(HealthDay News) — If you tear a ligament that joins the seven spinal bones in your neck to each other, it’s considered a neck sprain. It often occurs when the neck is stretched to an extreme position during a motor vehicle accident or fall.
The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons says possible signs of this injury include:
- Pain, particularly the back of the neck, that worsens when you move.
- Pain that gets worse a day or two after the initial injury.
- Pain and muscle spasms in the upper area of the shoulder.
- Pain in the back part of the head.
- Sore throat, trouble sleeping, feeling fatigued and irritable, and having trouble concentrating.
- Numbness, weakness or a tingling sensation in the hand or arm.
- Stiffness and difficulty moving the neck.