How To Remedy a Stiff Neck During and After Sleep

Do you suffer with a stiff neck? Symptoms include loss of motion or “crick” of the neck, headache, dizziness, stomach ache and nausea, and pain that might penetrate the back, shoulders, and arms. The symptoms are caused usually by a ligament injury in the neck (otherwise known as a sprain or strain). There are many causes for a stiff neck so it's important to explore all the possibilities or consult your doctor with your concerns. The cause for your neck pain can be from as simple as sleeping in an awkward position or something very much more serious like Meningitis, an infection of the fluid that surrounds your brain and spinal cord. Other possible causes can be sitting on the computer for long periods of time, having poor posture, or dealing with stress that causes tension in your neck and its surrounding region. If you suspect that you've got just a minor injury of your neck ligaments from poor posture or sleeping in an awkward position, you likely can treat it yourself. If symptoms persist, you should see a doctor for a more thorough diagnosis. Here are some tips for preventing further injury and treating your current condition.

How do I Exercising and Stretching the Cramp?

If you have a cramp or knot in this region, you should first place your hand at the site and apply firm pressure. This might be painful, but should hurt only in a good way and alleviate a little of the tension when you're finished. At the same time you are applying the pressure, slowly moveyour head in the direction opposite the cramp side, as if you are trying to point to your armpit with your chin. Try to relax and not tense your muscles while you are performing this helpful exercise and stretch.

How do I Prevent Neck Pain During the Night?

If you are waking up with consistent neck pain and stiffness, you might want to examine the positions you are sleeping in. The best positions to sleep in will keep your spine in a neutral position, the position you are mostly in when standing during the day. The first question to ask yourself is what position do you sleep in the majority of the time?

Are you a Back Sleeper?

If you sleep on your back, your lower spine might be raised more than it usually is in a neutral position. A misalignment anywhere in the spine can cause pain in various parts of the body.

Are you a Side Sleeper?

Side sleeping is usually best because it keeps the body in the most neutral position, but it's important to always use a pillow between your legs to not cause undo strain on the hips and lower back. If you sleep on your back, put a pillow under your knees to relieve pressure from the lower back and if you sleep on your side, keep a pillow between your knees to prevent your hips from working so hard.

Are you a Stomach Sleeper?

Stomach sleeping can be very hard on the spinal column. That's why most chiropractors recommend you avoid sleeping on your stomach entirely. If you are a stomach sleeper, first try to switch your habit to side sleeping. If you place a pillow between your knees as recommended for side sleepers, this will also prevent you from rolling over to your stomach, as you will naturally want to do.

Now that we've addressed your position and how the spine can effect the functioning and comfort of the entire body, let's address your neck. The neck also should be kept in a neutral position because it's an important extension of the spine. There are great products on the market to achieve better results while sleeping and for waking comfort. Of these are cervical rolls and contoured or cervical pillows. These give the neck more support than your pillow might. Reviews from users express a lot of improvement in their current sleep and daily comfort.

Check out Contoured Pillows by Freeman

What Additional Treatments are Available?

When you experience a stiff neck, its important not to strain it for a few days. You can alleviate any swelling that might have occurred with ice in the first 48 hours, and apply heat for comfort on any of the following days. Light exercise can promote healing by creating blood flow and oxygen through out the body and where it's needed. Try using a contour pillow or cervical roll and if the pain persists beyond a week, consider seeing your doctor for a proper diagnosis and recommendation. Uncommon causes of stiff neck might be osteoarthritis in the neck, degenerative disc disease, and a herniated disc. If you believe you've obtained an injury from a traumatic event, impact, or strenuous activity, be sure to take notes on when and where you experience your discomfort so your doctor can consider and rule out all possibilities. An X-ray might be employed for more serious condition diagnosis.