The causes and relief of a stiff neck
If you have ever woken up in the morning with this strong pain on the neck that makes it even harder to move your head then you know how uncomfortable it is to have a stiff neck. Stiff necks usually go away by themselves over some time but it might take a few days f being very uncomfortable. A stiff neck is not an indication of some severe conditions in someone’s body and should not be such a cause of alarm for someone to worry. So we need to understand some of the causes of the stiff neck and some measures that can be taken to control it.
Causes of stiff necks:
Injury
One of the most causes of a stiff neck is injuries. By making sudden movements of the neck it can cause some strain on the muscles and ligaments which causes injuries and ultimately leads to injury and stiffness. Accidents take many forms like car accidents, during sports, at the work place and at home.
Stress
The human body reacts to stress by naturally tensing the muscles. If there is not physical injury to the body then maybe it might be time for someone to take some time off and relax.
Improper sleeping position
This especially happens when someone does not sleep on their normal bed like when they are out visiting or when they are on a vacation or hiking. This is one of the most common causes of a stiff neck. When the human body is sleeping it is in such a relaxed state so any improper sleeping position can cause the muscles to be pulled without being aware of it. People will only realize it when they wake up which sometimes is too late.
Muscle spasm
There are some instances where the nerves around the muscles trigger some certain cues which can lead to involuntary muscle contracting. This can also be a cause of some stiff necks conditions.
Other medical conditions
Medical conditions like meningitis and arthritis can also result in a stiff neck because they affect the nerves and the muscles.
Methods of treating it
Anti-inflammatory drugs
Common drugs like paracetamol are very effective in dealing with pain even though they might need to be taken over a period of some days before the extreme pain can be eliminated.
Ice or heat pack
By pressing gently on the neck and hurting areas with some heat pack or some ice proves to be one of the best therapies when someone is at home. This is one of the most basic things someone can do. This helps by relaxing the muscles and brings relief. Generally it is very important to have proper sleeping positions by having the right pillow type.