Stiff necks can be annoying, but they might also be a sign of a serious infection, tumor or other problem that does not originate in the neck.Meningitis is an infection in the membrane and fluid of the brain that could (if it is the bacterial kind) require medical attention ASAP.



Causes of a Stiff Neck

Not all stiff necks are the same. While most of the time a stiff neck is caused by whiplash, ergonomics, wear and tear, or just sleeping in a funny position, there are those instances where it can be the sign of something systemic.

A common cause of neck pain is muscle strain or tension. Usually, everyday activities are to blame. Such activities include bending over a desk for hours, having poor posture while watching TV or reading, placing your computer monitor too high or too low.Disk disorders. As you age, the cushioning disks between your vertebrae become dry and stiff, narrowing the spaces in your spinal column where the nerves come out. The disks in your neck also can herniate.

Symptoms of Stiff Neck

Oral cavity. A white or red patch on the gums, tongue, or lining of the mouth; a swelling of the jaw that causes dentures to fit poorly or become uncomfortable; and unusual bleeding or pain in the mouth.Nasal cavity and sinuses. Sinuses that are blocked and do not clear, chronic sinus infections that do not respond to treatment with antibiotics, bleeding through the nose, frequent headaches, swelling or other trouble with the eyes, pain in the upper teeth, or problems with dentures.

Upper abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting (which may indicate pancreatitis)Lower abdominal pain in women (may indicate swelling of the ovaries, which is rare)

Other possible causes for stiff neck-like influenza, polio and meningitis-are far more serious. These conditions, however, announce themselves with other unpleasant symptoms, including nausea, headache and swollen glands.

How is it treated

Acute -sudden onset of pain or severe pain - severe neck and/or arm pain may require use of a collar and/or bed rest for first 24 hours and use of ice for first 72 hours.  This usually follows trauma, a car accident, a fall or sharp pain/popping felt in the neck.  SELF CARE  Additional treatment will be determined by severity of the problem.

Antiviral medications may be prescribed for herpes encephalitis or other severe viral infections. Antibiotics may be prescribed for bacterial infections. Anticonvulsants are used to prevent or treat seizures. Corticosteroids are used to reduce brain swelling and inflammation.

Our health-care provider will advise you on treatment options. Acyclovir, famcyclovir, or val acyclovir (medicines that work against herpes viruses) are recommended for persons who are more likely to develop serious disease, including persons with chronic skin or lung disease, otherwise healthy individuals 13 years of age or older, and persons receiving steroid therapy.

A regular painkiller - taking it regularly by the clock not just when it seems to hurt most. If you aren't allergic to aspirin then one of the more modern aspirin-like drugs, like nurofen, taken three times a day for three or four days.In The Trigger Point Therapy Workbook, nationally certified massage therapist Clair Davies simplifies Travell and Simons's extensive research into myofascial pain and makes it accessible to the layman.