Crook in the neck: 10 Causes, 9 Treatments & 5 Preventive ways

Crook in the neck or kink in the neck is a pain in the neck which makes the head or neck movement very difficult or painful for the person. Often the crook in the neck is associated with pain and spasm in the neck.

Most of the people suffer from a crook in the neck after they wake up from the sleep. Some of the other reasons that can cause crook in the neck are pinched neck nerve, trauma or many other reasons that can press the nerve.

The pain associated with the crook in the neck can be mild or severe. Due to the location of the pain, it can affect the daily activities of the person. This type of pain mostly occurs in women.

Causes of crook in the neck:

There could various reasons associated with the crook in the neck. However, some of the most common causes include:

Sleeping position:

Awkward or wrong sleeping position is one of the leading reasons for a crook in the neck. In case, the pillow is too much elevated, or you are sleeping with your head turned in an awkward way, this can cause the neck muscles to stretch and lead to pain which can stay for a short time or a long time. This can also lead to inflammation in the neck.

Cervical Spondylosis:

This is another reason for a crook in the neck. This pain occurs in the cervical vertebra, pain, in this case, occurs if the gap between the vertebras is very small which leads to the nerves being compressed between the vertebras leading to nerves being pinched. This could again lead to inflammation and difficulty in neck movement.

Trauma:

Trauma can be caused to a person by an accident which could be a car accident or could be injured while playing some sport could also cause crook of the neck. This can lead to nerves getting tweaked or pinched.

This would again make the neck movements of the person very difficult. Trauma-related problems might take a lot of time to recover as it is associated with nerve damage or some other head injury. This would require the injury to heal properly before getting relaxation.

Myofascial Pain syndrome:

This occurs due to the formation of nerve fibres in the neck. This can result in muscle spasm around the neck and could be extremely painful. The reason for the formation of nerve fibres could be an injury, or this could also be due to overuse of the body parts leading to the crook of the neck.

Other causes include:

Osteoporosis:

This is a condition mostly associated with women. In this, the bones of the person are weakened, and they become prone to fracture.

Arthritis:

This is a disease of the joint and this might result in the cartilage or synovial fluid present in the joints to finish resulting in the wear and tear of the bones. If arthritis has an impact on the upper vertebra, this can make the life of the person difficult.

Lifestyle changes:

It is very important to follow good practices. For people working on a computer or have a sitting job for long hours, it is very important to have a right posture while sitting and working on a computer.

The person should not have a stooped neck while working. The sitting should be appropriate so that it does not cause any muscle stretch in the body.

Wrong habits such as taking a phone call with the neck bent sideways can also lead to strain in the neck or neck injury

Sports activities with head movements:

Sports like swimming which require repetitive head movement needs are more prone to injuries due to a muscle pull or a strain in the neck

Stress and anxiety:

Stress in the neck can also develop if the person is taking too much pressure or stress. Stress and anxiety can cause Stretch in the neck.

Rare causes of crook in the neck:

Some of the rare causes of the crook could be an infection or a tumour near the neck.

Treatment of crook in the neck:

There are plenty of ways by which the crook of the neck can be treated. Some of the natural remedies that can be used to treat a crook in the neck include:

Ginger:

Ginger is thought of as one of the best pain relief medicine for this kind of pain. To use this, a ginger pulp or a ginger powder can be used with some water to form a paste. This can be applied over the affected area over the neck. It has been found that ginger provides relief from this pain within minutes.

Hot Compress:

Application of heat on the affected area leads to relief by reducing inflammation in the affected area. A hot water bottle or a hot pad can be kept on the affected area for 30 minutes. It will help in providing relief from tenderness.

Clove compress:

Cloves are a very useful remedy for providing relief from muscle spasms. Cloves can be wrapped in a thin cotton cloth and wrapped around the affected neck area. This can be kept for overnight which will help in relieving the pain.

Neck Exercise:

Neck exercises can also help in smoothing the neck movement. Neck exercises should be done by a trained person. Overdoing the exercise might worsen the situation. Usually, gentle movement of the neck can help provide some comfort.

An affected person should gently move his neck from left to right and right to left. And should move also do a vertical movement of the neck (up and down). This movement of the neck should be done in 10 -10 cycles and can be repeated for 30 minutes.

Epsom salts:

Epsom salts are a very effective remedy for muscle pains. Epsom salts contain magnesium sulfate. Epsom salts help to increase blood circulation on the affected part and also regulate the enzymes.

A person can take a bath using Epsom salt to get immediate relief. You can add two cups of Epsom salts in warm water and use it for bathing.

Peppermint oil:

Usage of peppermint oil for muscle sprains is an age-old practice. Peppermint oil provides relief from pain while the menthol contained in the oil relaxes the muscles.

Peppermint oil can be used along with olive oil for massage. This can be massaged twice a day to provide relief.

This can also be used as a cold compress; 2-3 drops of peppermint oil can be added to cold water. This can be applied to the affected area using a cloth.

Apple cider vinegar:

Apple cider vinegar has anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties. A cloth soaked in the vinegar applied to the affected area might help to soothe the pain associated. This can be repeated twice or thrice daily. The vinegar can also be used as a water bath by using two cups of vinegar in warm water.

Over the counter medicines:

In case the above home remedies don’t provide relief, you can take some of the over the counter medicines that can provide immediate relief from the pain. Some of the analgesics for the pain in the neck are ibuprofen, aspirin or Tylenol.

Consultation:

If the pain continues or does not subside, you should consult a doctor who might advise diagnostic test for this to fight the actual cause of the crook in the neck.

Preventive Measures for Crook in the neck:

You can use some preventive measures and change in habits to prevent the neck muscles from cramping. Some of the techniques that can be used are:

Breathing exercises:

Breathing exercises like yoga and meditation help in providing relief and preventing any muscle spasms. Breathing exercise can reduce the stress and thus prevent relief from body strains

Stretching:

Sitting continuously in front of a computer should be avoided, People who need to sit working on a computer for long hours should do shoulder exercises in after some time gap. Some of the shoulder exercises include movement of shoulders up and down; the person can also stretch the shoulder muscle by squeezing the shoulders to join them together.

Resting:

One should also take a break from work from time to time. You should avoid sitting continuously for long hours and should take a short walk in between.

Sitting position:

When should use an ergonomically designed chair to follow good postures while working? The computer should be kept exactly in front of the eyes to prevent unnecessary slouching of the body.

The angle between the hands and elbows should be 90 degrees. Similarly, the angle between the upper and lower body should also be at 90 degrees. The chair should be adjusted to avoid any unnecessary strain on the neck, shoulders or the back.

Sleeping position:

Sleeping or rest position of the body should also be properly adjusted. A proper pillow should be used to keep the head slightly elevated. The pillow height should be such that it is not causing any uncomfortable posture for the body. Any uncomfortable posture of the body might lead to pain or discomfort in the neck area.

Crook in the neck could be a very discomforting situation for the person in performing the daily chores, so it is advisable to follow good and healthy practices and avoid any such situation.

References:

1. https://www.spine-health.com/conditions/neck-pain/stiff-neck-causes-symptoms-and-treatment
2. Doctorhealthpress
3. https://www.webmd.com/pain-management/why-does-my-neck-hurt#1