A lot of people have had a stiff neck after waking up. This pain can get to affect your day-to-day activities. Several things cause this, like sleeping in an awkward position. But in most instances, this type of neck pain resolves on its own. Sometimes, when you wake up with very strong neck pain you can find your neck in an unusual position. Like your forehead our chin headed in a different direction than usual. When this happens, its called torticollis. This literally means twisted neck in Latin. This condition can be acquired or even congenital. It is also known for its symptoms. Muscle spasms, sharp pain, and limited neck movement, to name a few. Each year, there are around 200,000 cases in the United States alone, imagine how many there are worldwide? Here at Mauricio Chiropractic, one of our torticollis chiropractors will explain all about this common condition.
Can Infants Get Torticollis?
Unbelievably, the infants under the age of 2 are the ones that receive a torticollis diagnosis more often than any other age group. Children born with this condition, typically due to positioning in the womb or difficult birth, have congenital muscular torticollis (also known as infant torticollis). Even though the condition is considered congenital, it may still take up to three months for an infant to develop torticollis.
Thankfully, most infants feel no pain with this condition.
In order to avoid musculoskeletal problems as the child gets older, it is important for parents to address pediatric torticollis as early as possible. Surgery is necessary for some patients. But, it can usually be avoided by implementing a daily stretching and physical therapy routine. Another way to address pediatric torticollis without surgery is with spinal manipulation.
What Are The Causes Of Torticollis?
If you acquired torticollis, it didn’t occur all of a sudden. Usually, it starts with a small pain in the neck and it gets worse and worse until you wake up without being able to move your neck. Some contributing factors to its development include trauma, tumors, or an existing condition such as Grisel’s syndrome, which can lead to acquired torticollis.
What Are The Different Types Of Torticollis?
Temporary Torticollis
This type of stiff neck usually disappears after one or two days. It can be caused by:
- swollen lymph nodes
- an ear infection
- a cold
- an injury to the head and neck that causes swelling
Fixed Torticollis
Fixed torticollis is also called acute or permanent torticollis. It is usually due to a problem with muscle or bone structure.
Muscular Torticollis
This is the most common type of torticollis. It is caused by scarring or tight muscles on one side of the neck.
Klippel-Feil Syndrome
This is a congenital form of wry neck. It occurs when the bones in an infant’s neck have formed incorrectly. People born with this condition may have difficulty with hearing and vision.
Cervical Dystonia
This is a rare disorder and it is sometimes referred to as spasmodic torticollis. It causes neck muscles to contract in spasms. If you have cervical dystonia, your head twists or turns painfully to one side. It may also tilt forward or backward. Cervical dystonia sometimes goes away without treatment. However, there is a risk of recurrence. This type of wry neck can happen to anyone. However, it is most commonly diagnosed in middle age. It affects more women than men.
What Is The Treatment For Torticollis?
The recommendation from experts is to combine traditional medical therapies and alternative therapies. It may be beneficial for patients in the short-term to get prescription pain relief medicine.
This can also be resolved on its own. No medical intervention needed. Some people actually choose to do this, waiting for it to resolve in a couple of weeks. But during this time, it can greatly affect your everyday activities, like work and family time.
We recommend chiropractic care for treating torticollis. We specialize in treating soft tissue injuries, especially those in the spine, nervous system, and musculoskeletal system.
How Does A Chiropractor Treat Torticollis?
Chiropractic management is directed at reducing cervical spine subluxations, which are commonly present in this condition. Chiropractors use a combination of spinal adjustments, cranial realignment, and soft tissue therapies. These can produce a rapid solution in many cases of torticollis in an infant.
A common case of torticollis can be treated in 3 or 4 chiropractic sessions. Regular chiropractic treatments help patients avoid developing conditions like it.
Is Chiropractic Care Safe For Torticollis?
Pediatric chiropractic adjustments are very gentle and tailored to their physical build. It doesn’t take much force to adjust infants. Restoring movement in the cervical spine can help the muscles go back into a state of ease on their own. That’s why chiropractic treatment is such a great option; no surgery is required.
Chiropractic Care For Torticollis In The Orlando Area
If you or anyone else you know is suffering from torticollis (wry neck), please schedule an appointment with Mauricio Chiropractic now. You can also find our contact information for each office here. Treat and correct this condition… and find relief!
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We provide advanced spinal correction utilizing “state of the art” chiropractic techniques. Never in the history of chiropractic have we been able to provide the level of help and expertise that now exists. These newer correction methods are even safer, more comfortable and more effective than ever before. As Doctors of Chiropractic,Our Team has years of training and experience in spinal adjustment.