene. The acquisition of a suitable pillow can help. Because in this way you can reduce the likelihood of developing this uncomfortable muscle tension.

But rest assured: everyone has had a stiff neck. And if not, they will most certainly get one at some point. So you are not alone with the problem. But as you have seen: You can do a lot to ensure that the symptoms go away quickly.