Readers Respond: What Do You Do When You Have a Crick in the Neck?

Responses: 165

By Anne Asher, About.com Guide

Updated April 02, 2009

This content is not monitored by About.com's Medical Review Board.
Before acting on this information, check with your health provider.

See More About

I massage and rub my neck vigorously while gently turning it to the side where it hurt. This eases the pain until it's gone.
—Guest HelperT

When I touch the area of pain when you have a crick in the neck, the muscle usually feels quite tough and not relaxed (well, this is the case for me anyway). I find that by massaging the tight muscle, the crick will ease or completely go away. I am quite tough but gentle with it. I get my fingers right into the muscle. My mum is a nurse and showed me this technique. It doesn't work with everyone and you shouldn't do it if you're unsure or its causing you a lot of pain. I've been taught how to do it properly and you could end up making it worse. So that's pretty much it - massage it quite vigorously for about 3 minutes before bedtime, don't sleep in an awkward position, and it usually feels a lot better the next day!
—Guest guest

could not help but laugh when i read previous response "you have to show crick who's boss" i laugh so hard my crick felt better. sometime laughter is the best medicine
—Guest feeling better

I currently have a crick in my neck right now and I'm trying my best to get it out the way I used to. I usually have to be extremely rough with it. My point of view is you have to show the crick who's boss. I turn my body to the left and right and take my head completely with it. When I want to move around, I just move like normal. I don't take it slow and easy to avoid the pain. I feel the pain in order to really get rid of it. Another possibility is rolling the head in circles several times. If the crick is on the right side, I roll my head to the left and stay for a few minutes. If it's on the left, I do the same and hold it on the right for a few minutes. Again, my opinion is you just have to show it who is boss. It's a pain in the neck, but being rough with it has worked for me.
—Guest Annoyed

It was so easy. All I did was put ice on my neck where it hurt for 10 minutes. Then I just massaged for about ten minutes and then got in bed. I rested my neck on fluffy pillows for 10 min and it worked.
—Guest clark kent

Alright so I woke up with a crick so I wet a small towel and then put it in the microwave for a minute then I put it on my neck where the crick was. This took a long time but it did work!
—Guest GUEST

It's simple...sometimes I massage it...most of the time I just go to bed at nite & the next day when I wake up it's gone.
—Guest laura the explorer

I have a crick in my neck that started 3 days ago. It started as a small pain, but has developed into much worse. When I move my head far to the left or right it sends a sharp pain down the back of my head. I've been told to go see a chiropractor, but was trying to avoid the co-pay. Any at home suggestions? NOTE FROM BACK AND NECK PAIN GUIDE: Here are all my suggestions for home therapies: http://backandneck.about.com/od/painmanagement/tp/backselftherapy.htm
—Guest In2MuchPain

I woke up this morning with a crick in the left side of my neck. I tried to watch some videos to help, buy either I'm not doing the exercises right, or they don't work. I've had a crick before, and rotating my neck and head usually helped. But it won't work with this crick. Please help! NOTE FROM BACK AND NECK PAIN GUIDE: http://backandneck.about.com/od/alternativemedicine/bb/backneckmassage.htm---Massage http://backandneck.about.com/od/painmanagement/tp/backselftherapy.htm---home therapies, http://backandneck.about.com/od/exerciseandsport/tp/Posture-Exercise.htm --- gentle posture exercises, especially for the upper back and shoulders.
—Guest Guest of A Guest

I rub and massage my neck for 10 min then put an ice bag on it for 10. I keep repeating the process for an hour then do it again the next day if it still hurts (especially when I move).
—Guest helper

I took ibuprofen and rubbed and moved my neck. After that, the pain was gone. It helped for a little while, anyway.
—Guest Guest 99

I read everywhere that I schould go to a massage therapist or a chiropractor for my neck crick, but I don't have that kind of time! I NEED SOME HOME REMEDIES! NOTE FROM BACK AND NECK PAIN GUIDE: It's all here: http://backandneck.about.com/od/painmanagement/tp/backselftherapy.htm
—Guest THIS FREAGGING HURTS!

I hate it when I get these! I have one right now and I have absolutely no idea where it came from.
—Guest Alexander Rhett Crammer

Like 2 weeks ago my neck had a crick in it and I could not turn it to the left at all. But then I put ice on it and it went away. Today I woke up and I sat up and I could not turn it to the right again. I have put ice on it but now that doesn't work. Can anyone help? I have to go to my sister's graduation today and I look stupid with my neck turned to the left. Please help. NOTE FROM BACK AND NECK PAIN GUIDE: http://backandneck.about.com/od/alternativemedicine/bb/backneckmassage.htm ---Massage, http://backandneck.about.com/od/painmanagement/tp/backselftherapy.htm --- home therapies, http://backandneck.about.com/od/exerciseandsport/tp/Posture-Exercise.htm -- posture exercises, especially for the upper back and shoulders.
—Guest Skysky

What do i need to do for a crick in my neck to go away? NOTE FROM BACK AND NECK PAIN GUIDE: http://backandneck.about.com/od/alternativemedicine/bb/backneckmassage.htm ---Massage, http://backandneck.about.com/od/painmanagement/tp/backselftherapy.htm --- home therapies, http://backandneck.about.com/od/exerciseandsport/tp/Posture-Exercise.htm -- posture exercises, especially for the upper back and shoulders.
—Guest Myke Ghee

Anne Asher
Back & Neck Pain Guide

Also from About.com: