What to do if my neck hurts and I can't move

Many people have experienced symptoms of neck pain. Generally speaking, neck pain is caused by external stimuli. Of course, the role of cervical spondylosis cannot be ruled out. However, when the neck pain is so severe that you can no longer move, you must pay attention to it and make sure to take appropriate measures in this case. Some sudden sprains can also cause neck pain or even neck stiffness. What should I do if my neck hurts and I can’t move?

1. Stiff neck

Neck stiffness refers to tension, swelling, hardening, spasm (cramps) and other phenomena in the neck muscles, and inflexible neck movements. Common in fatigue and cervical spondylosis. Neck stiffness is caused by continuous excessive muscle contraction, which not only reduces the blood supply to the neck muscles, but also causes the accumulation of metabolites such as lactic acid, causing muscle ischemic pain. Pain in the back of the head or on the top of the head may be a tension headache caused by lesions in the head or cervical spine.

2. Neck sprain

After spraining the neck, you may feel slight pain in the neck and be unable to move your head freely. In severe cases, there is slight swelling in the area, with obvious pain and tenderness, which may be accompanied by symptoms of general discomfort such as dizziness, poor spirits, loss of appetite, irritability, etc. Because the muscles in the sprained area are different, the pain is pulled to different areas. When the mastoid muscle is sprained, it can cause traction pain beside the sternum; when the long posterior neck muscle is sprained, it can cause traction pain in the back; when the trapezius muscle is sprained, it can cause traction pain in the shoulder, and part activities are significantly restricted, affecting work, sleep, diet and other daily life. Neck sprain is a relatively mild soft tissue injury with a short course of illness. It can usually recover on its own within 3 to 6 days. The treatment principles are to relax the muscles, relieve pain and relieve spasms.

3. Treatment

For cases of neck sprain, general treatment methods include physical therapy, topical medications, and acupuncture. Also pay attention to the protection of the neck. Don't rush to move. After the symptoms are relieved, you need to do appropriate functional activities. Don't stay in one posture for a long time.