Symptoms
The symptoms of a stiff neck are comparable to a lumbago in the back. Sudden onset of pain and restricted movement in the neck are the main symptoms of this common clinical picture. These complaints are mainly caused by tense muscles or (very rarely) by a slight slipped disc.
If additional symptoms are added, a more serious cause for the stiff neck should be considered. For example, fever, pain along the entire spine, headaches or a general feeling of illness may indicate meningitis. This life-threatening disease can be caused, for example, by a tick bite or by aggressive cold pathogens.
If such symptoms occur in connection with a stiff neck and a tick bite has possibly already been detected, a doctor should be consulted immediately. In addition to the symptoms of a stiff neck, pain in the arms and hands can also occur. Such pain radiation can be clarified with the help of X-rays, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computer tomography (CT). This may be caused by a slipped disc in the cervical spine or signs of wear and tear. The cervical spine is a very mobile part of the spine and is formed by seven cervical vertebrae and the corresponding intervertebral discs, which must fit perfectly and function together.Even the smallest changes in the complicated chain of movement can lead to pain and stiffening.
Causes
The exact cause for a stiff neck is not yet sufficiently explainable. It is being discussed whether the muscles in the shoulder and neck area cramp up due to incorrect or too little movement and are thus shortened. Another theory explains the discomfort with microscopic bleeding or tears in the muscle fibers caused by the fact that the muscle is cold and has to move suddenly.
For various reasons, nerve irritation and muscle pain can occur so that the head can only be turned or moved with pain. The stiff neck can be caused by lying or sitting incorrectly, by draught or in the context of a cold. Stress and psychological problems are among the most common causes of a stiff neck, because the neck muscles are unconsciously tensed, the shoulders are pulled up, the head is stretched forward and the teeth are clenched.
Over a longer period of time, a stiff neck can develop, which then usually presents itself very suddenly as an acute clinical picture. The musculature in the shoulder and neck area can be overloaded by heavy lifting or can be pulled by wrong movements. Signs of wear and tear or degenerative changes in the small joints of the cervical spine as well as vertebral body changes due to osteoporosis can also lead to a stiff neck. Other causes can be accidents (e.g. whiplash), nerve irritation due to bone changes or disc damage, vascular changes or soft tissue rheumatism.
