Torticollis or "wry neck" is a condition where the neck is turned making the head tilt toward one shoulder and the chin point towards the opposite shoulder.
Torticollis may have many different causes. Congenital muscular torticollis is the most common form and babies are born with it.
Spasmodic torticollis is most common in middle-aged adults and is more common in women. In spasmodic torticollis, the muscles around the neck may spasm off and on or all the time. The exact cause is unknown. It may be caused by a neck injury, spinal tumor, or vision problem such as strabismus.
Torticollis can sometimes by caused by an injury or inflammation. The inflammation can be due to an upper respiratory infection or sore throat. The swelling causes the tissue that surrounds the upper spine to loosen. This causes the neck muscles to spasm and the head to tilt to one side. Torticollis may be a symptom of another disorder.
The main symptom of any kind of torticollis is a crooked head and neck. Often the neck is stiff or sore and cannot be straightened.
People with spasmodic torticollis usually have constant and severe pain. Muscle spasms of the neck muscles usually happen on one side of the neck. Spasmodic torticollis starts slowly and gradually gets worse in 2 to 5 years.
A healthcare provider will examine the neck. You will have neck X-rays to make sure there are no problems with the vertebrae in the neck.
Torticollis can cause permanent facial deformity if it lasts longer than 1 year, so treatment is important. Treatment depends on the cause. It may get better with a simple treatment, such as doing physical therapy exercises and taking nonprescription medicines.
Botox injections relieve both the pain and the muscle spasms. They are safe and are standard treatment for torticollis. Botox injections wear off in about 3 months, so you may need to repeat the injections.
Other treatments include wearing a soft orthopedic collar, traction, heat therapy, or rarely, surgery. The goal of therapy is to reduce or stop the muscle spasms and pain.
If you are doing physical therapy, the recovery process usually lasts 8 to 12 weeks until you are able to return to full strenuous activity. You will be able to do many daily activities much sooner than this.
You can return to more strenuous activities when you:
If you play sports, ask your physical therapist or healthcare provider when you can return to play. When you return may depend on your sport or what position you play.
