| Wryneck and torticollis are characterized by painful | | | | control the neck muscles may help. |
| spasms in the neck. A wryneck usually occurs | | | | Alternative Therapies |
| suddenly and is self limited, often vanishing | | | | A combination of physical therapy and massage |
| mysteriously. In contrast, torticollis comes on | | | | sometimes provides temporary relief, and if started |
| gradually; at first it is intermittent, but it keeps | | | | in the first year of life, can cure congenital torticollis. |
| worsening until affected muscles are chronically | | | | The daily regimen includes stretching the shortened |
| contracted and the neck posture remains abnormal | | | | neck muscle that holds the head at an abnormal |
| more or less permanently. Wryneck and torticollis are | | | | angle. Other alternative therapies include: |
| relatively common, affecting about 1 in 10,000 people, | | | | Acupuncture and Acupressure |
| with women slightly outnumbering men. What causes | | | | Six sessions with a qualified acupuncturist may |
| the muscle spasms is often unclear. In some acute | | | | provide relief and halt the muscle spasms. Applying |
| cases, entrapment of a nerve arising from the upper | | | | pressure to the jaw may give temporary relief. |
| spinal cord is responsible. Infection, inflammation, | | | | Biofeedback Training |
| dislocation of a joint in the neck, a thyroid disorder, | | | | This technique, which helps a patient control and relax |
| and a tumor are other possible causes. Heredity is | | | | neck muscles, is now a standard treatment. |
| also a possible factor. In congenital torticollis, a baby | | | | Chiropractic |
| is born with an injured or malformed neck muscle. | | | | Many chiropractors specialize in the treatment of |
| Many patients have other involuntary muscle tics and | | | | neck pain, including wryneck, using manipulation and |
| spasms, or spasmodic dystonia, as well. Doctors are | | | | electrical stimulation. |
| frequently unable to identify any single reason for | | | | Hydrotherapy. Whirlpool baths, alternating hot and |
| wryneck or torticollis. In the past, cases were often | | | | cold needle showers, and underwater massage are |
| attributed to hysteria and treated as a mental | | | | used by some physical therapists to alleviate muscle |
| disorder. Physicians now agree that although torticollis | | | | spasms and neck pain. |
| can lead to emotional problems, those problems are | | | | Massage Therapies |
| rarely, if ever, the underlying cause of the affliction. | | | | Traditional massage, perhaps combined with physical |
| Diagnostic Studies And Procedures | | | | therapy, can be helpful. Others find the more |
| Newborns should be carefully examined for signs of | | | | vigorous massage of rolfing or shiatsu beneficial. |
| muscular asymmetry affecting the neck. Adults will | | | | Meditation |
| be questioned about past nerve and muscle | | | | People who have tension induced wryneck might |
| disorders, and recent accidents involving the head | | | | benefit from meditation and breathing exercises. |
| and neck. Tests will include a neurological examination, | | | | Self Treatment |
| X-rays, CT scans, or MRI, and possibly | | | | Application of heat can sometimes ease simple |
| electromyography, which are studies of the muscles' | | | | wryneck. A battery operated vibrating neck |
| electrical impulses. | | | | massager that can be worn like a scarf while you |
| Medical Treatments | | | | read, work at a desk, or do chores may also help. If |
| Most patients benefit from a combination of medical | | | | you work at a computer or use the telephone often, |
| and alternative therapies. Regardless of treatment, 10 | | | | take frequent breaks. Change positions, shrug your |
| to 20 percent recover spontaneously within five | | | | shoulders, and gently move your head from side to |
| years. The outlook, however, is best for patients | | | | side. Don't cradle the phone between shoulder and |
| whose problem stems from an identifiable orthopedic | | | | neck; instead, try a speakerphone or headphone. |
| disorder. | | | | Maintain good posture, keep your shoulders down, |
| Drug Therapy | | | | and avoid sudden head movements. Try to sleep on |
| Prescribed drugs usually include such painkillers as | | | | your back, using a rolled neck pillow. If you suffer |
| aspirin or stronger nonsteroidal anti inflammatory | | | | chronic neck pain, use a special pillow that provides |
| agents; anticholinergic drugs such as trihexyphenidyl | | | | hot and cold therapy. Sold at medical supply stores, |
| to block certain nerve impulses; and muscle relaxants, | | | | these have a gel pack that can be cooled in the |
| such as diazepam (Valium). In some cases, haloperidol | | | | freezer or heated in the microwave and then |
| or perphenazine (Etrafon or Triavil) are prescribed, | | | | inserted into a sleeve that fits under the neck. On a |
| but side effects such as lethargy and movement | | | | long car or plane trip, rest your head on a traveler's |
| disorders limit their use. Studies indicate that injections | | | | neck pillow. If a spasm develops, rub it with an ice |
| of botulinum toxin type A into neck muscles reduce | | | | cube wrapped in a plastic bag using a circular motion. |
| painful spasms and normalize head positions for up to | | | | If this doesn't help, take a hot shower. A pulsating |
| three months in most patients. However, this | | | | shower massage on the tensed muscle may relax it. |
| treatment has not yet been approved by the FDA | | | | Other Causes of Neck Spasms |
| for neck problems. | | | | Whiplash and other neck injuries can cause muscle |
| Surgery | | | | spasms and pain. In some cases, tardive dyskinesia, a |
| When other approaches have been unsuccessful, | | | | movement disorder caused by potent antipsychotic |
| neurosl1rgery to sever some of the nerves that | | | | drugs, affects the neck. |