You may have heard the term “a crick in the neck” before, but what does this actually mean? Is there a specific diagnosis associated with a crick in the neck, or is it just a term for a collection of neck issues? In today’s blog, we take a closer look at what it means to have a crick in your neck, and more importantly, how to treat the problem.
What Does It Mean To Have A Crick In Your Neck?
Similar to the term “throwing out your back,” a crick in the neck is a term used to describe generalized pain in an area of your spine. There is no one specific issue associated with a crick in the neck, but instead it’s used as a catch-all term to describe a number of different ailments. Here are some of the more common conditions that someone may describe as a crick in the neck:
- Generalized neck pain
- Muscle spasms
- Bulging or herniated cervical spinal disc
- Spinal stenosis
- Bone spur development
- Spinal nerve impingement
- Muscle or ligament damage as a result of trauma or whiplash
Treating A Crick In Your Neck
Because a crick in your neck can actually be caused by a number of underlying problems, the first step in the treatment process is to figure out exactly what you’re dealing with. The best way to do that is by setting up an appointment with a spine specialist like Dr. Sincropi. He’ll start by asking about your symptoms, how your discomfort first started and by reviewing your medical history. He may also have you perform some range of motion exercises to see how fluidly you can move your neck region.
He’ll likely have a good idea of what’s causing your neck discomfort after this assessment, but he may opt for an imaging exam to see the precise location of your issue. An X-ray can help diagnose problems like a shifted spinal disc or bone spur onset, while an MRI or CT scan can help to provide a more comprehensive look at some of the soft tissues in the area. Regardless of the specific techniques used, we’re confident that we can get to the bottom of your neck pain.
Treatment will then be based on your underlying diagnosis, and in most cases, non-operative treatment will be the first step in the process. Although you’ll want to follow your individual plan, a number of the conditions listed above respond well to a combination of conservative techniques like rest, stretching techniques to safely expand range of motion, physical therapy exercises, anti-inflammatory medications, ice/heat therapy and posture improvements to take stress off the neck. Most patients will find that symptoms reduce or fully alleviate by following these conservative techniques.
If these techniques fail to provide relief, or you’re dealing with a more pressing spinal issue, your specialist may recommend a minimally invasive procedure. Again, the specifics will depend on the underlying issue, so your surgeon may end up decompressing a nerve or fusing two vertebrae together to limit movement at the painful area. They’ll be able to explain the benefits of each procedure and why it should prove helpful should surgery end up being recommended.
So the next time a friend or a parent mentions that they have a crick in their neck, know that they aren’t talking about any specific injury. But if they’d like to get to the bottom of their neck discomfort, all they need to do is set up an appointment with Dr. Sinicropi and the team at The Midwest Spine & Brain Institute. We’re confident that not only can we uncover the cause of your discomfort, but we can also help you find relief from it. For more information, contact our team today at (651) 430-3800.
