Stiff neck

definition

A Stiff neck always arises when the neck muscles respond to Bad posture, cold, Inflammation or is cramped, hardened and therefore less flexible to avoid pain. Every movement of the head, but especially turning and tilting up / down / left / right, is accompanied by pain in the back of the neck (neck), so that a significantly limited range of motion in the head and neck area is created. It is also possible for the pain to radiate into the head (headache in the back of the head) and the shoulders, which can be explained by the points of attachment and origin of the tense neck muscles. One differentiates between the acute of the chronic neck stiffnessThe latter is when the symptoms persist for more than 12 months and not, as in the acute form, usually go away on their own after a few days.

Symptoms

A stiff neck is due in most cases drawing or burning pain marked in the back of the neck, which can radiate into the back of the head, the shoulders or even the arms. Occasionally also occur Dizziness symptoms such as Ringing in the ears (Tinnitus) or Visual disturbances on.

The stiffness of the neck muscles is based on a Disease in the cervical spine area, for example through Vertebral blockages or Herniated discs in the cervical spine area If there is pressure on the nerve roots, this can add to the pain as well Force and / or Sensory touch disorders occur. The harmless, acute Neck stiffness usually disappears after a few days by itself or with support with relaxing measures. However, if it recurs or lasts longer than 12 months, a doctor should be consulted to clarify the cause. In addition, attention should be paid to whether other accompanying symptoms occur in addition to the stiff neck: a headache, fever, Impaired consciousness, a painful bending of the head to the chest as well cramps and Paralysis are warning signals that should be taken seriously and, if they occur, a doctor should be consulted immediately in order to rule out life-threatening, central diseases or, if necessary, to be able to treat them promptly.

Appointment with a back specialist?

I would be happy to advise you!

Who am I?
My name is dr. Nicolas Gumpert. I am a specialist in orthopedics and the founder of .
Various television programs and print media report regularly about my work. On HR television you can see me every 6 weeks live on "Hallo Hessen".
But now enough is indicated ;-)

The spine is difficult to treat. On the one hand it is exposed to high mechanical loads, on the other hand it has great mobility.

The treatment of the spine (e.g. herniated disc, facet syndrome, foramen stenosis, etc.) therefore requires a lot of experience.
I focus on a wide variety of diseases of the spine.
The aim of any treatment is treatment without surgery.

Which therapy achieves the best results in the long term can only be determined after looking at all of the information (Examination, X-ray, ultrasound, MRI, etc.) be assessed.

You can find me in:

• Lumedis - your orthopedic surgeon
  Kaiserstrasse 14
  60311 Frankfurt am Main

Directly to the online appointment arrangement
Unfortunately, it is currently only possible to make an appointment with private health insurers. I hope for your understanding!
Further information about myself can be found at Dr. Nicolas Gumpert

causes

Neck pain and a Tension of the neck muscles can have various causes, on the one hand in the immediate neck structures, but on the other hand they can also occur accompanying diseases in neighboring areas. The most common, harmless triggers for a stiff neck are simple ones Muscle tension because of a chronic inappropriate stress.

A long periods of sitting in everyday life, unnatural holding positions and frequent wearing of heavy loads, can lead to excessive strain on the neck muscles. This prolonged tension in the muscle fibers over time leads to the small Blood vesselsthat run in the muscles to help them with blood and oxygen to supply, be squeezed. This then results in a relative Reduced blood flow of the affected muscle as well as one Oxygen deficiencythat become a Hyperacidity of the muscle environment. In response, the muscle hardens and tightens. In addition to compressing the blood vessels, pressure can also be exerted on them annoy occur in the affected muscle area leading to a Nerve irritation (Tingling, numbness radiating into the shoulder / arm) and one Pain symptoms can lead.

But not only wrong stresses in everyday life, but also unfavorable sleeping positions or Cold drafts in the neck muscles can cause neck stiffness. In the latter case, the tension is triggered by the permanently acting cold air, which the muscles act on with tension Heat production reacts and cramped in the course.

But also psychological stressful situations, in which fear, stress and Tension are in the foreground, can be reflected in poor posture (pulled up shoulder, bowed head) and lead to a stiff neck. Furthermore, a stiff neck can also occur in the course of a cold occur and is then, as well as the classic Pain in limbs, head and muscles, to be regarded as an accompanying symptom. But simple ones can do the same Strains in the neck muscles to pain and compensatory hardening to lead.

The more complicated causes of neck stiffness include all of them Wear diseases of the Cervical spine. So can a Herniated disc of the cervical spine in the neck area to one Nerve root compression lead to pain in the area supplied by the respective nerve and also cause reflex muscle tension. You can do the same Osteoarthritis in the Vertebral body regionH, Spinal stiffeners (Spinal fusion), Vertebral blockages, Constrictions in the spinal canal (Spinal stenosis) and the osteoporosis manifest with muscle hardening.

Another cause can always be Injuries in the head and neck area be causal so that a Whiplash after z. B. a rear-end collision to muscle strain and hardening (and in the worst case to Vertebral fractures) in the neck area. But also inflammatory, infectious and tumorous diseases can cause neck pain and acute neck muscle tension. By Meningococci triggered, life-threatening, bacterial Meningitis (meningitis), is shown next to fever, Impaired consciousness, headache and nausea also with Neck stiffness and Neck stretch pain. Purulent abscesses in the pharynx / throat area can also lead to a stiff neck, as can tumors of the thyroid gland or metastases of the vertebrae.

Rheumatic diseases, again ankylosing spondylitis or the Rheumatoid arthritis, can, as well as the Scheuermann's disease and an existing scoliosis lead to incorrect posture in the spine and the resulting permanent incorrect strain on the neck muscles. Furthermore, the so-called chronic fiber muscle pain (Fibromyalgia) cause a frequently recurring, stiff neck.

therapy

One of the most important measures to be taken by a muscular tension Stiff necks that can be used independently are primarily those that relax the muscle and promote its blood flow. It is always helpful to carefully massage the affected person Muscle groups (preferably by a trained physiotherapist) and that Supply of heat, for example through warm relaxation baths or showers, hot water bottles, cotton scarves, neck wraps, warming plasters, e.g. ThermaCare®, from the pharmacy or hot rolls (roll up a towel, pour hot water over it, place it on the affected area and gradually roll it up - CAUTION: Risk of scalding if hanging up for too long!). Light stretching and movement exercises can also help loosen the stiff neck and loosen the hardening.

Taking simple ones helps against the pain Painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen, although the dosage should always be discussed with the treating doctor. If the cause of the stiff neck is inflammatory or infectious processes, it is an advanced one medical therapy to be initiated by the attending physician.

Stir the tension from bad posture in everyday life or degenerative spinal diseases a prescription of regular physiotherapy can also be helpful. The individual exercises to strain, Relaxation and balanced strengthening of the affected muscles, as well as those carried out by the physiotherapist Posture correction in everyday situations, can relieve tension and prevent a stiff neck from occurring again. Attempts should also be made to reduce excessive stress in everyday life and to avoid drafts in the neck area. Also on one optimal sleeping position should be respected.

If the tension and hardening do not subside by your own strength or if they last for an unusually long time, this is one Consultation and a detailed root cause research recommended by a doctor or orthopedic surgeon. In addition, further therapeutic measures carried out exclusively by a doctor are optional: an injection of pain reliever and anti-inflammatory agents directly into the affected, stiffened muscle, can promote relaxation locally and relieve the restrictive pain. The application of acupuncture and the implementation of the manual therapy or. Chiropractic by specially trained doctors to solve Articulated trestles and Tension to lead.

However, if the cause of the stiff neck is a bit more serious and is there, for example disc prolapse before, it may be that in some cases, in addition to the previously mentioned therapeutic measures, even more invasive interventions have to be carried out in order to remedy the symptoms. These include primarily Injections near the spine or nerve roots one Cortisone / pain reliever mixture under X-ray control or even a surgical procedure as a last resort.

prophylaxis

In order to avoid neck stiffness mainly caused by poor posture, you should always use a correct posture or. Sitting position be respected. Especially when sitting, it is important that the back straight and the upper body remains upright so that the knees are in right angle and feet flat on the floor, about hip-width apart.
When working at your desk, your forearms should too at right angles on the tabletop so that the upper arm and shoulder area are loose and not cramped. In general, the closer the arms and hands are to the body, the more relieving the position is on the back and neck muscles.
In addition, screens and monitors on the desk should always be placed so that the upper edge is aligned with it at least 50cm from the head about at eye level in order to avoid permanent head tilting up or down, which leads to tension. The optimal monitor height for the neck muscles is when you are looking into a correct sitting position falls down slightly.

Above all, that should also be avoided To phone with a between ear and shoulder Trapped telephone receiver: in order to prevent neck tension provoked by this posture, supportive technology such as headsets or hands-free systems should be used.

It is also important that in everyday life again and again Breaks made and Position changes done so that the neck muscles can be stretched, the back straightened and the shoulders relaxed. Balancing sports to strengthen the back and shoulder muscles, such as swimming, light endurance running and cycling, can compensate for poor posture, as well as enable regular exercises Yoga exercises and the progressive muscle relaxation targeted after Jacobsen Relaxation phases in everyday life.