Neck spasm/toriticollis

Torticollis is a condition when your neck muscles spasm, causing pain on one side and difficulty straightening your neck. You may feel pain and stiffness in your neck and shoulders. The pain can make it difficult to do your usual activities.

Torticollis may be recognizable because it affects a person’s head positioning. Symptoms include:

• Limited range of motion of the head and neck
• Neck stiffness and pain
• Having one shoulder higher than the other
• Inflamed or swollen neck muscles
• Numbness or tingling in the neck
• Head or neck tremors
• Headaches

How is torticollis treated?

Usually, you can treat torticollis by applying a heat pack and massaging your neck.
pain relief medicines, such as Tylenol, anti-inflammatory medicines (NSAIDs), muscle relaxants help subside the pain. Some people need physiotherapy to reduce pain and stiffness.

If physical therapy and stretching aren’t effective treatments, some patients can receive Botulinum toxin injections, which can relax the tight neck muscle and resolve the problem.

Botulinum toxin is a medicine that loosens muscles so they are not too tight. Usually, the botulinum toxin shots are given using a small needle into the muscle. Botulinum toxin starts to help about 1–2 weeks after the shot and lasts for about 3 months. Botulinum toxin is used to treat the tight muscles in your neck. This helps you in many ways. The tight muscles in your neck will become easier to stretch. You can move your neck more freely, and muscles on the weak side of their neck will get stronger.
If you are suffering from neck and upper shoulder pain and stiffness, you can make an appointment to assess if you are eligible for Botulinum toxin injection.