Did you wake up with a stiff neck? Maybe you turned your head "wrong," and your neck feels like something is catching. A cricked neck is characterized by a stiff, limiting movement in the neck.

The majority of the time, a stiff neck is due to muscle spasms, but can be related to a disk. A cricked neck can involve either pain in the neck alone, or can include shoulder blade pain as well.http://saveyourself.ca/tutorials/neck-pain.php

Although not always extremely painful as much as aggravating and sore, there are steps you can take to get rid of a crick. Read on to learn what causes a crick, how to get rid of it, and how to avoid a stiff neck in the future - in other words, how to fix a cricked neck.

Although everyone is different, the majority of cricks occur from one of several reasons. Sleeping wrong is the main cause of a stiff neck. Your neck is placed in an awkward position, leaving it stiff and sore in the morning.

Stress can also cause a crick in the neck. Anxiety builds up tension in your neck and back.http://www.ayushveda.com/dietfitness/neck-crick/

Muscle and nerve problems lead to a stiff neck, also. Nerves trapped between disks is a more serious cause of a crick.http://www.spineuniverse.com/displayarticle.php/article3922.html

Age, daily activities, and injury are all different for the general population. We are all different, and our lives and daily activities vary.http://www.ayushveda.com/dietfitness/neck-crick/

There are some common remedies to help work out the stiffness in your neck. Try one of the following:

1. Move It Around: Gently Move Your Neck Around, Slowly
2. Over the Counter Medication: Tylenol or Ibuprofen for Pain Relief, Bengay for Neck Muscles
3. Ice/Heat: For nerves, apply ice. Use heat if your muscles are tight.
4. Massage your neck very softly
5. Relaxhttp://backandneck.about.com/od/painmanagement/tp/backselftherapy.htm
6. Get a Professional Massagehttp://www.altmd.com/Specialists/Elite-Health/Blog/What-Is-a-Crick-in-the-Neck

Once the crick in your neck is gone, there are some things you can do to avoid having another stiff neck.

1. Stay Active: Sitting or staying in one place for too long is bad for the muscles in your neck.
2. Good posture: Make a conscious effort to sit up straight and tall, instead of slumping.
3. Move Your Neck: Move your neck to the left and right throughout the day, to keep the stiffness from returning.http://www.spineuniverse.com/displayarticle.php/article3922.html

Home remedies work for a simple crick. However, there are times when you should seek the treatment of a physician:http://backandneck.about.com/od/painmanagement/tp/backselftherapy.htm

1. If you have had a stiff neck for a week or longer
2. If your pain is getting worse instead of better

The content in this page is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please contact your doctor before using the information presented here.