Stiff Neck

Neck stiffness is a broad term for anything that makes it hard to move or use your neck. It’s an extremely common symptom of many issues and health conditions.

Your neck is a complex body part that contains bones, muscles, ligaments, disks and nerves. Anything that irritates or damages these parts can cause stiffness. Stiffness often happens before other symptoms like pain, numbness or tingling in your neck, shoulders or arms.

Having a stiff neck is almost always a temporary issue you can treat at home. It will usually get better on its own. But it can also be a symptom of serious health conditions that need immediate treatment.

Visit a healthcare provider if you have a stiff neck and are worried you might have a serious issue because of other symptoms. Trust your body and listen to what it’s telling you.

What are the most common causes of neck stiffness?

The most common causes of neck stiffness include:

• Muscle and ligament issues: This can include sleeping on your neck in an unusual position, looking at a screen for too long and even extra stress. Injuries like neck sprains damage tissue around your neck and can cause stiffness.
• Traumas: Car accidents, sports injuries and whiplash can all cause pain and stiffness in your neck.
• Meningitis: This is inflammation in the meninges that surround your brain and spinal cord, usually from a bacterial or viral infection. Meningitis is dangerous and can cause permanent damage if not treated right away. 

How is this symptom treated?

Sometimes, a stiff neck gets better on its own with no treatment. You might be able to relieve it by adjusting your posture and moving your neck. Try tilting your neck to the opposite side of where you feel stiffness.

If you do need treatment, you can probably manage stiffness with at-home remedies, including:

• Changing your routine: Make sure to adjust your posture throughout your day. Even a quick stretch and a few head movements during a day at your desk can help. If you know a specific activity caused stiffness, rest or avoid it for a few days.
• NSAIDs: Over-the-counter NSAIDs treat pain and relieve inflammation. Talk to a healthcare provider before taking NSAIDs for more than 10 days in a row.
• Heat: Taking a warm bath or shower can be all you need to loosen a stiff neck. You can also wear a heating pad or put a warm compress on your neck.

A healthcare provider or physical therapist might also give you stretches or exercises to strengthen the muscles around your neck.

Meningitis treatments usually include:

• Medication to treat the virus or bacteria that caused the infection
• Corticosteroids
• IV fluids

When should this symptom be treated by a doctor or healthcare provider?

Visit a healthcare provider if you’re having trouble moving your neck and the stiffness lasts more than a few days.

A stiff neck usually isn’t serious. But meningitis is an emergency that needs treatment right away. Go to the emergency room if you have a stiff neck and other symptoms like:

• Nausea or vomiting
• Fever
• Light sensitivity
• Confusion
• Lack of energy, extreme sleepiness or trouble staying awake
• Lack of appetite
• Small, round spots that look like a rash (petechiae)