Neck Stiffness
Alternate Names : Stiff Neck
How is the condition diagnosed?
In diagnosing a stiff neck and its causes, a healthcare provider will obtain a medical history and a history of the events leading up to the neck stiffness. A physical exam will be done to diagnose the underlying cause. If a person has been injured, the healthcare provider will be careful during the examination so as to avoid further injury.
If it is possible that the person has meningitis or a subarachnoid hemorrhage, emergency care is needed because these conditions are life-threatening. X-rays, blood tests, spinal taps, and possibly CT scans or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may need to be done to evaluate the possible cause of the stiff neck.
|