I Woke Up And I Can’t Move My Neck, Now What? Tips From Your Chiropractor in West Vancouver

Waking up with a stiff neck is one thing, but waking up without being able to move your neck at all can be very frightening, especially if it’s the first time it has happened to you. Thankfully this type of neck pain happens more often than you think and is usually nothing to be too worried about. There are all sorts of reasons, causes, and symptoms that come along with this often temporary condition.

A stiff and painful neck usually doesn’t appear out of anywhere. You may have noticed a particular pain or stiffness in your neck, and it’s often connected to injury, strain, or repetitive use of the neck muscles. Those most commonly afflicted include people who sit at a desk a lot, those who might have recently changed up their sleeping arrangements (pillows make a huge difference), and those who might just have slept with an accidentally awkward posture.

Why Does It Happen, And What Causes The Pain?

Everyone experiences pain differently, and the same can be said with neck ache and stiffness in the morning. It’s essential to visit a healthcare professional if this pain is consistent or recurring or paired with any other symptoms such as numbness, pins, and needles, or lightheadedness.

There are a few causes of morning neck stiffness that are most common:

• Strain and pain in the ribs; while this might seem unusual, the top rib is closer to your neck than you think. Any neck pain can be associated with strain in the upper chest. If this is the cause of your neck stiffness, you will likely feel some pain while breathing deeply, pain in your mid back or sternum, or a radiating pain that spreads down your shoulders.  The 1^st rib subluxating even slightly out of position has been the direct cause for a lot of pain and immobility to the neck for a lot of people.

• Joint pain, particularly facet joints, can become strained and worn-out over repetitive use. Your body reacts in a very particular way when there is a pain in your neck as it’s seen as a dangerous area to your brain. You might experience spasms and general feelings of uncomfortableness.  Facets joints are susceptible to locking up and getting stuck.  This type of neck pain is one of the most common neck joint dysfunction that our Chiropractor in West Vancouver sees. It usually happens in the morning when you wake up.  The pain is in a localized area in your neck, and it feels stuck and excruciating at times.  Luckily, it’s quite an easy fix so long you don’t wait too long to make that appointment with your Chiropractor.

• General exhaustion of your neck muscles is a likely culprit, usually affecting those who spend a long time sitting at a desk or have pillows that do not suit their sleeping posture. It’s a good idea to stretch regularly, including neck stretches, and to experiment with different sleeping arrangements if this is something new you’re noticing in the mornings.  The muscles in the neck, like every other muscle in the body, can be strained. Usually, if the neck muscles are overloaded by holding your head in a particular position for too long.  Similarly, if you fall asleep with your head and neck in an awkward position, this can also strain the neck muscles, resulting in a muscle spasm in the morning when you try to turn your head.  Usually, a pillow that is too high or too low, or falling asleep with your head at an unusual angle can result in a painful neck the following morning.

As we mentioned, waking up with a stiff neck isn’t usually something to worry about. The stiffness will subside, sometimes even during the first couple of hours of being awake, and you start moving more. In some cases, though, it’s a good idea to get it checked out by a Chiropractor or a medical professional. If there is any weakness, general feelings of sickness, or the pain worsens, you should call to make an appointment to see our Chiropractor in West Vancouver or your family doctor.

Preventing Stiff Morning Neck

Even if this is the first time you’ve experienced a stiff neck in the morning, you should start to build in some routine lifestyle changes that can prevent the symptoms from flaring up again. Some simple changes, like the way your chair is positioned in front of your desk, making sure you regularly stretch if sitting for a long time, and the consideration of including some daily exercises (yoga is a good idea), will all prevent neck pain and pain in other areas of your body.

There are some other things to keep in mind, as well. Although you might feel comfortable sleeping on your stomach, this posture is particularly bad for your neck muscles. Likewise, it would help if you opted for a firmer pillow that naturally suits the way your neck is curved and will provide you with the proper support you need.  Since everyone is different in size and sleeps differently, talk to our Chiropractor in West Vancouver.  We have some pillows that we can recommend for you that should help alleviate the unnecessary neck pain.

However, one of the most efficient and essential things that you can do is to make a habit of stretching your neck and shoulder muscles every night before bed.  This regular stretching should become a normal nightly routine.  Once established, you will find that not only is it easy to do, but you will wake up with no more neck pain.

Tips To Help Treat Neck Pain

It might feel like there’s nothing you can do once you’re experiencing a stiff neck, and sometimes it’s indeed a good idea to let the stiffness subside on its own. That being said, you should keep in mind that moving, stretching, and generally exercising your neck can begin to help alleviate the pain. Turn your head ever so slightly in each direction a few times an hour, and moving your arms and shoulders regular brings blood and movement back to those tight muscles.  Remember, big and regular movements are better than small repetitive movements.  An example of small repetitive movements is using the keyboard and mouse continuously throughout the day.  You need to break that cycle up by getting off your desk, stretch your neck and shoulders, and perhaps make big windmill movements of your arms and shoulders.

Over-the-counter pain relief can be used to help ease the sensations of neck pain. It, however, does not correct the cause.  It does give you some pain relief when you need it. A heating pad can also work wonders to reduce some of the stiffness and generally aching neck and shoulder muscles. If the pain doesn’t go away, or the stiffness remains for a long time, then you should consider visiting a Chiropractor or a Massage Therapist as well.

What Can A Chiropractor Do For You

Our Chiropractic in West Vancouver has helped many patients get back to normal after experiencing consistent neck pain and stiffness. Some chronic and some more acute.  The general rule of thumb is not to wait, hoping things will get better.  Some muscles spasm can last over two weeks.  The sooner you come in for an evaluation and treatment, the faster you can get to lead a pain-free and active life.  It’s also easier to treat this type of neck pain earlier rather than later.  While some home remedies, like a long bath or some simple exercises, might deal with some symptoms, for cases of stiffness and pain that just doesn’t go away, we’re here to help.

First and foremost, chiropractors offer a level of personalized care that goes above and beyond taking medication. We build a whole repertoire of treatments and exercise routines that are structured around your specific needs. A chiropractor can also perform spinal adjustments on misaligned vertebrae and joints that could be causing neck pain after sleeping.  Certain soft tissue therapies combined with active and passive mobilization can break the pain cycle quicker.  Specific home stretches and excercises will be given to you after your visit to make sure the pain and stiffness does not return.  The main focus of our Chiropractor in West Vancouver is to bring your body back into balance so it functions optimally again.