Can’t Turn Your Head? What You Need to Know About Pulled Neck Muscles

What is a Pulled Neck Muscle?

A pulled neck muscle refers to a muscle strain in the neck, where the muscles are stretched or torn due to sudden movements, poor posture, or repetitive stress. This condition often causes discomfort that can make it hard to move your neck or turn your head. If you are experiencing this in Singapore, where long working hours and stressful lifestyles are common, you’re not alone.

Symptoms of Pulled Neck Muscle

When you experience a pulled neck muscle, the following symptoms may occur:

• Pain in the neck that prevents turning the head
• Stiffness or tightness, especially after waking up or sitting for long periods
• Muscle spasms or tension in the neck
• Numbness, tingling, or weakness in the arms or hands
• Pain that radiates into the upper back or shoulders

What Causes a Pulled Neck Muscle?

Common causes of a pulled neck muscle include:

• Improper Posture: Sitting or standing with improper posture, especially during work, can lead to neck strain.
• Sudden Movements: Quick twists or jerks of the neck, such as during physical activity or while driving, can lead to strain.
• Repetitive Stress: Repeated neck movements, such as looking down at a phone or computer screen, can contribute to muscle strain.
• Stress: Emotional stress can cause the muscles in the neck to tighten, leading to pain and stiffness.

Potentially Dangerous Causes of Neck Pain

While most cases of pulled neck muscles are not serious, some conditions should be considered:

• Cervical Radiculopathy: A compressed nerve in the neck can cause radiating pain and numbness down the arm.
• Spinal Stenosis: Narrowing of the spinal canal can put pressure on the spinal cord or nerves, causing pain.
• Infections or Tumors: Though rare, these can cause neck pain and require immediate treatment.

The Importance of Imaging

Imaging techniques like X-rays, MRIs, and ultrasounds are essential for diagnosing the true cause of your neck pain. Without imaging, treatments like physiotherapy, massage, or painkillers may not effectively target the source of your discomfort, leading to prolonged suffering.

At The Pain Relief Clinic, we offer affordable, quick imaging that delivers results in under one working day. If previous treatments have failed, we also offer a $50 second opinion consultation to help you explore better treatment options.

Why Choose Us?

• Non-invasive treatments for long-term relief
• Quick and affordable imaging to pinpoint the cause of your pain
• Medisave and insurance-covered treatments

Visit Us If You Are:

• Tired of ineffective treatments
• Looking for a faster diagnosis through imaging
• Seeking a second opinion before considering surgery