Neck Muscle Spasms: What Remedies Relieve Neck Pain?

Neck muscle spasms are no fun. You may be just going about your day, you turn your head, and suddenly, a jolt of pain shoots through your neck. It feels like your muscle has tightened and locked. Trying to move may send more discomfort down your spine. Does that sound familiar? If so, you’ve most likely experienced a neck muscle spasm. While it might seem like it comes out of nowhere, your body is actually trying to protect you.

A neck spasm is more than just an isolated incident. It can lead to days of stiffness, headaches, even dizziness or vision changes. And if it keeps coming back, the spasm may be a symptom of an underlying structural or neurological problem.

It’s helpful to understand what truly causes neck muscle spasms so that you can achieve long-term relief. If you’re neck spasms continue to occur and massage, pills and moist heat seem to be a temporary fix at best, an Upper Cervical Chiropractic evaluation is the logical next step.

What Happens During a Neck Muscle Spasm?

A neck muscle spasm happens when your body goes into defense mode. The muscles tighten suddenly and this can be quite painful. It typically occurs in response to stress, strain, or some form of instability. Essentially, you can think of a spasm as your body saying, “Something isn’t right, hold still.”

Although you might feel the symptoms in your muscles, it’s important to understand that muscles are controlled by nerves. Intermittent muscle spasms often occur when a nerve or group of nerves becomes irritated. This typically happens when a spinal joint is out of alignment or isn’t moving properly. It can also occur when a joint, especially in the neck, has developed osteoarthritis or degeneration. As the space between spinal joints narrows, nerves can become affected, leading to inflammation, poor movement patterns, and recurring muscle spasms.

Most spasms might last just a few minutes, but some can linger for hours or even days. During that time, it can feel nearly impossible to turn your head, get comfortable, or even sleep. Some people also experience side effects like headaches, dizziness, or blurry vision. This is especially common if the spasm affects muscles that support posture or connect near the brainstem (top of the spine). 

Here’s some more technical information for those who need it. The spinal accessory nerve is a cranial nerve that starts in the upper cervical spine. It controls the muscle contractions of two main neck and head muscles called the trapezius and sternocleidomastoid (SCM). These muscles are responsible for bending the neck and turning the head. When the spinal accessory nerve gets irritated, it can cause neck spasms and limit your neck and head movement.

It’s easy to think of a neck spasm as an isolated event.  But more often than not, it’s a symptom of a deeper imbalance. And if this issue is left uncorrected, the cycle of tension and pain will continue to bother you and affect your well-being.

What Triggers a Neck Spasm?

Neck spasms can be triggered by something as simple as sleeping the wrong way or looking down at your phone for too long. Common culprits include:

• Poor posture during work or screen time

• Awkward sleeping positions or unsupportive pillows

• Heavy lifting or sudden, jerky movements

• Repetitive strain from exercise or physical labor

• Dehydration or lack of proper muscle support

Underlying conditions that make you more susceptible to neck spasms:

• Subluxation or misalignment (cervical, thoracic, lumbar or pelvic)
• Osteoarthritis or degenerative joint disease
• Herniated disc or “pinched nerve”
• Spinal Stenosis

But beyond these day-to-day triggers, particularly if you experience frequent spasms, there often is a deeper issue. A structural and neurological imbalance in the upper cervical spine or subluxation can make the neck more vulnerable to spasms. To understand why, it helps to understand the physiology of the neck region.

The two top bones in the neck are the atlas (C1) and axis (C2). These vertebrae sit just below the skull and help support the head’s weight and movement. When these vertebrae shift out of alignment or stop moving properly, the body compensates to keep the head level. This constant compensation puts extra strain on surrounding muscles, especially in the neck and shoulders. Additionally, a spinal misalignment or subluxation below the neck—such as in the mid-back, low back, or pelvis—often causes the head and neck to compensate to keep the eyes level with the horizon. This response is called the righting reflex and explains why spinal and pelvic misalignments can lead to neck spasms. The physical signs of this strain include tightness, fatigue, and eventually, neck spasms.

Even if the spasm feels like a one-off, it may actually be the body’s way of signaling that something is off in your foundational alignment. Listening to that signal and addressing it can put your body back in balance and relieve chronic pain.

Short-Term Remedies for Neck Spasms

When a neck spasm strikes, your first goal is usually simple: make it stop. While the following strategies won’t correct the underlying issue, they can provide temporary relief to help calm your body and those irritated nerves.

Ice for Acute Pain
If the spasm is sudden and sharp, applying ice within the first 48 hours can help reduce inflammation and numb the pain. Always wrap an ice pack in a cloth and apply it for no longer than 20 minutes at a time.

Heat for Chronic Tension
If the spasm has lingered past the initial phase or keeps returning, gentle heat may help relax the muscles. Use a warm compress, heating pad, or take a warm shower. This can temporarily help to increase circulation and ease tightness.

Gentle Movement and Massage
Slow, mindful stretches or light massage sometimes help release tension. Avoid aggressive neck rolls or deep pressure. These can actually worsen a spasm if the underlying structures are irritated or misaligned.

Natural Pain Relief
There are several herbs and supplements that may help provide minor relief from the tightness or discomfort associated with neck spasms. These include magnesium, malic acid, ginger, turmeric, boswellia, and celery seed extract, among others. Many supplement companies have created blends of herbs that have been shown to help. But they don’t address why the spasm occurred in the first place, so it’s best to be cautious about relying on them for long-term pain relief.

Further, consult with your healthcare provider prior to starting any new supplements, vitamins or minerals to be sure they are appropriate for you.

Short-term solutions can get you through the day. But if your spasms are recurring or start to interfere with daily life, it may be time to take a deeper look at what’s going on below the surface and seek the help of an upper cervical expert. 

Why Your Neck Spasm Problem Keeps Coming Back

Recurring neck spasms aren’t just repeating by chance. There’s often an underlying reason and spasm is a result of a cycle your body gets stuck in, where a misalignment or imbalance in the spine throws off posture. This leads to your muscles tightening to compensate and stabilize the head, which builds up tension over time, which eventually erupts as a spasm. This pain causes even more guarding, stress, and imbalance.

When the body shifts even slightly out of alignment, the neck muscles adapt to keep your head upright, which can cause the atlas (C1) or axis (C2) vertebrae to become misaligned or subluxated. The misalignment of the upper neck causes neurological irritation, leading to further spasms, and the cycle continues. 

The neck muscles become overworked and fatigued due to this imbalance. You can think of it like building a house on a crooked foundation. Eventually, the imbalance makes itself known. And the only way to correct things is by addressing the root cause, not applying band-aid remedies that just mask pain temporarily.

Our team here at Upper Cervical Chiropractic Care of Monmouth has cared for hundreds of patients who have come to us stuck in this loop. They come to us frustrated because nothing seems to be helping their neck pain. However, the truth is that unless the underlying issue is addressed, neck spasms are likely to persist. For many patients, addressing the imbalances in the upper cervical region provides the relief they have been seeking. 

How QSM3 Enhances Long-Term Healing

QSM3 (Quantum Spinal Mechanics3) is an advanced, gentle form of Upper Cervical Chiropractic that takes healing a step further. Rather than focusing on a single vertebra or applying forceful adjustments, QSM3 looks at the entire body as a dynamic, interconnected structure.

The technique is based on the principle that your posture, muscles, bones, and fascia are all part of one global tension system. When an area of the body (i.e., legs, pelvis, spine) shift out of alignment, your body adjusts elsewhere to compensate. Over time, this compensation builds up tension patterns that pull on your spine and muscles, especially in the neck.

QSM3 works by releasing those compressive patterns, not forcing them back into place. At Upper Cervical Chiropractic Care of Monmouth, we utilize a series of precise, gentle contacts on the neck to release fascial tension and allow the body to realign naturally and gently. As the spine moves toward balance, the muscles begin to relax on their own, often leading to dramatic and lasting relief from chronic neck spasms. Our work focuses on helping gently move the body back into balance. After balance is restored, the body is better able to heal itself.

QSM3 care is completely non-invasive, highly personalized, and doesn’t involve any forceful twisting or popping. This makes it ideal for people who want profound, lasting change without harsh physical intervention.

Don’t Wait for the Next Flare-Up, Start Feeling Better Now 

Neck muscle spasms might feel like a minor annoyance at first. But when they keep coming back, they can become more severe and lead to interrupted sleep, limited movement, and residual pain. Don’t ignore this important signal from your body. A spasm is your body’s way of asking for help.

Many patients at Upper Cervical Chiropractic of Monmouth tell us the same thing: “I wish I had done this sooner.” Once they experience real relief, they realize just how much daily discomfort they had been living with. You deserve to experience how much better life feels when your body is finally in balance.

Whether your spasms are occasional or constant, don’t wait to seek relief. The sooner your spine is assessed and gently corrected, the sooner your muscles can stop working overtime, your body can start healing naturally, and you can get back to feeling like yourself.

If you’re ready to break the cycle and explore long-term relief, schedule your free consultation today. Our experienced team is here to help you heal, gently and naturally.