Neck pain is a pretty common complaint that most of us have experienced at one time or another. Having a stiff neck or neck pain is no fun. It can interfere with your daily activities in a big way. Take driving a car as an example. You probably don’t realize how much you turn your head while driving until you have a stiff neck. That’s just one example of how it can disrupt your routine.

We hope that this article will help you to prevent and/or find stiff neck relief.

What is a Stiff Neck?

A stiff neck will usually feel tight and is uncomfortable, if not impossible, to move your head from side to side or in an up and down motion. Quite often, a stiff neck is caused by muscle strain but it can also be a symptom of other problems. So what can actually cause you to have a stiff neck?

Stiff Neck Causes

There are a number of things that can cause you to have a stiff neck or neck pain. Here are some of the most likely causes of neck pain and their description.

• Any accident that caused your head to move around violently can damage the neck muscles, which can cause you to have a stiff neck.
• Emotional stress. Stress can cause your muscles to tense up and give you neck pain.
• Viral infections, such as the flu can often come with symptoms like a stiff neck.
• Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid arthritis can cause inflammation and pain in the joints including the neck.
• Spinal problems. A herniated disc or a pinched nerve can cause neck stiffness that sometimes will radiate into your arms and legs.

You have a better chance of preventing getting a stiff neck when you know what can cause them. Let’s next look at what to do to relieve your neck pain when prevention isn’t possible such as in the case of viral infection or injury due to an accident.

How to get rid of a stiff neck

If you are someone who gets a stiff neck from time to time, then you may want to know how to relieve the pain. Here are some things you can do to help ease your neck pain:

• Use ice. To help reduce the inflammation that causes a stiff neck, apply a cold pack or ice wrapped in a towel, for no more than 20 minutes. Do this several times a day.
• Use heat. Heat can help relax sore muscles. Try taking a warm shower, or using hot compress. However, use this technique with caution. Sometimes heat can aggravate inflammation.
• Over-the-counter pain relievers. Try pain relievers such as ibuprofen, acetaminophen, naproxen, or aspirin. Be sure to follow the directions on the package.
• Take a few days off from sports, heavy lifting, or other activities that can aggravate your neck pain symptoms.
• Stretch your neck muscles by slowly turning your head to one side and hold it for 30 seconds. Then do the same thing in the other direction and up-and-down. Go very slowly and stretch as far as your pain allows.
• Make an appointment. Call Dawn of Health Chiropractic and let Dr. Strunk help take away your pain.

If you have been suffering from a stiff neck for more than a week, then you should see a doctor.  Atlas Orthogonal Chiropractor, Dr. Strunk, is an expert in eliminating neck pain. Be proactive about getting stiff neck relief and schedule an appointment for a complimentary consultation.