Muscle spasms can develop in any area of your body if a muscular group isn’t functioning normally, but they can be even more common in the neck and spinal area because of the complex and somewhat sensitive nature of the muscle groups in these areas. Spasms in the cervical region of your spine that affect your head and neck can be particularly annoying and make everyday activities uncomfortable. So what’s causing your chronic neck spasms, and more importantly, what can you do to treat them? We answer those questions and more in today’s blog.
Underlying Causes Of Neck Spasms
At its core, a neck spasm is the sudden and involuntary contraction of a muscle in the cervical spinal region. Mild spasms can be uncomfortable, but more severe spasms can present with pain, twitching, decreased range of motion, dizziness and headaches. In many instances these spasms are easy to treat once you’ve identified the underlying cause, but that can be easier said than done. A number of different underlying factors can contribute to chronic or infrequent neck spasms. Here are some of the most common causes and contributing factors for neck spasm onset:
- Neck Strains – A small tear or strain of the neck muscle can cause the muscle to tighten in an effort to protect itself from additional stress and injury. This muscular reflex in response to an injury or strain can lead to repetitive muscle spasms while the area heals.
- Overuse – An overworked muscle is at risk of spasming, and while we oftentimes don’t view our neck as an area that we overwork with traditional exercise, these muscles can be overworked quite easily if you have poor posture, causing your neck muscles to have to provide extra support to your neck for an extended period.
- Disc Herniation – If a cervical spinal disc shifts out of place and impinges nearby nerves or irritates muscle groups, it can lead to pain and muscle spasms.
- Injury – A previous injury to the head or neck region can change how stress is displaced on the area, or the injury can lead to muscle deconditioning, both of which can put a person at an increased risk of muscle spasms.
- Bone Spurs – Bone spurs can develop in the neck region as a result of injury or normal wear and tear in the neck region, and these bony overgrowths can irritate muscle groups, causing them to respond by spasming.
- Myofascial Pain Syndrome – Myofascial pain syndrome is a muscular disorder that causes increased discomfort in muscle groups as a result of injury or overuse. Oftentimes this muscular sensitivity develops in the neck region, which can lead to muscle spasms.
- Stress – One final condition that can lead to cervical muscle spasms is stress and anxiety. Increased emotional stress has been linked to increased neck muscle tension and strain, so if you are dealing with anxiety, your neck muscles are under constant strain, increasing your risk of muscle spasm onset.
Each of the above causes will be treated in a slightly different manner, but the good news is that muscle spasms will almost exclusively be treated nonoperatively. There’s a possibility that a different underlying issue is causing your spasms as an additional side effect, and that underlying problem may need to be addressed with surgery, but far more often the issues can be resolved with conservative care. The most common treatment options include rest, physical therapy, ice/heat therapy, posture improvements, exercise and anti-inflammatory medications.
If those treatments fail to provide relief after 4-6 weeks, more hands-on treatment in the form of massage therapy, manual therapy, corticosteroid injections and a minimally invasive operation may be pursued, but again, this is rare.
For more information, or for help with your bothersome neck spasms, reach out to Dr. Sinicropi and his team today at (651) 430-3800.
