Neck Spasm – Symptoms, Causes, Treatment

The muscles are made up of tissues and fibers, and when the fibers contract suddenly, there can be spasm. This sudden contraction of neck muscles gives rise to Neck Spasm. It can occur just for few minutes or for long period making the person uncomfortable. Muscle spasms occur involuntarily and it can happen to any person (even for healthy individual) of any age. Sometimes these spasms can be painful and can paralyze the individual to some extent.

Symptoms :

When a person gets neck spasm, there is chance for his other joints get locked up. The most common symptom is the inability to move his neck and arresting his mobility to certain extent. There may be pain and discomfort in the neck and back region and it may last for days or even weeks. It can cause painful knots on the muscles and sometimes, number of muscles gets locked during the process of contraction.

In addition, neck spasms will also affect the muscles in the adjacent areas. The above symptoms may also occur in the face or in the head and even on the shoulders. The person will feel tired, weak and he would complain of tingling pain and numbness in the affected area if he gets a neck spasm. Stiffness of neck and pain is seen in all kinds of neck spasm.

Read more on Back Spasms

Causes :

Spinal anatomy can be a cause for neck spasm. Ischemia can trigger muscle knot in some people. Sometimes injury to the tissue can create neck spasm. Trauma due to car accident may develop into muscle injury in the neck or vertebral column. Actually, the muscles in the neck start developing muscle contractions involuntarily. Due to sudden twitching of muscles, the fiber react positively thereby becoming tight and stiff which in turn creates intense pain. Further the neck spasm will also block the normal blood flow in the affected region.

Deficiency of vitamins and nutrients can cause muscle spasm. When there is shortage of Vitamin B12, it can affect the normal functions of the muscles causing spasms. Sometimes, sleeping in awkward position for long period can cause muscle twitches creating spasm in the neck and shoulder.

Pictures of Neck Spasm :

Images, Pics, Pictures and Photos of Neck Spasm

Treatment :

Number of treatment options is available for curing neck spasm. A simple massage in the affected area can give relief from pain facilitating normal blood flow. You can also apply hot compresses on the neck and shoulder muscles to get some relief. Alternatively, you can use ice pack for managing pain of neck spasm.

You can use muscle relaxant ointment and pain balms to get instant relief from pain. Mediated balms can be obtained over the counter and be used for treating neck spasm.

If you have severe pain, then you can use drugs like Ibuprofen or Paracetomol, for getting relief from pain. Very rarely, doctors would prescribe narcotic painkiller drugs such as hydrocodone and propoxyphene for treating neck spasm.

Neck Spasm

Neck Spasm






The muscles are made up of tissues and fibers, and when the fibers contract suddenly, there can be spasm. This sudden contraction of neck muscles gives rise to neck spasm. It can occur just for few minutes or for long period making the person uncomfortable. Muscle spasms occur involuntarily and it can happen to any person (even for healthy individual) of any age. Sometimes these spasms can be painful and can paralyze the individual to some extent.

Symptoms :

When a person gets neck spasm, there is chance for his other joints get locked up. The most common symptom is the inability to move his neck and arresting his mobility to certain extent. There may be pain and discomfort in the neck and back region and it may last for days or even weeks. It can cause painful knots on the muscles and sometimes, number of muscles gets locked during the process of contraction.

In addition, neck spasms will also affect the muscles in the adjacent areas. The above symptoms may also occur in the face or in the head and even on the shoulders. The person will feel tired, weak and he would complain of tingling pain and numbness in the affected area if he gets a neck spasm.

Stiffness of neck and pain is seen in all kinds of neck spasm.

Causes :

Spinal anatomy can be a cause for neck spasm. Ischemia can trigger muscle knot in some people. Sometimes injury to the tissue can create neck spasm. Trauma due to car accident may develop into muscle injury in the neck or vertebral column. Actually, the muscles in the neck start developing muscle contractions involuntarily. Due to sudden twitching of muscles, the fiber react positively thereby becoming tight and stiff which in turn creates intense pain. Further the neck spasm will also block the normal blood flow in the affected region.

Deficiency of vitamins and nutrients can cause muscle spasm. When there is shortage of Vitamin B12, it can affect the normal functions of the muscles causing spasms.

Sometimes, sleeping in awkward position for long period can cause muscle twitches creating spasm in the neck and shoulder.

Pictures of Neck Spasm :

Images, Pics, Pictures and Photos of Neck Spasm

Treatment :

Number of treatment options is available for curing neck spasm. A simple massage in the affected area can give relief from pain facilitating normal blood flow. You can also apply hot compresses on the neck and shoulder muscles to get some relief. Alternatively, you can use ice pack for managing pain of neck spasm.

You can use muscle relaxant ointment and pain balms to get instant relief from pain. Mediated balms can be obtained over the counter and be used for treating neck spasm.

If you have severe pain, then you can use drugs like Ibuprofen or Paracetomol, for getting relief from pain. Very rarely, doctors would prescribe narcotic painkiller drugs such as hydrocodone and propoxyphene for treating neck spasm.

Neck Spasm – Symptoms, Causes and Treatment

Neck Spasm – Symptoms, Causes and Treatment

What are Neck Spasms?

Spasms in the neck are described as contractions of the muscles in the neck which are very painful. These contractions in the muscles cannot be released voluntarily. These muscle spasms are also referred to as a charley horse or a cramp.

When the fibers in the muscle involuntarily contract, this is a spasm of the muscle. It may be for just a slight twitch or a very long period of time before the fibers ease. These muscle spasms may occur due to nerve or cervical issues triggering signals to the muscles.

Muscle spasms may be very debilitating events with the muscles of a specific body region contracting in an involuntary nature. They can affect individuals of all health conditions as well as all ages. These spasms are painful as well as paralyzing until the spasm is released.

Neck Spasm Symptoms

One major symptom of a spasm is the adjacent joints locking up. For example, neck and Back Spasms are the most frequent sorts of spasms. If muscles in the neck have become strained from playing golf and the individual then gets chilled, they can develop a neck spasm. The consequence is a “crick” in the muscles of the neck which prevents mobility. The individual may be unable to turn the head in certain directions for several days or even for weeks.

Any typical stress can cause fluid to accumulate which also creates painful knots in the muscles which can often be relieved with massage. A spasm can create a super-knot which encompasses numerous muscles locked in a contraction.

Cramps in the neck can also affect the muscles in the surrounding anatomical areas. The symptoms also depend on the level of involvement of the cervical spine and can be centered in the head or the face or in the arms, shoulders as well as the upper back.

These spasms in the neck are often frightening as well as also able to create neurological effects afterward. Weakness, tingling, numbness or residual pains are all issues that can linger after a powerful spasm.

Neck Spasm Causes

There are many causes for muscle spasms – some result from problems in the spinal anatomy but also occur from soft tissue injuries or a regional process, such as ischemia. Neck spasms are seen in some individual since childhood and these are called Torticollis or they begin in adulthood where they are called trapezitis. Both have entirely different origins but they cause the exact same symptom, a painful and Stiff Neck. Injury from car accidents may also lead to spasms of the neck from whiplash injury as well as from the fracture of neck vertebrae.
Muscles in the neck develop spasms that involve muscle contractions which are involuntary. This can occur because of sudden movements which put incredible compression on the muscles. Twisting of the neck very quickly can cause excess stretching of the muscles and the fiber muscles react to this sudden movement by tightening themselves which leads to pain which is very severe. The contraction of the muscles also interrupts the flow of blood in the region which causes further irritation.

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Muscle spasms can also be caused by the deficiency of nutrients such as vitamins – especially vitamin B12 and vitamin D – which are important for normal operating of muscles and can cause muscle spasms in the neck. Additionally inefficiency in calcium, magnesium and potassium can also trigger neck muscle spasms. Sodium, important to the cells of the muscles, decreases considerably due to dehydration and can cause muscle spasms. Any trauma or sleeping in an awkward manner that puts the neck in an uncomfortable position can as well cause muscle spasms.

Neck Spasm Treatment

There are many different options that can be used to treat spasms in the neck muscle. Even though the onset is often sudden, with suitable treatment, it is probable to eliminate these spasms quickly. Several of the options for treatment are listed below:

Massage
Proper massages can be useful to relieving pain. Massaging increases blood flow and helps to manage pain. A heating pad as well as a bath which is hot is also effective in treating muscle spasms in the neck.

Ice
Applying a pack of ice on the area which is affected can control the pain which is associated with spasms in the neck. Rubbing ice slowly over the area causes the blood vessels to contract. After they contract, they become exceedingly wide and this helps to increase the flow of blood to the sore area.

Medication
Pain relievers are commonly used in the treatment of neck muscle spasms. Medications such as ibuprofen as well as naproxen are effective in controlling not only pain but are very effective in reducing any inflammation or swelling.

Balms
Medicated balms which are available over-the-counter can offer great relief for neck muscle spasms. The balms normally contain menthol which raises the body temperature and this heat soothes the muscle considerably.

Muscle Relaxants
Those spasms which cause really pronounced discomfort can be treated with muscle relaxers. These medications deliver relaxation to the muscles that are affected. This medication used along with pain relievers is a very effective method for the management of muscle spasms in the neck. Prescription muscle relaxants are normally in tablet form and need to be used as advised by your physician.

Narcotic Painkillers
These should be reserve for severe muscle spasm which causes excruciating pain. These narcotic medications such as hydrocodone and propoxyphene release muscle tension as well as pain considerably. But these painkillers do have the problem of abuse or addiction as well as side effect such as drowsiness, dizziness as well as nausea.