Many people, especially car and/or truck drivers can experience neck pain when turning their heads. This can come on gradually or develop suddenly. Either way it is difficult to live with and may make driving and other regular activities feel almost impossible.

Neck pain when turning the head is often caused by a muscle spasm that could be triggered from a misalignment of one or a few of the bones in your neck. With a spasm start with some light range of motion therapy three or four times during the day, especially at bedtime and upon waking. This therapy is simple: gently rotate your head in one direction and then in the other, then tilt your head on one side and then the other. “No pain no gain” does NOT apply here. The goal is not to cause more pain but to gently stretch the neck muscles until you can consult a chiropractic physician. A hot shower would help but follow it with ice on your neck. If you sit at a computer monitor for an extended period of time, you will want to evaluate such things as the height of your chair, position of monitor, the angle of your head, the ergomonics of the work place. Chiropractors can help you set up your work station correctly.

You should see a doctor if you recently suffered a fall, a car wreck, or other injury or if a past injury may have affected your neck or back. A doctor can perform an examination and order x-rays to show if there is any damage. This is where a chiropractic physician has the expertise. If they are not able to help you they will know who will be able to help you.

Neck pain may be a symptom of lower back or upper back problems. It could be a symptom of a slipped disk. These can only be addressed by a physician, a chiropractic physician is very experience with these problems.

Neck pain can be caused by degenerative diseases such as arthritis, scoliosis or osteoporosis. These require treatments to minimize the effects of the debilitating disease.

Whatever you do, curb your normal activities, listen to your body. You do not want to lift or stretch in such a way that it will increase the pain and discomfort you are feeling. If you are normally active in sports, sit it out for a while. You do not want to add to possible injuries. Take time to heal.