Crook in neck or a kinked neck is an unpleasant pain experienced in the neck. It makes your neck and head movement difficult due to pain and spasm of the neck muscles. Often, you may experience stiffness in your neck after getting up in the morning due to an awkward sleeping position; however it is not the only reason for crook in neck.
Pain in neck can be mild or severe, it can occur spontaneously or gradually. Mostly crook in neck is a spontaneous acute condition. Though anyone can suffer from neck stiffness and pain arising from crook neck, women are more prone to this debilitating condition. When crook in neck is severe, the pain may extend up to the shoulder blade and to the tip of the shoulder joint.
What are the Causes of Crook in Neck?
Medically crook in neck is referred to as neck stiffness. Crook in neck is usually the result of sleeping in an improper posture at night.
Cervical spondylosis is second most common reason for crook in neck. The condition is associated with problem in cervical spine. The nerve fibers originating from the cervical region of spinal cord are compressed due to reduced space between two cervical vertebras. This pinched nerve in the cervical region causes neck pain and stiffness.
Injury in the neck region, prolonged use of computer, osteoporosis, and arthritis are other triggering factors for pain and restriction of neck movement.
Though the exact reason for crook in neck is not clear on many instances, the above causes are well accepted by medical fraternity.
Treatment on How to Get Rid of Stiff Neck
Neck stiffness or crook in neck is not a serious condition except for the inconvenience and irritation that a person experiences, due to pain and restricted neck movement. Generally the condition heals in two to three days, in some persons it may take few more days to heal. however, when the underlying condition is cervical spondylosis or an injury it may take more time to heal. Consulting your physician is imminent in such situation.
- Crook in neck can be treated at home with hot fomentation. It relieves the strain and stress on the neck muscles and improves the circulation in neck muscles.
- Many people advocate use of ice fomentation during first few days. Put some ice in a clean towel and apply it on the inflamed area for not more than 10 minutes. Follow the procedure two to three times in a day.
- For first few days do not try to overstretch your neck as it will aggravate the condition.
- Alternative therapies such as acupressure and acupuncture are very useful in relieving the condition.
- Many people have found relief in pain and neck movement after consulting a chiropractor. A chiropractor can effectively manipulate the spine and neck movements and relieve the muscular spasms.
In the last, regular exercise, good body posture and healthy life style are the three necessary regimens to prevent recurrent crook in neck.
Home Remedies and Exercise for Crook Neck
Certain home remedies and exercise are also useful to eliminate symptoms of crook neck.
- A gentle massage with coconut oil or a balm will help to eliminate pain and initiate fast healing process of the stressed muscles. It also improves blood circulation in the neck tissues.
- Check your sleeping posture if it is usually a morning problem.
- Rotating your arm clockwise and anticlockwise few times in a day help to relax the muscles of the neck. Your pain and neck stiffness may be relieved with this simple exercise.
- Eat potassium rich food such as banana, avocados, dates, baked potatoes, milk, etc. potassium rich foods help to relax muscular spasms.
- While working on a computer, always turn your neck after 10 to 15 minutes clockwise and anticlockwise to prevent stress and spasm of neck muscles.