If you have ever experienced a muscle spasm before then you’re certainly aware of how very painful this can be. When this occurs in the neck the pain is even worse and can be severe enough to cause severe debilitation in the affected individual.
What is a Neck Muscle Spasm?
A muscle spasm is when the muscles in the neck become stress or injured and causes the muscles to become stiff and very painful. Those who have a muscle spasm report that it is difficult to move their neck when they are bothered by the condition.
Causes of Neck Muscle Spasms
There are a number of things that can cause a neck muscle spasm to occur. This includes sleeping wrong, poor posture, stress, injuries and similar causes. Some people refer to muscle spasms as simply cramps and sometimes as a charley horse.
Symptoms of Muscle Spasms
There are also a number of symptoms of muscle spasms in the neck. For most people it is not difficult to determine that you are having a muscle spasm. The most common symptom that you will find is a neck that is difficult and very painful to move. Many people who are bothered with a muscle spasm in their neck are unable to function normally.
It is also possible for the neck muscle spasm to cause headaches, as the muscles that run from the shoulders up to the head are the muscles that are affected. It is also possible for the neck spasm to cause pain and aches in other areas of the body as well.
More Neck Muscle Spasms Information
There are many severities of neck muscle spasms. For some people they are very mild and can be easily ‘worked out’ with a little bit of massage and movement of the neck. Sometimes, however, the muscle spasms are much more severe and cause massive amounts of pain that must be treated with assistance from a trained doctor. It’s possible to experience muscle spasms in the neck every single day, but others will be bothered by them only on occasion.
The cause of the muscle spasm and the length of time that it has been allowed to carry on are oftentimes factors that influence the severity of the condition.
Treating neck Muscle Spasms
There are a number of ways that you can treat a muscle spasm. In most cases it is a good idea to use multiple source of treatments for the best results. Among the treatments available for neck muscle spasms at home:
– Massage: Sometimes the muscles in the neck need just a little bit of TLC, thus a massage is highly beneficial.
– Stretching: Another useful way to minimize the pain of your neck muscle spasm is through stretching. Some say that this is the absolute best treatment for the condition. Most people will try stretching as their first recourse of relief.
– Heat & Ice: Alternating between a cold ice pack and a hot hot pack will provide a great source of relief if you are bothered with a muscle spasm. You should apply the ice and heat for up to three times per day. It is especially beneficial to apply the ice and heat when you get up in the morning and again before you go to bed, but you can do this procedure any time of the day that you choose. Allow the ice to stay on the neck for a period of about 20 minutes, and the heat for 10 – 15 minutes.
– Medications: If you are trying everything and nothing seems to help you may want to try your luck with over-the-counter medications. There are medications that can relief both the pain and some of the inflammation that is caused when a spasm occurs.
If you are trying to treat your muscle spasm but nothing seems to work it may be time to make your way to the doctor. There are many treatments that he can offer to a patient in addition to hose that can be used at home.
Physical therapy is one of the options the doctor has. Physical therapy is reserved for those with severe cases of neck muscle spasms but it is highly beneficial to most people.
Additionally medications are available from the doctor. The prescription strength anti-inflammatories and pain killers work far better than those found on drug store shelves and available without a prescription.
You can also take steps towards the prevention of muscle neck spasms from occurring. Preventative measures include eliminating stress from your life and using proper posture.
