Is a stiff neck due to sleeping posture a sign of cervical spondylosis?
Disease description:
I am a 20-year-old female who recently developed a stiff neck, likely due to improper sleeping posture at night. I feel very uncomfortable no matter how I move, which is really troubling me. Is a stiff neck the same as cervical spondylosis?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Lin Yunfei
In fact, a stiff neck is not cervical spondylosis. Unlike cervical spondylosis, a stiff neck refers to a condition caused by stiffness in the neck muscles. This condition, although often painful, is typically short-lived. In most cases, symptoms can completely resolve within three to five days. Cervical spondylosis, on the other hand, is a chronic disease that can cause symptoms ranging from mild to severe. Patients with severe cervical spondylosis mainly experience neck pain similar to that of a stiff neck. However, in addition to neck pain, they may also present with nausea, vomiting, numbness in the fingers, palpitations, chest tightness, and elevated blood pressure.
