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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Why Is There Pain In Stiffness In My Neck After A Injury To My Head?

Yesterday afternoon I fell backwards on the bed and hit the top of my head o n the corner window sill shortly after I was nauseous and obviously had a severe head ache. The top of my head hurts to touch and there is a small bumb and early this morning my neck became sore and I can t hardly turn my head due to pain and stiffness. Why is my neck hurting and is it recommended to see a doctor? Thank you!
Wed, 30 Dec 2015
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Emergency Medicine Specialist,  's  Response
Thank you for your question. Sorry to hear about your injury.

The reason that your neck is stiff and hurting is related to how the head is supported. The neck has many muscles and some of these muscles extend all the way up the skull. These muscles are important for supporting our heads. The reason infants can't lift their head up at all is because their neck muscles are not developed or strong enough.

When a person hits their head often the muscles in the neck absorb a lot of the force. This protects us by supporting our heads but as a result often the next day or several hours after the injury the supporting neck muscles began to ache and become stiff. This happens in head injuries often but not always. It depends on how the neck muscles are involved which can relate to the type of head injury. The neck muscles are often flexed or extended during a head injury which often results in pain.

I hope this answers your question.

Thank you
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Why Is There Pain In Stiffness In My Neck After A Injury To My Head?

Thank you for your question. Sorry to hear about your injury. The reason that your neck is stiff and hurting is related to how the head is supported. The neck has many muscles and some of these muscles extend all the way up the skull. These muscles are important for supporting our heads. The reason infants can t lift their head up at all is because their neck muscles are not developed or strong enough. When a person hits their head often the muscles in the neck absorb a lot of the force. This protects us by supporting our heads but as a result often the next day or several hours after the injury the supporting neck muscles began to ache and become stiff. This happens in head injuries often but not always. It depends on how the neck muscles are involved which can relate to the type of head injury. The neck muscles are often flexed or extended during a head injury which often results in pain. I hope this answers your question. Thank you