How to Get Rid of Crick in Neck: Causes and Treatment

What you call a crick in the neck, others call a sore neck. Whatever you like to call it, it is a pain in the neck (pun intended!) to experience. There are several causes of the pain and you can actually avoid most of them.

Causes and Characteristics of Torticollis

Torticollis is a type of dystonia characterized by contraction of the neck muscles that prevents the head from moving properly. You feel a kind of “pull” and pain when wanting to perform certain movements. Most of the time it is caused by inflammation of the sternocleidomastoid muscle. By this post we are going to know about how to get rid of crick in neck.

Researchers distinguish between two types of neck pain: axial pain and radicular pain. The first is concentrated in the cervical spine, and can sometimes extend to the shoulders. The second spreads along the nerves, so it can affect the back of the head or one of the arms.

The causes of torticollis are diverse. Experts point to the following catalysts:

• Bad position of the head when sleeping.
• Weak or overused neck muscles.
• Stress, anxiety and depression.
• Neuromusculoskeletal disorders (those that affect the bones, muscles, and nerves).
• Forceful or forceful movements in the neck.
• Maintain a posture for a long time (working in front of the computer, for example).
• Jaw joint problems.

The symptoms of torticollis are easy to recognize: stiff neck, severe pain in the neck when trying to make a specific movement and head in an unusual position.

It is estimated that up to 50% of adults experience neck pain annually, with many of these cases progressing to torticollis.

Here are some ways how to get rid of crick in neck as well as how to avoid getting it:

Pain Relievers

Pain killers are very convenient to take when your neck is stiff, painful, and inflamed. Doctors usually recommend acetaminophen, an anti-inflammatory drug, or a combination of both. While not everybody is happy popping pain relievers every time they feel pain, the convenience of the relief and return of the ability to move may be worth it to some people.

Do not take any medication on an empty stomach. Some types of medicine can damage your stomach lining if taken without eating first.

Apply Heat

Most experts will tell you to apply heat to the affected area. This will loosen stiff and sore muscles resulting in some freedom of movement and easing of discomfort. Make sure that you do not apply the heating pad on your skin for more than ten minutes.

If it is too hot, remove the pad and place a buffer (face towel or soft shirt over your skin before re-applying heat.

It is important to remember to take a break from the heat pad because your skin might be damaged from excessive and prolonged use. You can also use a warm compress to apply heat.

Hydrotherapy and Steam

Aside from the direct application of heat through the use of a heating pad and a warm compress, you can also employ the use of a warm shower, soak in a warm bath and stay in a steam room. The jets of water from a warm shower can act as a massage and help to relieve the discomfort and pain.

Soaking in a warm bath can also help as long as you make it a point to submerge your neck and shoulders in the warm water for a period of time.

The steam room acts the same way as a warm soak in a tub. Consider your comfort when you use hot water to ease the pain. If it is too much heat, take a break or add some cold water to take the edge off the heat.

Massage

If you enjoy getting a massage, you will benefit from it if you have a crick in the neck. A masseuse is highly trained to help loosen muscles and to get rid of stiffness in the body. A deep tissue massage around the area of your shoulder and neck will feel so good. So its a very good way how to get rid of crick in neck.

Some massages are accompanied by heat therapy in the form of hot stones, heating pads, and warm compresses.

Physical Therapy

If your pain and discomfort last for several days, it may be best to arrange an appointment to see a physical therapist. They can recommend a program to get rid of the pain as well as to prevent it from happening again.

You might need to visit the clinic for several days while the therapist works on your issue.

Stretching

You can also try to gently stretch your neck and shoulder muscles to see how far you can go. Pushing your range of motion as far as it is comfortable helps loosen stiff muscles and ease your agony. Concentrate on your neck, head, and shoulder muscles.

Move slowly and gently when you look to the left as far as you can.

Do the same with the other side. Try pulling your head downwards in all four directions (front, back, left, and right). Rotate your head and shoulders to get rid of stiffness. Doing thorough stretches every day helps to prevent a crick in the neck.

Yoga

Whether you practice yoga or not, using this ancient form of breathing and stretching can alleviate the pain and discomfort of stiff muscles. Several poses actually address neck pain, shoulder pain, back pain, and other choric ailments that affect us.

Yoga yields better results if you do it regularly. The longer you practice it, the more limber you get. The breathing technique that you learn from it also helps with other issues that affect sore and stiff muscles.

Use a Neck Collar

A neck collar bears the weight of our 5-kilo head for a short period of time. Your stiff and overworked neck muscles will feel some relief when you use one. Prolonged and frequent use of this contraption is not recommended by experts since your neck muscles might grow weak.

Final Words

The torticollis should go away in a matter of days. If it goes on for a long time, and you develop additional symptoms such as a severe headache, do not hesitate to consult a professional. This can determine the exact cause and suggest a personalized treatment.

The idea is to use it sparingly and only as a relief how to get rid of crick in neck for times when you have a crick in the neck.