Am I In A Bad Dream?…I Can’t Move My Neck!

You wake up.  Well rested.  Sit up out of bed and BAM!  You can barely (if at all) turn your head as a knife enters your neck.  Sound familiar?   It puts a damper on your Monday for sure ( or any other day of the week).  You’re thinking “how am I going to drive to work.  Let alone WORK!”

What you are experiencing is not a bad dream…it’s what we call a “kink” in the neck.  But what is it? Why now!?

This condition involves a couple of things.

1). Locking or stiffness of a facet joint. The facet (pronounced “faSSet”) joints are the small joints that connect one vertebrae to another it’s where movement occurs in our spine when we look over our shoulder, up to the ceiling, or down to the floor.  One of these facets joints can “lock” and therefore restrict motion significantly

2) Muscle spasm and tightness of the Levator Scapulae and/or the Upper Trapezius.  These muscles help elevate the shoulder and rotate the head.

Often a “kink in the neck” occurs during sleep when the head neck gets positioned awkwardly and you sleep right through it.  Also contributing can be the prior day’s activity and stress level. I’ve included a brief video here on initial treatment.  Fortunately it responds well quickly and isn’t a long-term problem.
If you tend to get this often you may want to check your pillow and make sure it is supporting you well.  Also maintain proper sitting and standing postures through the day to avoid excess stress on the neck.