Causes of a Stiff Neck

I have had a stiff neck for maybe 2 weeks. Seems worse now. I thought it may be caused from A/C in my car/husbands van and at home also. is this a possibility?
Yes I was in a car accident 2 years ago last June, but I don’t think this is connected at all.
Thank You.
Jennie

Jennie, you may want to check out some of the articles on the site about whiplash. For example: http://backandneck.about.com/od/conditions/a/whiplash2.htm

Also, it sounds like you might want to have it checked with a doctor or chiropractor. Good Luck. Anne

What is the anatomic/neurologic basis of the days-long pain one gets from “sleeping in a funny position”?

Seth,

Sleeping involves posture, just as any activity (ie sitting, standing). So, just as with other postural considerations, if one sleeps in a non-neutral position, joints are not at rest. This can cause muscle tension, as muscles “hold” positions. Tight muscles can compress nerves, and that will likely cause pain. How long the pain lasts differs from person to person, but probably is inversely related to how well muscle tension is released during the day following.

Here is a related article on the pinched nerve: http://backandneck.about.com/od/p/g/pinchednerve.htm

My boyfriend has had a stiff neck for over a month and a half. It pretty much started when he got back from boot camp and moved into his brother’s apartment, where he sleeps on an air matress. Could the matress be the cause or could it be something more serious?

Anna,
If you or your boyfriend are at all unsure you should have it checked by a doctor. Is he experiencing any other symptoms that are out of the ordinary (neck-related or otherwise)?

Anne

i have a neck pain. my neck was so stiff that i couldn’t even lay down on the bed or get up from the bed. if i press too much pressure on my foot when walking, it triggers the pain. my pain scale is 9-10. i can’t even walk down or up the stairs without holding the handrails and i have to walk very slowly and i have to make sure not to put too much pressure on either foot. i can’t even open my mouth really wide to eat, and i can feel the pain on my neck even when i swallow without any food. i went to ER and prescribed me Toradol 10 mg and Valium 2mg. i have to take these four times a day. if i missed taking these, i would be in terrible pain and it would put pressure in my head and gives me a headache. without the medications given to me, i wouldn’t be able to move around. i cry from pain. sobbing even triggers the pain stabbing-like on my neck. if i turn just a little bit not even an inch move, it hurt so back that i have to close my eyes and hold my breath. is there anything more i can do, do i need a chiropractor to see me, is this really just a stiffneck, pinched nerve? i have this for more than 2 days now..please help..

Kathleen,

If the doctors at the emergency room only gave you pain killers, you may want to schedule an appointment with either your family physician, a reputable chiropractor, or a reputable osteopath, to help you determine what is causing the pain and what to do about it over the long term. If you do go see your family physician, she or he might refer you to a spine specialist.

Anne

I was in a car accident a month ago. I hit them with the front of my car. at 30mph, I hit the steering wheel with my head. After 2 and half hours later, i started getting sore in my neck, and with a headache. Now it has been a month and my neck and headaches has only got worse. My doctor had me do a cat scan. Did not chow nothing. He put me on muscle relaxers. But i live now with constant pain.in my neck mosly on my left side. down my shoulder and arms. I to am just last couple of days bee having my left leg gives out on me when i walk.Could i have a pinched nurve?

Bob,
Sorry to hear about your accident. Did your doctor give you a physical examination along with your cat scan? It sounds like you do have what they call “nerve involvement”, but only a competent and qualified physician can tell you exactly what is going on. You may wish to look at my article Types of Back Pain Doctors to see if there may be someone else you might work with more effectively. As a patient, you have the right to choose a physician or chiropractor who is capable and has their examination skills up-to-date. You might need to go shopping until you find a doctor who can really help you!

I have had a stiff neck for 2 day because of sleeping in funny position and I apply a hot bed bath only in may Lower Extremities. Is it OK to bath in my Upper extremities even it causing pain? what is the best way to prevent a stiff neck?

Alvin,
Because it has been more than 2 days, and if you are sure your stiff neck is due to “sleeping in funny position”, then a hot bath might be just the thing! You could also try a hot pack on the area. Another thing that could work would be ice – just take a bag of frozen vegetables and put a towel around it and put that on your sore neck muscles. If the pain persists, I would suggest you have it checked out, to be sure it is not something more serious in nature.

I’ve had a stiff neck for a little over a month. Its stiff right at the base of my skull. It hurts to turn my head to either side and the pain has been getting worse. I don’t really have any other symptoms but I’m starting to worry about it. Do you have any suggestions?

Hi, Meredith,
I think you should have it checked by a doctor or physical therapist, as the pain is not going away by itself…
Best,
Anne

i hurt my neck today when doing sprint when i was running it just snapped and now i cant move it to the left without it hurting alot . do i have whiplash???

Two weeks ago I did a bad roll in my martial arts class and I landed on my neck and shoulder. It tool over a week before I could move my shoulder normally again so I just thought I troe some tissue. But my neck and shoulder still bother me when I sleep on my right side. Now I have symptoms of a stiff neck only it seems more extreme pain wise then a stiff neck usually feels. Should I be worried?

Jen, that sounds like something you should have checked by a doctor. Since it has been a week and you are still in pain, I think you should try to get to the bottom of it. Have you heard of physiatry? It is a medical speciality that non-surgically treats physical problems such as yours. Other than that, there are a number of different kinds of doctors you could go see. This article lists the main types.Here is a list of symptoms that indicate you should see someone for back or neck pain.

Chris, (15),

No one can diagnose a neck condition over the internet – you would be doing yourself a disservice by believing what some one might think it is.

I think the best thing for you to do is to go have it checked by a doctor. As I mentioned in the post above here is a list of the types of doctors you could go see for a neck injury as you’ve described. My favorite, and the type of doctor I would suggest is a physiatrist. The physiatrist is an MD who non-surgically treats physical injuries such as yours.

Best of luck with it!

Years ago I was having 8-hour headaches three times a week (not migraines). My MD just prescribed painkillers that were useless. I went to a good chiropractor who discovered my cervical spine did not have any curve and all the neck muscles were swollen and inflamed. He eliminated my headaches with treatment.

Chiropractic treatment is now a staple of my health care program. When I moved and a few days later had crippling back pain, I found a new chiropractor who took care of it.

There are terrible chiropractors who just keep you coming back for ages. In my experience, and unless you are in a severe fibromyalgic flare, you should begin to get relief within two or three visits if your chiropractor is a good one. I’ve been blessed in mine. Without chiropractic, I’m sure I would have had back surgery long ago.

Thanks for your comment, Marcia! One great thing about chiropractors is that they mobilize the spine, using their hands. Sometimes the problem is that a bone is out of place, which can affect nerves and/or insult/overstretch/inflame/cause spasm to the soft tissue.

I couldn’t get any sleep last night. My muscles feel sore and I feel rundown. I have no symptoms of being sick or anything, but I just feel weak and tired. I have no pain at all in my neck, but I feel a tightness down by where the neck meets the shoulder. Is it from sleeping wrong or neglect of sleep?

Occasionally, I will wake up from a normal night’s sleep & not be able to turn my head to a certain direction. This seems to occur when I’ve had a cold virus and sometimes a low fever. Can a cold virus affect neck muscles/nerves like that? The neck pain/stiffness is usually gone when the cold symptoms are gone. All three of my adult children have also experienced this, but I can’t seem to find any information on this issue. What can you tell me?

Megh and Julian,

Yes, I was going to suggest that perhaps Julian was coming down with something. I am currently writing an article on the proverbial “crick in the neck” and will include a section on colds and flus as a possible cause. So please be patient, and I should have this article published in a few weeks. But don’t forget, meningitis, for which stiff neck is one symptom, often masquerades as the flu, and no one is the wiser until the damage is done. So it is best to get it checked…

I suggest you try taking the Meningitis Awareness Quiz to see if you know enough to protect yourself from this potentially fatal disease. You may also want to read up on meningitis, including signs and symptoms, and how to rule out the possibility of meningitis. But if you at all suspect you have it, it is best to see a doctor asap, to avoid permanent damage.

Well, I was hospitalized with a febrile seizure two or more years ago. They checked for everything: epilepsy, meningitis, HIV, etc. They did a spinal tap, MRI, the works. What they found was that I had septic shock. It was awful. It caused a high fever, and I had no epilepsy, meningitis, or anything else. I found out that my neck has been like this because I was sleeping funny. I read the article on your site about sleeping positions, and found that most of the positions I did caused the discomfort. It feels better now, and I feel nothing out of the ordinary. Thank you, though.

Julian,

Well, it is certainly good to know it is not serious.

I am glad the articles on sleep position were of value to you. And as I mentioned, soon there will be a guide to the “crick in the neck” on this site. Most people get this type of pain due to funny sleep positions, so the guide will be adding more information to the articles you’ve already read.

Anne

My daughter is 15. She just started playing lacrosse. When she is doing the two mile run to warm up she gets neck pain and a headache that goes away when she stops. Any ideas?

Debbie,

Without having seen your daughter in action, my first thought would be how strong – and flexible – is her core musculature? The human posture is similar to building blocks – i.e. what is underneath supports that which is on top. So the head is supported by the vertebrae of the upper spine, which is supported by the lower vertebrae, which is supported by the pelvis, etc.

Balanced strength of muscles of the trunk and back go a long way toward supporting the weight of the weight of the very moveable head.

Also, I would think that shoulder girdle stabilization exercises may help. I will be writing and illustrating basic shoulder stabilization exercises in the future, but in the meanwhile, they consist of working the lats, serratus anterior and other shoulder muscles while in a closed kinetic chain position.

Does your daughter do neck exercises? Perhaps she could ask an athletic trainer for some guidance on conditioning exercises that could help reduce the pain.

And last, if this problem persists, especially after beginning a conditioning program specifically aimed at her neck pain, you should see a doctor to be sure her neck pain is not a symptom of something more serious.

Best of luck with it,
Anne

I went to my friend’s party two weeks ago and I danced all night. The next day my neck was really sore but i figured it was from dancing so i didn’t think to much of it. But it’s been two weeks now and it has shown no sign of improvement. I can only move it so far to each side. Is it normal for a stiff neck to last that long?

Hi, Shannon,

If it’s still hurting after 2 weeks, you should probably get it checked. Here is an article I wrote recently about what to do for minor neck pain: http://backandneck.about.com/od/painmanagement/tp/backselftherapy.htm

And, although your neck pain wasn’t from sleeping funny, this article on What is a Crick in the Neck? may still apply to your situation:
http://backandneck.about.com/od/neckpai1/f/neckpaincrick.htm

But 2 weeks is a while, and as I said, you would probably be best off if you went to a doc or chiropractor.

Best regards,
Anne

Can a stiff neck and shoulder pain be caused by a virus. I’m not talking about something severe like meningitis. But my husband, son and I, in succession had these symptoms, then a few days after visiting my mother-in-law she had them also.

Hi, Rebecca,
I don’t know, but I would think so. Probably best to ask a doctor or nurse.

I am 21, otherwise generally very very healthy, but I have had a stiff neck for over a month and a half. It’s terrible. The sternocleidomastoid is all stiffened up and it makes me very dizzy and just kind of disoriented. I also get pressure, and tension in my sinuses. I have had every test done imaginable and have seen like 10 doctors and no one can fix it. I have had MRI, X Ray CT scan of head, neck, back, all fine. Blood Work fine. Spinal Tap Fine. Been on Valium, Xanax, Flexirol, Ibuprofen,Predisone at different times in the past 6 weeks, nothing helps. Been seeing the chiropractor, seen him like 10 times. Not getting better. Had 6 massages. Not getting better. I’m really stuck and feel like i’m running out of options right now, maybe I just have to be patient and wait it out a couple more months, but this is really annoying I can’t really do my normal activities, work, or drive. Any advice? Heard of this before?

I was in a car accident yesterday. They hit the front drivers side of my car going about 30mph. I didn’t hit my head on the steering wheel or anything, I wasn’t injured at all. Though when I got home (several hours later) my neck and back where becoming sore and stiff. I took a bath with epsoms salts that seemed to help, I woke up this morning a bit more stiff and sore. When I feel my neck I can feel the muscles knotted up. I am not sure when to see the doctor though, or even if I should.

Hi, Naomi. Sorry to hear you were hit! It’s probably better to get it checked just as early as you can, because sometimes symptoms don’t show up until later. Also you really shouldn’t be using heat on the area for at least 2 days (after the accident). Here is an article that will give you some ideas about what to do: At Home Therapies for Back and Neck Pain and here is one that will help you understand about the non-surgical options you could try: Non-Invasive Treatments for Back and Neck Pain.

hii well i have this seriously stiff neck. when i only turn it cracks really loud and its the same when i move it around, and my back hurts with me only bending down and its annoying when it hurts it makes me seem like an old man!!1 i just turned 14 like 2 weeks ago. also i cant strighten it out for so long either its soo werid no matter how hard i try, and when i lay down for a while my back feels werid when i get up too. and theyve been like this for as long as i can remember i havent been through anything serious just everyday things i just wanted to know what you that it was

Hi Anne,
I’ve read a few of the other posts about stiff neck and virus, and see that you mentioned an article coming out soon. Has it been published yet? Where can we find it?
For years, I have experienced a stiff neck, back, shoulders or, even once, sore armpit -usually following a cold as it is clearing up. Once it lasted several months and was extremely painful whenever I sneezed. Dr.s have never been able to figure this out.
I currently have a mostly left sided stiff neck and shoulder, but haven’t had a cold. The symptoms have moved into my head and eyes and now my nose feels irritated also. This is a very familiar scenario and I know you’ll say check with the Dr.,but I’ve found, through the years, that nothing seems to help. It just runs its course and recurs randomly. The usual course starts with a cold or sometimes mouth sores and has sometimes moved to the nose and given me red irritated eyes.
I would appreciate any insight you may have as to a common thread in these symptoms.
Thanks,
Idee

I have Cervical Dystonia, which is a lot more serious than a stiff neck, but the reason I am
writing is b/c of one of the treatments I use. Do you know those aromatherapy wraps that you heat up in the microwave to get hot,
then you wrap around you neck (I don’t know what they’re called)? That is the best therapy I can think of for my condition or for any problems that may ail someone’s neck. I have two of them and I just couldn’t live without them!

Hi, I had minor pain in my neck area at the beginning of the week. I was able to continue on with daily duties. This morning I woke up and could not move my neck or shoulder. my upper body was in so much pain that I had to find a way to get up! I went to a massage centre and it was great the pain had decreased. After an hour my neck seems to be worse, I feel every move I make and it hurts even more. I’m in so much pain I don’t know what to do. My neck has moved back to the way I woke up….very stiff and only able to look side ways! HELP ME PLSE!!!

Back in the spring I fell hard on my tailbone while snowboarding. It felt bruised for a few days, but then it didn’t bother me anymore. This summer, I began training for a half marathon. I came home from a run one day and it literally felt like my tailbone was “sticking out” of my body. It was uncomfortable to sit (and still is from time to time, but not as bad). I also began having bad lower back pain. My doctor sent me to a physical therapist, who helped with the back pain somewhat. About a month into physical therapy, I was sitting at my desk at work, started getting pain in my neck, and the whole right side of my body went numb. My neck went completely stiff. This was over a month ago, and although I have regained much of my neck motion, it’s not completely back, and any little event sets it off again. I have pain down the whole right side of my spine and in my lower back, and periodically have tingling and numbness in my right arm. I recently started getting pain and spasms down the back of my right leg. It’s worse when I sleep. My physical therapist keeps changing her mind over whether my sacroilium is rotated, or whether I just have one leg that’s shorter than the other, but she doesn’t say why she’s changed her mind. She pretty much ignores my neck. My doctor’s convinced that I just strained my neck. The X-rays of my neck, tailbone, and lower back area don’t show any fractures, breaks, or misalignments. I have not had an MRI. I recently got acupuncture and it helped loosen up my neck and helps with my anxiety, but it’s only short term. I have never been to a chiropractor because I’m nervous about the whole neck manipulation thing, but my acupuncturist says that her chiropractor, who uses “low force chiropractic”, has really helped her. I have an appointment with her next week. Is it normal for neck stiffness and pain to last this long? Could all the symptoms I’m experiencing be caused by the same thing? Could it be caused by something not seen on the X-ray? Sorry this post is so long, but my quality of life has really been affected by this whole ordeal. Thanks for any input!

hi, i had a stiff neck for 2 days

today…september 17, 2008

When i was eating, i stretch my arms and head. then i heard that there’s something like crack…after that i want to move my head to the left but i can’t because it hurts…..how can i treat it??

My neck has been hurting since the age of 7. Im 21 now. whenever my neck hurts i will have to twist my neck a little to ease the pain (this causes me to look like i have spasm). and its getting very frequent. people tell me its a habit while some say its because my head is too heavy. However i want to find out the real reason.

wow this really helps i’ve had a stiff neck for some time and some people at my school think its funny and joke about it
it kinda hurts at times when i turn

I underwent a spinal fusion (L3 and L4) surgery in 2002. Since then I have had stiffness of the lower back, shotting pain and sometimes severe right leg pain too. Couple of weeks back I had severe head ache (started mid of my forehead to neck and spread to my right arm) during which I vomitted once as well. I have also had fade outs everynow and then. Emergency doc ruled it out as Primary headache and positional vertigo and prescribed few pain killers. Since then I have also noticed mild headache of similar kind but the pain in my arm and leg is constant. It is not unbearable but I can feel my arm and leg (funny feeling of mild numbness). Now it I can feel it in my left leg too (which might psychological). Should I consult a neurologist?

hey i woke up today with pain on my left neck i cant even move a inch that way without suffering pain.

I have pretty much constant neck pain and headache. My doctor says that my cervical spine is too straight. He had me tested for sleep apnea and although the diagnosis was that I had sleep apnea, the recommendation was essentially to “live with it’” (Not bad enought for CPAP)

I take quite a bit of Excedrin which helps some, but the constancy of this is driving me nuts.

I saw some comment from a chiropractor who was a head and neck specialist but can’t find the link any more.

Any suggestions?

Hi, Andy. I am sorry to hear you are having troubles with your neck. I don’t know much about sleep apnea, so can’t help you there. As for your straight neck, can you get to a physical therapist or perhaps a chiropractor who will give you exercises? It may be as simple as getting the extensor muscles at the back of your neck stronger. Here is background on the condition.

Good luck!

ah for all who have stiff neck just better do some yogas ….

I take Maois and had my first hypertensive crisis Friday night after one bottle of beer. Saturday I felt better, even helped parents move some things. But my neck is getting worse and when i bend over my head throbs. This morning I could not even turn it to look at the clock. Is it normal for a stiff neck to last this long and actually worsen?

I have this mannerism i often turning my head in any direction and it causes me so much pain in the neck. what will i do in order to stop this mannerism consult for a psychologist or physician? thank you so much your suggestion will very much appreciated….

Over the past three weeks, my neck has been hurting. It’s not a mechanical pain, however it doesn’t feel like a muscle pain either. I know there are glands that run below your ears, however, I am not sure what it could be. The pain is somewhat overwhelming, and my local clinic said I should be fine. I am now getting some serious headaches. I have read alot of info on your article, and the comments are wonderful. Any direction would be very welcomed.

Hi, Solarfinder,
Did you get a diagnosis for the pain? If not, I would suggest that. If you have, it is hard to say what you should do, as you have not provided information on what it was. But if you are getting headaches, and you didn’t have them when you went to the clinic, you should probably get it checked again. This article on communicating your symptoms to your doctor may help you prepare for your next appointment.

Sorry I couldn’t be of more assist. Best of luck with it.

Anne

How long does a minor stiff neck last ?

please give me some tips on how to overcome my mannerism, i really dont know whats happening on me like francis said above i often turned my head off and it causes me so much pain in the neck. what will i do to prevent this bad mannerism?

Hi, jorge,
You probably need to get it checked by a physician to be sure there’s not something serious going on. It may be caused by tight muscles as with a crick in your neck, but without a diagnosis, it’s really hard to say. It does sound like a physical problem and not a psychological one, though.

Andrew,
If a stiff neck is truly minor, it shouldn’t really last more than a week. This article explains more about that.. But don’t forget, a stiff neck might also be a sign of something more serious, like meningitis, so it’s a good idea to get it checked if you have any doubts.

I am a 23 year old male suffering from neck/shoulder pains, I have been to the doctors on a few occaisions however, they can will only give me painkillers. I have a benign tumor near my left shoulder blade which the doctors have refused to remove as it is too small. The pain in my neck is also on the left side. Do you think the tumor may be affecting the nerves/muscles on my shoulder?

I hit my head 4 days ago on my bed metal frame. I started to have a stiff neck 2 days ago, I went to a doctor who told me its probably due to an awkward sleeping position, not the head bang. So I was wondering, if it was due to the head bag can it lead to anything serious?

Kat,
If I were in your position, I would get a second opinion. We all have something to learn from Natasha Richardson’s tragedy a few weeks ago.
Best,
Anne

Hi ive got a pain in my neck im not sure if its a stiff neck but i think it is cuz it happend to me before but the pain is 100x worse then the last time… But anyway i was rideing a big goat cart yesterday and when i was done i came inside and sat down for a little while then i tried to resuit myself and i heard a little pop in my neck then the pain started and i was just wondering if it was from getten bounced around so much or just me moveing in a wrong way..

Thanks: Joabie (joe b)

hey, I have some pain on my neck. I only get it only when I turn or move my neck in certain direction or angle.. Is it a stiff neck or something else? HOw should I treat it?

Hi,

I am a 31 year old mother of two. I was recently diagnosed with Otitis Media which I have been treating with antibiotics for 5 days.

Last night I slept well, but woke up at 4A.M from an audible pop I heard. About 5 minutes later the pain kicked in. The pain starts from my neck and does all the way down my shoulder. I instantly took a painkiller, but even with it, I was not able to sleep with the pain.

I was sleeping on the same side I heard the pop in and I am pretty sure I didn’t move when this happened.

I called my doctor right away but she was busy and was not able to see today. In the meanwhile I am in extreme pain, and I cannot move my head from side to side or up and down. I have been taking pain killers all day just to make the pain bearable.

Any suggestions?

Hi, Carol,
Sorry to hear you are in so much pain. Sounds like a royal crick in the neck. I think seeing your doctor is probably the most important thing, but since you can’t right now here are two articles that may have some suggestions you can use:

At Home Therapies

Postural Alignment

Best,
Anne

hi my neck has been stiff for about 2 mounths and i dont know why is it because i sleep with my fan right behind my bed where my head is and i do have RA (Rumentoid arthritis) do you think thats why my neck is stiff????

Please Reply Thanks!

Well,

I finally couldn’t handle the pain last night so I went to the ER. The “doctor” never ran any tests. Just felt around and assumed that I have Torticollis. The “doctor” was an intern, working alone, and was younger than I am. I spent a total of about 30 minutes in the ER between being registered and going home. I was prescribed a nice concoction of 800mg of Motrin, with 5mg of Valium, and 5mg of Vicodin.

When I got home and did some research on it, I found out that my symptoms aren’t even close. There is Congential Torticollis and Spasmic Torticollis. The symptoms do not even sound similar.

Please help.

hi, yesterday my neck started to hurt on just one side! i can barely move it to the the side it hurts on. i ve tried icing it and pain relievers but no help i could not sleep for the life of me. what should i do

i have a really stiff neck and cant move it , how can i get rid of this and how long does this last ? it was caused from sleeping in a very weird position .

Thanks ,
Austin

Austin,
This article on at home therapies may help. Also see this info on crick in the neck. And here are some pictures of sleeping positions that tweak the neck or back. Did you sleep in one of these last night?

Best of luck with it,
Anne

I am only 13 years old and i think I have a stiff neck. Is that unusual?

Ive had a stiff neck on my right side for about 3 weeks its now on my left side moving to m shoulders. It is very painful. I am wondering if this has anything to do with my MS, and should I go see my Doctor?

This summer, this is the second time it has happened, but I think there’s a muscle in the left side of my neck that hurts when I lean my head to the left, a little pain when I lean it forward, 3\4 of the pain when I learn it back, and 0% when I lean it right. It kinda feels like one of my muscles are staying completely straight on the left, and feels like it hits other muscle or something [it doesn't, I hope] and the first time it has happened, it went away after 3 days, leaving less pain after each passing day. This time, it’s worse, should I let it be or…

P.S.
I’m 12, I’ve already asked my parents I they said they have no idea. And money’s tight, so I can’t goto the doctor for the meantime.. Please help.

–Austin–

Sorry, my neck pain was by sleeping “awkwardly”.

Hi,

Just wondering if anyone else has had the same experience that I’m having. For the past two months I have had a stiff neck with shooting pains at the front of my neck, either side of where my adams apple is. I sometimes have a slight sore throat and ear pain, but nothing severe. Been to my doctors on several occassions and so far have had antibiotics (which did nothing) and am now waiting to get a neck x-ray done next week. I take strong painkillers which help to relieve it a little, but it never totally goes away. At the moment I feel as though I am the only person with these symptoms as I can’t find anything on the internet. It is really beginning to get me down and I really want some answers, so if anyone can help I would be extremely gratefully.
Thankyou.

i have a friend who has been diagnosed with 8 cervical vertebrae. We would like to find out more about it if possible

Yesterday, I went to a birthday party and was “wrestling” for about 6 or 7 hours . I wasnt REAL wrestling but it was like, playful wrestling, and i got thrown around a little . I have a really still neck today, and nothing is helping it . i put heating pads on it and everything . I DID fall on the grass and hit my head pretty hard (not enough to be anything suuper serious i dont think), and it might have hurt my neck, but when it happened it didnt hurt . I really wanna know why im in so much pain. thanks.

Caitlyn,

PLEASE, go get it checked out immediately! Sometimes you feel alright after a fall like that but in actuality there could be some serious damage. Do you remember a few months back when actress Natasha Richardson died after a head injury while on a ski trip? At first she thought it was minor. She was able to walk and talk, etc. But after a few hours it became enough to kill her! Don’t wait – get it checked NOW.

Sincerely,
Anne

Well, I would like to add that it has been a full 24 hours, and I well alive . And I went swimming and mini golfing today, even though it kind of hurt .

I am 20 years old and i’ve never had a serious injury. I have been suffering from chronic neck stiffness and pain for about six months and I have been to massage therapists, physicians, chiropractors, and physical therapy. No one seems to know what is going on and it’s difficult to carry on in my daily life. It’s hard to get to sleep it is painful and uncomfortable throughout the day. Please help

I’ve had a stiff neck for about 6 months now i put ice and heat on it, but it wont go away its getting stiffer and stiffer please help!!!

Hi…..I’m Only 16 Years Old. And Last Night Before I Went To Sleep I Had A Headache…Once I Went To Sleep Everytime I Try To Switch My Position That I slept in My Neck Will Have This Major Pain…Also I Had Was Sleeping Under My Air Conditioner So I Figured That can Be Another Problem.When I Woke Up I Used An Hot Rag that didn’t Then I Ran Hot Water Over my neck that didn’t work. Then I Put Icy Hot and Rub it in.That Made It Crack A Little…And Now I’m Using A Heating Pad And When I turn my Neck to the right it really hurts…and its sore.Yet when I turn it to the left it doesn’t hurt at all.Please HELPme find a way to get rid of this pain…..I run Track and I Have A Big Meet Coming Up.

I have had neck pain in the morning on and off for about a month now. If subsides during the day and some mornings I am fine. My guess is that it is my pillow. How do I find the right pillow for me that will allow me to wake without pain?

Hi. Ive had a horribly stiff neck now since Saturday when I woke up. It’s now Wednesday. Its gotten better each day, however it is still really hurting me. I can look down, but with pain. I look up, but it feels like i have a headahce. I can turn from side to side, but it hurts. Ive been sick now for a week with pneumonia and I have been in bed and on the couch sleeping alot, which i think this is where it came from. I donth ave a fever. Does this sound like meningitis?? Thanks

HI, i got a stiff neck for about 6 days know and i’m freaking out,im reading all this stuff about menigitis i went to the doctor and he said that i dont have it,but all he did is was take an X-ray or my neck,no blood test nothing.im able to bend my neck to my chin with out pain,but when bending it to the left is when it hurts a little.should i be nervous?

Hi- For the past month or more I have not been able to turn my head to the right completely. I can turn it about 50% of the way and then it seems very stiff and hurts. When I have someone massage it, it feels a little better but then will go back to the way it was in a few hours. I have to turn my whole body to do a lane change in a car which makes it a little dangerous. I bought a very nice theraputic pillow about 6 months ago so I don’t think that it has anything to do with my bed and I have tried sleeping in different positions. Any idea of what I should do or what it may be from?

I have had a stiff neck for about 3weeks. I have gone to physio but I still have it . It is on my right side and sometimes I feel a slight tingle in my cheek done and pain in my shoulder blade. What do you think it could be

Thanks

Armando,
Meningitis has other symptoms besides stiff neck. So most likely your doctor is telling you the truth. The blood tests tell you definitively, though.

Audrey,
It’s hard to really say what that is by just your description, but if it’s been going on for a long time, you should get it checked. You may need some physical therapy.

Karen,
I can’t really say definitively what it is but it sounds like there’s some nerve involvement there. (Tingling in cheek/pain in shoulder.) If you’ve already seen the doctor/pt, maybe a 2nd opinion would be the thing to do. If I were in your situation, I would make an appointment with a physiatrist.

Hi I have been having minor twinges in my neck lately, but then yesterday while I was at work I sneezed to the left of me and now I cannot turn my neck even alittle to the right or it gives me agonizing pain. what could this be?

Hello,

Last night suddenly I have a stiff neck on the right side. It happened suddenly and I was not lifting anything, reaching out or even sleeping. I had to sleep while sitting to reduce pain. This morning I noticed my right arm is a bit numb.

I am 34 year-old Asian male. 4 months ago I was checked with a BP of 150/105, which before that was normal 120/70. Now my “normal” BP is 130/80. I am not obese. I used to be active in sports but no more in the past 3 years.

I haven’t consulted a doctor yet as I’m working now. Could it be something more serious than normal stiff neck?

Thank you.

I slept wrong 3 days ago and have pain on the lower right side of my back. when I look down it hurts on that side. It feels like when ever I do anything that seems to tighten that side of my back, I get intense pain.