Neck stiffness is usually caused by sore and tight muscles, but it can also be a symptom of certain diseases, including meningitis and heart conditions. Additional symptoms can indicate a more serious condition, and emergency medical attention may be necessary. Minor strains usually heal within days, but more serious injuries may require neck braces and longer recovery times.
Usually, sore and tight muscles are the cause of neck stiffness. The neck is full of tendons, nerves and muscles, which are used in all kinds of daily activities, making them especially vulnerable to injury. Neck stiffness can also be a symptom of certain diseases, some of which can be quite dangerous, and in some cases, serious conditions like heart attacks can lead to stiff neck. Experts suggest that the best way to evaluate neck stiffness is to look at the set of circumstances that led up to the condition and look at any other possible accompanying symptoms.
Generally, the most dangerous things that can cause neck stiffness include diseases like meningitis along with certain heart conditions. Usually, someone suffering from meningitis or something similar will also develop fever and other flu-like symptoms in addition to neck stiffness. In cases where neck stiffness is caused by a heart condition, the person might also have other problems such as shortness of breath, numbness, or pain in the arm. In general, if someone has a stiff neck, any additional symptoms could be a sign that something more serious than a muscle strain could be responsible. Since many of these problems are potentially dangerous, emergency medical attention may be an absolute necessity.
People strain their neck muscles in a wide variety of ways, including overexertion in athletic activities, to subtle ergonomic issues, such as bending over too much to read a computer monitor for an extended period of time. Sometimes people get a stiff neck just from sleeping in an uncomfortable position. Minor strains in the neck muscles can be extremely painful and can make it very difficult to move the neck, but experts suggest these injuries usually heal within days, rarely requiring medical attention.
Sometimes a stiff neck can develop after a more serious injury, such as a car accident or a bad fall, which may result in some type of damage to the spine. This type of tension generally leads to more discomfort, and there may be additional symptoms for some people, such as paralysis and swelling in the neck. Injuries like these can be very dangerous and generally require immediate medical attention. When neck stiffness results from a severe sprain or some type of spinal damage, neck braces and other healing aids are often needed. In this case, it can take longer for people to recover, with some injuries leading to permanent damage.
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