Crick in Neck

Ideas to help you with your crick in neck

A crick in neck is a condition which is characterized by sudden and intense pain in the neck area. The other terms for crick in the neck are muscular rheumatism and facet syndrome. It is a common occurrence that all people experience sometimes.

Crick in the neck has several possible causes some of those are; poor sleeping posture, using a computer for long periods of time, and stress. But there may be cases where it is difficult to pinpoint what is the cause of their cricked neck. However, crick in the neck is sometimes a symptom of other medical conditions and these are arthritis, disc related problem, myofascial pain syndrome and cervical radiculopathy.

An ordinary crick in neck gradually resolves within three to four days; if it lasted more than seven days it is advisable to consult a doctor. Some experts in the medical fields generalize that if the patient is younger the most probable cause is muscle spasms while on older people the cause is arthritis.

Since having a crick in neck affects all people, here are some simple things that can be done when you have one:

Solving a crick in neck!

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Crick in neck

  • If you have woken up with a crick in neck, do not stand up immediately. Try to lie on your back and slowly turn your head from side to side. However, do not force to turn your head if you cannot bear the pain; just assess the mobility of your neck.
  • Gently massage the affected area. Avoid applying too much pressure – it may cause you further trouble.
  • When sleeping, create a “butterfly pillow”.  Take a medium sized and fluffy pillow then try to divide the contents inside into a half. Separate the contents to both ends and tie a scarf tightly around the center. When sleeping, the tied center must be under the neck and the pillows are under the ears.
  • There are also drugs that may lessen the pain that you feel. The types of drugs that you may take are; pain relievers, muscle relaxants, and anti-inflammatory medicines. Nevertheless, if you have a history of asthma, elevated blood pressure, or a heart problem it is better to consult your doctor first. You may also take your usual medicine for headache but taking this alone may not be enough. You may also use pain relievers’ patches such as salonpas while taking medicine.
  • You may also apply a hot or a cold compress. Muscle spasms are reduced by heat while cold is effective in decreasing inflammation. Use which one is comfortable to you. When using a cold compress, apply it into the affected area for about 10 minutes but if you will use a hot compress apply it for about 15 minutes.

To prevent the re-occurrence of crick in the neck, it is recommended to improve your posture or position during sleeping. Avoid placing objects in the bed that may hamper your movement thus placing you in an awkward position. When using a computer or watching television, sway your head .