Question: I frequently get spasms in my neck muscles. They seem to come and go without any cause or warning. Sometimes I feel some movement in the vertebrae in my neck beforehand. What could be causing this?
Dr. Hibberd's answer:
Neck pain that comes and goes is related to muscle/ligament disorders 95 percent of the time. Treatment with appropriate physical therapy and rehab measures often will bring good results, as long as underlying conditions are not the cause.
Our necks are stabilized by our musculature and intact ligaments, and any injury to these stabilizing structures may induce neck pain. Severe disc disease, bone fractures, and misalignment usually cause continuous discomfort.
The intermittent nature of your symptoms is a good sign. Go to your doctor to be evaluated and, if it appears to be related to spine or disc problems, an MRI will likely be ordered. Spinal instability is fortunately quite uncommon except in cases of traumatic injury, but you deserve a proper evaluation from and perhaps a referral to a spinal orthopedic specialist or neurosurgeon if instability is suspected.
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