Understanding Neck Spasms: How to Find Relief | Stem Cell, PRP, Acupuncture in Queens & Long Island, New York

What Are Neck Spasms?

A spasm is an involuntary tightening of muscle in your body. It often causes intense pain. This pain can last for minutes, hours, or days after the muscle relaxes and the spasm subsides.

Spasms can happen in any part of your body where there’s a muscle, including your neck.

Neck Spasm Causes

There are many possible causes of neck spasms. For example, you might develop a neck spasm if you:

• strain your neck during exercise
• carry something heavy with one or both of your arms
• place a lot of weight on one of your shoulders with a heavy bag
• hold your neck in an unnatural position for an extended period of time, such as when cradling a phone between your shoulder and ear or when sleeping in an odd position

Other common causes of neck spasms include:

• emotional stress
• poor posture, such as slouching or head tilting
• dehydration, which can cause muscle cramps and spasms

Less common but more serious causes of neck spasms include:

• meningitis, a very serious infection that causes swelling in the brain and spinal cord
• cervical spondylosis, a type of arthritis that can affect the spine
• ankylosing spondylitis, a condition that causes vertebrae in the spine to fuse
• spasmodic torticollis, also known as cervical dystonia, happens when neck muscles tighten involuntarily and make your head twist to one side
• spinal stenosis, which happens when open spaces in the spine narrow
• temporomandibular joint disorders, also known as TMJs or TMDs, which affect the jaw and muscles that surround it
• trauma from accidents or falls
• whiplash
• herniated disc

Neck Spasm Symptoms

If you experience a neck spasm, you’ll feel a sudden and sharp pain in one or more parts of your neck, deep in the muscle tissue. The affected muscle might also feel hard or tight. It might be painful to move your neck around.

Neck Spasm Exercises

Most common, nonserious causes of neck spasms can be treated without medical intervention. If you think you might have a serious neck injury or medical condition, make an appointment with your doctor.

In most cases, gently stretching your neck can help ease stiffness, soreness, and spasms.

Try these three easy necks stretches at home or work:

Simple Neck Stretch

1. Sit or stand with your head looking forward.
2. Gently turn your head to the right.
3. Lightly place your right hand on the back of your head and allow the weight of your hand to push your chin down toward the right side of your chest.
4. Relax your muscles and hold your head in this position for 15 seconds.
5. Repeat this stretch three times on each side.

Scalene Stretch

1. Sit or stand with your arms hanging down at your side.
2. Reach your hands behind your back and grasp your left wrist with your right hand.
3. Gently pull your left arm down and tilt your head to the right side until you feel a slight stretch in your neck.
4. Hold this stretch for 15 to 30 seconds.
5. Repeat this stretch three times on each side.

Home remedies

Using one or more home remedies might help relieve neck spasms.

Over-the-counter pain relievers

To reduce neck pain from a neck spasm, it might help to take an over-the-counter (OTC) pain reliever, such as:

• aspirin (Bufferin)
• ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin)
• naproxen sodium (Aleve)
• acetaminophen (Tylenol)

Many OTC pain relievers ease muscle tension by reducing inflammation that can worsen the pain of a neck spasm. Read and follow the dosage directions provided on the package of the pain reliever. Some pain relievers can be harmful if used in excess.

Ice pack

Applying an ice pack or cold compress to sore muscles in your neck might provide relief from pain, especially in the first couple of days after you experience a neck spasm.

Don’t put ice or ice packs directly on your skin. Instead, wrap an ice pack or bag of ice in a thin cloth or towel. Apply the wrapped ice to the sore part of your neck for a maximum of 10 minutes at a time.

Reapply the wrapped ice as often as once an hour for the first 48 to 72 hours after a neck spasm.

Heat therapy

Heat therapy might also help soothe pain in your neck. For example, you might find it helpful to take a warm shower or press a warm cloth, warm water bottle, or heating pad to your neck.

To avoid burns, always check the temperature before you apply heat therapy to your neck. If you’re using a warm water bottle or heating pad, place a thin cloth between it and your skin. Avoid falling asleep with a heating pad on your skin.

Massage

Massage is another home treatment that might help relieve neck pain and spasms. Applying pressure to your neck muscles can promote relaxation and relieve tension and pain. One 2014 study found that even short massage treatments can greatly reduce neck pain.

You can give yourself a massage by pressing gently but firmly into the tight part of your neck muscle and moving your fingers in a small circular motion. Or ask a friend or family member to help massage the area.

Light activity

Rest is an important part of the recovery process, but total inactivity is rarely recommended.

Try to keep moving, while taking time off from strenuous activities. For example, avoid lifting heavy objects, twisting your neck or upper back, or taking part in contact sports until your symptoms subside. Stick with gentle stretches and other light activities that you can do without making the pain in your neck worse.

When to call your doctor

Some causes of neck spasms are more serious than others. Be sure to call your doctor if:

• your neck pain is the result of an injury or fall
• you develop numbness in your back, limbs, or other body parts
• you have trouble moving your limbs or lose control of your bladder or bowels
• your symptoms make it difficult to sleep at night or take part in normal activities
• your symptoms don’t get better after a week
• your symptoms return after subsiding

Seek emergency medical attention if you develop symptoms of meningitis, including a stiff neck and high fever over 100.0°F (37.8°C). Other potential symptoms of meningitis include:

• chills
• headache
• purple areas on your skin that look like bruises

Your doctor can help diagnose the cause of your symptoms and recommend an appropriate treatment plan.

Precision Pain Care and Rehabilitation has two convenient locations in Richmond Hill – Queens and New Hyde Park – Long Island. Call the Richmond Hill office at (718) 215-1888, or (516) 419-4480 for the Long Island office, to arrange an appointment with our Interventional Pain Management Specialist, Dr. Jeffrey Chacko.