Twisted neck
When to seek medical advice
You should see your GP if:
- the pain or stiffness doesn't improve after a few days or weeks
- you can't control the pain using ordinary painkillers
- you're worried your neck pain could have a more serious cause
Your GP will examine your neck and ask some questions to help identify any underlying condition. They may also prescribe a stronger painkiller, such as codeine, to take with your usual over-the-counter painkillers.
If you've had neck pain or stiffness for a month or more, your GP may be able to refer you to a physiotherapist .
If your symptoms are particularly severe or don't improve, your GP may consider prescribing more powerful medication or referring you to a pain specialist for further treatment.
Read about living with pain for further information and advice about persistent pain.
Medically Reviewed by a doctor on 21 Dec 2018
Introduction
Read about neck pain or a stiff neck, which is a common problem and generally nothing to worry about
Managing neck pain at home
For most types of general neck pain, the advice is to carry on with your normal daily activities, keep active, and take painkillers to relieve the symptoms. These steps may help you to manage your pa
When to seek medical advice
You should see your GP if: the pain or stiffness doesn't improve after a few days or weeks you can't control the pain using ordinary painkillers you're worried your neck pain could have a more ser
Causes of neck painand stiffness
A twisted or locked neck Some people suddenly wake up one morning to find their neck twisted to one side and stuck in that position. This is known as acute torticollis and is caused by injury to the
Preventing neck pain and stiffness
You may find the following advice helpful in preventingneck pain: make sure you have good posture read about how to sit correctly , posture tips for laptop users , and common posture mistakes and fi
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