A neck crick is simply a muscle reaction that takes place when the neck has been placed or positioned wrongly for a lengthy period of time. Most chiropractors are of the opinion that neck cricks take a long time to develop and do not turn up overnight. Neck cricks usually build up for a period of time due to faulty neck positions and those who develop a crick usually experience a loss of motion in turning the head to one side as well as experience general muscle ache in the neck.
In most cases when the crick is serious patients will also feel slight swelling near the area and experience muscle pain in the same shoulder blade as well as the neck. Most of the time neck cricks do not indicate any other medical condition, however if the patient also experiences a prickling sensation and numbness in the arm then it could be a sign of nerve compression in the affected area.
Another complication that could arise is when the neck crick pain starts to subside on its own and the pain in the shoulder blade begins to get worse and moves down the back of the arm. This could be an indication of a problem with the cervical disk, normally at cervical number 5 and 6. During this point, it is highly advisable that you consult a chiropractor, or a neurologist, rather than a general practitioner.
Simple neck cricks can be treated with either cold or heat. But it is always best to let a chiropractor determine the right course of action. A chiropractor can help you with the right methods of neck and spine manipulation to help induce joint movement and reduce discomfort. Pain gels or soothing balms usually help in easing off the pain. Depending on the intensity of the neck crick, healing can take anywhere from 3 days to a fortnight. To prevent recurrent neck cricks, visit the chiropractor on a regular level.
Some common home remedies including massage, ice, over-the-counter pain medicines and other methods that can bring relief from minor back or neck cricks.
For most people with low to moderate pain in the neck or back due to cricks, the first-aid box is usually the first stop. In most cases, an over-the-counter pain drug does the job most of the time. However, OTCs are likely to have side effects, hence please go through the labels before consuming any drug for your neck crick. Applying an ice pack to the painful area during the initial onset of the pain is also helpful in controlling inflammation. If the inflammation is left unchecked it can lead to a chronic condition in the neck, back or shoulders.
Although there are no laid down rules for when to visit a doctor about a neck crick, it is usually advisable to do so if the pain prevails for a week or longer; and particularly if the pain starts to interfere in your daily performance, it is time to get the condition properly diagnosed and treated.