What you need to know about neck strain?
The cause of neck stiffness is often a sudden shift in front of you, back or to the side. Also in many clinical cases the risk factor for injury is a road accident. Neck strains are also complained of by athletes who engage in contact sports. The risk of neck strain increases against the background of falls.
Self-medication is not allowed if the neck is stretched due to an injury, a car accident.
The strain caused by the awkward movement will go away on its own in a few days.
In case of serious injury, when a fracture or any other possible complication is suspected, computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging is prescribed (diagnostic methods are chosen by the physician based on the specific clinical case).
Symptoms that warrant a trip to the doctor for further evaluation include:
- Pain, tingling, numbness, and/or weakness that radiates down into the shoulder, arm, or hand
- Headache or dizziness
- Visual problems or sensitivity to bright lights
- Gait disturbances such as feeling off balance
- Loss of bladder or bowel control
- Neck instability
Common Symptoms of Neck Strain
Nearly all cases of muscle strain in the neck are either mild or moderate and will eventually heal, but even these cases can be troublesome and inconvenient.
Common symptoms include one or more of the following:
- Pain localized to the neck region.
- Achy or throbbing pain.
- Sharp pain.
- Pain that worsens with movement.
- Muscle spasm.
- Stiff neck.
Sometimes a neck strain can accompany another injury or condition, which may cause additional symptoms.
Source:
https://www.spine-health.com/conditions/neck-pain/neck-strain-symptoms
