The neck is a unique part of the body. It holds and supports the head, one of the heaviest parts of the body, and keeps it upright. There are times unbeknownst that the neck experiences a kink, stiffness, or a crick that can appear so suddenly but doesn’t easily resolve. The person is left unable to move his or head without suffering great, shooting pain.
This condition is also known as pain in the neck, neck crick, neck stiffness and many more.
- The severity of the condition can range from mild to severe neck pain or stiffness but most cases involve only mild to moderate pain.
- The condition can develop not from intentional movements of the body. The most common cases result from every day wear and tear of neck joints, overuse, or even injury.
- Common cases of neck stiffness occur when the person is doing projects at home, doing work-related tasks, performing sports, or performing recreational activities.
- Specific activities that cause a pain in the neck include:
- The neck is constantly in a forward posture while the individual is working, reading, or watching television.
- Sleeping on a pillow that does not properly support the neck such as a pillow that is too high or too flat.
- Sleeping flat on the stomach with neck twisted at the side.
- Spending long periods of time on the “thinker’s pose”.
- Stress or muscle tension involving the muscles of the back or neck.
- Work or exercise involving the upper arms and body.
What is a Kink in the Neck?
This refers to a neck pain that may be localized in the neck only or may spread to the areas of the shoulder, arms, upper back, and even cause a headache.
- A neck pain or crick can be defined as any pain felt anywhere from the shoulders to the base of the skull.
- When a neck crick is experience, movement is often limited more to one side only.
- A pain in the neck may be caused by any injury of the muscles, ligaments, bones, joints, and discs located in the neck such as the cervical spine, cervical discs, and the neck muscles and ligaments.
- The pain in the neck can be caused by common injuries such as improper position or overuse or it can also be caused by minor or major injuries.
- Minor or acute injuries that can cause neck pain include falling only a short distance, tripping, and excessive spine twisting.
- Major or severe neck injuries include whiplash injuries, fall from a great height, trauma or blow to the top or back of the head, sports injuries, penetration injuries, or pressure injuries such as strangulation.
- Present medical conditions may also cause neck stiffness or pain. These include arthritis, meningitis, flu, heart attack, and torticollis.
Neck Kink Symptoms
All symptoms may not be evident in some cases. Depending on the cause for the pain, only some of the symptoms may be experienced by the individual.
- Neck pain ranging from mild to severe pain.
- Feeling of neck stiffness.
- Limited physical mobility of the neck. Movement only limited to one side.
- Headache
- Pain that spreads to the arms, upper back, and shoulders.
- Bruising
- Swelling
Neck Kink Relief Remedy
Natural remedies are effective for treating neck pain. For more serious injuries that result in neck pain, medical attention is advised.
- Heat application. Heat can be applied to the area affected to help stimulate blood flow to the muscles which has been restricted.
- Mentholated balm application. This is an effective and conservative way of relieving neck pain.
- Apply poultice of cloves on the area of the neck affected. Cloves are known to be effective in curing ailments such as muscular cramps, sprains, spasms, and neck pains.
- Ginger paste can be applied to affected area to serve as an effective painkiller.
- Slow and simple neck exercises can help relieve neck pain.
- Wearing a support collar can help stabilize the neck and keep it upright and immobile for faster healing.
- Exercise such as walking to improve blood flow to the muscles of the neck.
- Taking pain relievers for medical relief of pain.