Stiff neck annoying? this is the cause and a powerful way to overcome it

Have you ever had a sore and stiff neck? This condition can even appear at night or in the morning when you just wake up. Then, what are the causes of neck pain and stiffness, and how to deal with it? Check out the full explanation of neck pain that causes neck stiffness, below.

What happens when you have neck pain or stiff neck?

The neck is the structure of the highly flexible body movement system and is responsible for supporting the weight or weight of your head. Therefore, the neck is also very susceptible to injury or health problems that cause pain or stiffness and soreness.

Neck pain is a fairly common complaint and is widely experienced. This condition is characterized by discomfort felt in the neck or around it. Usually, your neck will feel stiff when you have neck pain, making it difficult for you to turn or turn.

Neck pain indicates a problem with the structure of the neck. This can attack the muscles, tendons, ligaments and bones in the neck area. Even so, a stiff neck is a condition that tends to be harmless and does not cause complications.

Neck pain can indicate that the neck may have been overused. This neck pain can actually heal or get better on its own within 1-2 weeks, but it may completely disappear and no longer recur after going through 8-12 weeks.

However, it is possible that neck pain that causes neck stiffness is a symptom of a serious condition. There are several serious diseases that are often associated with this one condition.

Therefore, immediately consult a doctor if the neck pain you feel does not get better or it gets worse.

Signs and symptoms of neck pain

The signs and symptoms of neck pain depend on its severity. That is, the symptoms that appear may vary and vary from person to person. Here are the common symptoms of neck pain that you may have experienced:

• Pain that gets worse and feels in the head and neck area and lasts for a long time.
• The pain reaches other parts of the body, such as the shoulders, arms, and knuckles.
• Muscle spasm or muscle tension.
• Difficulty moving your head.
• The head hurts.
• Sleep disturbance.
• The neck feels weak, stiff, and sometimes numb.

There are signs and symptoms that may not be listed above. If you have concerns about a particular symptom, consult a doctor.

Various possible causes of neck pain

Here are some of the possible causes of neck stiffness and soreness:

1. Minor injury to the neck

One of the causes of neck pain and stiffness is muscle spasms. Usually, muscle spasms in the neck occur due to a minor injury that is triggered by a number of things, from poor posture to overly strenuous physical activity.

Poor posture is generally done by almost all people when doing the activities below:

• Doing a head tilt motion for too long.
• Sleep with the wrong head or neck position.
• Work at the computer in a bent position.
• Too long watching TV or reading books.
• Gardening.
• Looking at the phone with a down position for too long.

These conditions can cause the muscles in the neck to experience tension, even the potential for sprains or sprains. In addition to adults, musculoskeletal disorders that attack the muscular system and skeletal system in the neck area can also be experienced by children.

2. Injury whiplash

Injury whiplash is a condition when your head and neck jerk suddenly back and forth. Whiplash is another term used for neck sprains. This condition can cause the soft tissue in the neck and spine to be pulled and damaged.

Generally, injuries whiplash occurs when someone has a motor vehicle accident. However, it is also possible to have disturbances in this movement system as you go up roller coaster and activities that make this condition possible.

3. Arthritis

Stiff neck can also result from arthritis. Two types of arthritis, namely spondylosis and osteoarthritis, can cause neck pain and difficulty moving. This condition occurs because the cartilage pads between the vertebrae begin to erode.

When the cartilage thins, your body can form bone spurs that affect joint movement and cause pain in the neck and head area related to pressure on the nerves. Apart from the two types of arthritis that have been mentioned, rheumatoid arthritis can also be one of the causes of pain and stiffness in the neck area.

4. Meningitis

Meningitis is an inflammation of the fluids and membranes that surround the brain and spine. Usually, this disease is more commonly known as inflammation of the lining of the brain. Meningitis is usually caused by a viral infection. However, this condition can also be caused by a bacterial, parasitic, or fungal infection.

Meningitis can also be a cause of neck pain in children. One of the health conditions that causes neck pain and stiffness generally causes swelling that triggers symptoms such as headache, fever, and stiff neck.

5. Stress

Stress is also one of the causes of neck stiffness and pain. When you are under stress, your muscles become tense. A stiff neck is often the first signal that you are feeling stressed.

6. Degenerative disorders

There are several degenerative disorders, which are disorders that occur as a result of the aging process, which can relate to your joints, spine, muscles, and other parts of your neck and cause pain.

This condition can occur from aging or from other health conditions. Apart from arthritis, some of these degenerative conditions are inflammation of the nerves, cervical disc degeneration , and fractures in the neck.

7. Other causes

Some of the other health problems that can cause neck stiffness include:

• Fibromyalgia.
• Spinal stenosis.
• Osteoporosis.
• Infection.
• Tumor.
• Spinal cancer.

Medications and treatments for neck pain

Although neck pain is not dangerous and can go away on its own, you may often feel annoyed by this condition. Therefore, try the following remedies and treatments that you can do:

1. Use of pain relievers

If the stiffness in the neck becomes unbearable, try taking medications that can help relieve or relieve neck pain. Pain relievers such as paracetamol are one of the effective drugs to treat stiff necks.

Then, there are also muscle pain relievers or drugs non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen and naproxen can also help reduce pain. However, the use of this drug is certainly better if prescribed by a doctor.

The reason is, NSAID drugs can interact with other drugs, such as blood thinners (warfarin). Therefore, it is better to ask your doctor or pharmacist first before you take these drugs.

2. Physical therapy

If you don't really like using drugs to treat a stiff and sore neck, there are several therapies you can do. However, one of the most common types of therapy to treat this condition is physical therapy or physiotherapy.

This therapy is useful to help you correct your posture and help your neck return to normal function. This therapy can also be done to prevent the recurrence of pain and stiffness in the neck.

Apart from physical therapy, several types of therapy that can be done are Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) and therapy traction and short-term immobilization.

3. Operations

According to the Mayo Clinic, surgery can also be an alternative for a stiff and sore neck. Moreover, if the use of drugs and therapy is not successful. Your doctor will advise you to undergo a surgical procedure or surgery.

However, this procedure is rarely performed, given the very low incidence of severe neck stiffness.

4. Compress cold water or warm water

The easiest way to deal with a stiff neck is to relieve the pain with a compress. This method is perfect for the second or third day after the neck feels uncomfortable.

To compress, you can use cold water or warm water. The cold and hot temperatures from the compress can actually relax tense muscles. This can relax stiff neck muscles.

Compress it for 20 minutes, using either hot or cold water. It is not recommended to compress it for more than 20 minutes or a day because it can cause skin problems.

5. Stretching exercises

Stretching can help with a stiff neck. There are several stretching movements that you can practice, such as:

Lifted up and lowered my head

This is the most basic movement for dealing with a stiff neck.

You can do this sitting or standing. Start in an upright position facing forward, then follow these steps:

1. Lower your chin towards your chest and hold it for 15-30 seconds. Keeping your muscles relaxed, then slowly raise your head.
2. Raise your chin up so that the base of your head is brought back. Hold for 10 seconds, then return to starting position.
3. Repeat both movements several times. Do it regularly every day.

Tilting head

This stretching motion can flex your neck muscles effectively, making them effective for treating stiff necks.

To do this, stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and your arms at your sides. Then, follow these steps:

1. Tilt your head to the right as if you want to touch your shoulder with your ear. Stop when you feel your neck muscles stretch.
2. Hold for 5-10 seconds, then return to the starting position.
3. Repeat the same movement towards the left. Do up to 10 repetitions.
4. To add flexibility to your neck, you can also place your palms on your tilted head. Press gently with your fingers, and stop if your neck starts to ache.

6. Reduce stress and pay attention back to physical activity

Stress can put strain on your muscles. This can cause your neck to become stiff. Well, ways to reduce stress and deal with a sore and stiff neck that you can choose from, include:

• Do meditation by catching your breath and calming your mind.
• Make yourself available for hobbies, such as listening to music, knitting, painting, and so on.
• Take time off from work for the holidays.

Balance all that with physical activity such as sports. Activities such as yoga and swimming can help reduce stress in the brain as long as they are done properly.