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Neck Spasms: Causes And Treatments

May 25, 2021

A neck spasm is truly a pain in the neck. When you’re affected by such pain, it can make you feel limited and frustrated. Neck spasms happen to everyone, but what happens when the neck pain doesn’t go away? 

It’s essential to understand the following:

  • What are spine and neck spasms?
  • What are the causes of such pain?
  • What are your treatment options?

What Are Spinal And Neck Spasms?

A spasm in itself is an involuntary tightening of muscles in your body commonly accompanied by pain that can range from a minor ache to an intense sharpness and stiffness on the muscles affected or any muscles nearby. This pain can happen anywhere in your body but occurs very commonly around the back and neck muscles.

Some of the common symptoms of a neck spasm can include:

  • Sudden and sharp pain in one or more parts of the neck
  • Pain stemming from deep muscles tissue
  • Immobility or tightness of the neck

Most neck spasms go away on their own, but an underlying cause must be diagnosed and treated if this neck pain lingers.

Causes of Neck Spasms

If you notice that the pain of your neck spasms isn’t subsiding, there are various causes for such pain. A few of the common reasons are:

  • Straining the neck while exercising.
  • Carrying heavy objects incorrectly.
  • Poor posture.
  • Dehydration, which causes the muscles to cramp and spasm.
  • Holding the neck in an unnatural position for an extended time. An example could be sleeping in the wrong position or holding the phone between your head and shoulder for long periods.

Less common but more serious reasons include:

  • Trauma caused by accidents or falls
  • Whiplash
  • Misalignments
  • Herniated discs
  • Curved spines
  • Lordosis- when the natural lordotic curve arches too inward, leading to excess pressure on the spine

When a severe reason is diagnosed, it’s essential to proceed with the proper care to lessen or control the pain. 

Treatment for Neck Spasms

Treatment is essential when neck pain is due to the following:

  • Injury or fall
  • Symptoms persist for more than a week
  • Pain returns after initially subsiding

Brushing off treatment after a serious diagnosis is hazardous. Most problems can quickly become progressive if not attended to promptly.

Chiropractic treatment is one of the most common and effective ways to diagnose and treat severe neck and back pain. Neck alignments can help lessen the discomfort you may feel in the day-to-day. Chiropractic treatment for neck pain can also help deter restless nights due to pain.

Spine Health and Wellness Can Help

With regular alignments and treatments, the right doctor can help you establish a stable and healthy routine. Spine Health and Wellness specialists are ready to alleviate your neck pain and help you avoid the adverse effects it can have on your daily routine.

Contact us today and allow us to help you get the treatment you need to be in the best condition to move forward without the stiff and limiting borders of neck pains.

Frequently asked questions

Why won't my neck spasm go away after a few days?
A neck spasm that lingers past about a week is often no longer just a simple muscle strain and may need evaluation. The post notes that persistent pain, pain returning after it seemed to improve, or spasms following an injury or fall should be checked rather than ignored, since untreated causes like misalignments or herniated discs can become progressively worse over time.
What symptoms from a neck spasm mean I should seek emergency care?
Neck spasms following a car accident, fall, or other trauma, or those linked to whiplash, should be treated as urgent rather than waited out. As general precaution, sudden severe pain with numbness, weakness, loss of coordination, or bladder or bowel changes warrants emergency evaluation, since these can signal a more serious spinal or neurological problem needing prompt medical attention.
Can poor posture or holding my phone wrong actually cause neck spasms?
Yes, according to the post, holding the neck in an unnatural position for long periods, such as cradling a phone between your head and shoulder, is a recognized cause of neck spasms. Other everyday triggers include poor posture, dehydration, straining the neck during exercise, and carrying heavy objects incorrectly, all of which can lead to involuntary muscle tightening and pain.
How does chiropractic treatment at Spine Health & Wellness help with neck spasms?
Chiropractic care aims to identify and address underlying causes of neck spasms, such as misalignments, rather than just masking the pain. At Spine Health & Wellness in North Texas, regular alignments and treatment are intended to help ease day to day discomfort and support better sleep, though results vary and ongoing or worsening symptoms should always be evaluated by a professional.
Gregory H. Stowe, DC
Founder of Spine Health & Wellness. Doctor of Chiropractic, Texas Designated Doctor and California Qualified Medical Evaluator.

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