A Crick in the Neck or Neck Injury? How to Tell the Difference

Neck Injury, Workers Comp Doctors | Saturday, March 21st, 2020

As New Yorkers find ourselves working at home, we struggle with a lack of proper office setups.

You might cozy up on the couch or in your bed with a blanket and your laptop on your lap. It’s comfier than sitting at a desk, that’s for sure. …Or is it?

While suggesting that sitting in an office chair at a desk is more comfortable than your bed might seem strange, consider that the softness can lead to a crick in the neck!

Consider the long-term effects. Sitting in a proper chair helps your posture while you work, by helping you hold your head level with your screen. This avoids putting a strain on your neck as you tilt your head down.

That strain—you guessed it—risks acquainting you with serious pain in the neck. This is a common case. Do you know any other causes? What about how to tell a plain old crick in the neck from an actual injury?

It’s no problem if you don’t: Here’s all the information you need.

Causes of Neck Pain

Neck pain is typically caused by issues with posture, such as holding your head too far forward, too low or high, or twisting your neck dramatically.

However, vertebrae in your neck can also wear out, become dislocated, or break. A sprained neck, nerve damage, and other injuries are possible as well.

Often, neck injuries are work-related.

Signs of a Crick in the Neck

A crick in the neck might sound dire, but it’s just another word for stiff neck muscles. It’s not so serious, but it sure hurts like it is!

So, What’s It Like?

A crick in the neck feels much like a cramp in any other part of the body. You might have trouble moving your neck, but it doesn’t necessarily mean you’re in any danger. If you or someone else can feel the back of your neck, and your muscles are tense, it may be a crick.

What Are More Serious Neck Pain Concerns?

Cricks are more common than true injuries. Injuries do happen, though, so it’s important to know the signs.

How Do You Tell the Difference?

You can’t always immediately tell between injuries and cricks in the neck. The symptoms are often similar: aches, muscle tension, and an inability to turn or move your neck.

More concerning symptoms include severe dizziness, strange movements, and altered neurological responses. Symptoms are unlikely to go away if you are truly injured.

What Can I Do About It?

If remedies such as heat, cold, balms, careful stretching, and gentle massage don’t help, and especially if you’re having other symptoms as described above, you should see a doctor.

Neck injuries can be dangerous, so it’s better to be safe than sorry!

Are You in Need of a Workers' Comp Doctor?

After reading this article, you can tell whether you have a neck injury or just a crick in the neck.

If you find that you may have an injury, it’s time to go to the doctor! If your neck injury occurred on the job, you should see a workers’ comp doctor.

In New York, we’ve got you covered. No matter what kind of symptoms or injury you have, we’re prepared with the best medical professionals out there to get you the compensation you deserve.

Call (888) 590-4030 today to find an experienced doctor near you.

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