Is it possible to sprain your neck

A neck sprain is an injury to the ligaments in the neck. Grade I is a mild strain with partial tearing. Pain is typically mild. Grade II is a moderate neck strain where more muscle fibers are torn. You could experience some muscle weakness as well as mild to moderate pain. Grade III is the most severe type of neck strain.

The muscle has completely torn in a Grade III tear. Pain is severe. Your doctor will generally use the same protocol to treat sprains and strains. Neck sprains and strains causes Generally, neck strains or sprains are caused by an injury to the neck. Other causes of neck sprains or strains include: Poor posture Lifting a heavy object Falling Performing a new activity Repetitive motions or activities that require repetitive motions Diseases such Neck sprains and strains symptoms The most common sign of a neck sprain or strain is a pain in combination with a decreased range of motion.

Take breaks if you are traveling long distances or sitting in the same position for an extended period. Some fibers of the ligaments that surround the joint or joints will likely be stretched, but the joint will, for the most part, stay stable. Grade 2 sprains are considered moderate and consist of partial tearing and some joint instability.

Swelling and stiffness may ensue, and you'll likely get at least a bit black and blue in the area of the trauma.

You won't be able to use the joint s as well as before; it's probably a good idea to downwardly adjust your activity levels for a while, anyway. Physical therapy treatment is a good idea. Grade 3 sprains are serious, often resulting in complete ligament rupture, loss of function and joint instability. The affected area will most likely swell up and become black and blue. This is called ecchymosis.

Should you suspect someone in your environment has sustained a serious neck sprain, and a possible broken neck, activate emergency medical services.

In other words, call Also, it's critical to keep the person as immobilized as possible until qualified help arrives on the scene. For the other grades, let your pain be your guide.

Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Neck Sprain. Reviewed June The 7 faces of neck pain. Harvard Health Publishing. Harvard Medical School. Johns Hopkins Medicine. Rare cause of acute neck hematoma. Clin Case Rep. Experts recommend sleeping on your back or on your side specifically your left side and using a pillow that properly supports your head and neck.

For back sleepers, try a feather pillow or a memory foam pillow that conforms to the curve of your head and neck. If you are a side sleeper, choose a pillow that is higher under the neck than the head to help your spinal alignment. No matter how you sleep, avoid pillows that are too high or too stiff as they can cause the neck muscles to flex for hours on end causing pain and stiffness in the morning.

Sometimes the exact cause of a neck strain is not known. A neck strain may be painful as soon as the injury occurs, or it may take many hours for the inflammation to increase and symptoms to appear.

Sometimes the symptoms start so gradually that it is difficult to trace how or when the injury occurred. Typically, neck strain pain and stiffness continue to worsen during the first day or two after the injury. See Treatment for a Stiff Neck. While most neck strains take a few weeks to completely heal, symptoms tend to mostly go away in less than a week. In general, severe muscle strains tend to take closer to 12 weeks to heal, but these rarely occur in the neck without the involvement of a more serious injury.

For most episodes of neck strain, self-care and avoiding any additional strain to the neck is enough to manage symptoms until the injury is healed.