What Does Nuchal Rigidity Feel Like

Nuchal rigidity simply refers to neck stiffness. Tightness and inability to move the neck muscles — or feeling pain while trying to do so — is an early warning sign of a number of conditions, some of them quite serious. Nuchal rigidity can range from minor pain to complete inability to turn your neck from side to side.

What does nuchal rigidity indicate?

A third sign used to diagnose meningitis is called nuchal rigidity. Nuchal rigidity is an inability to flex the neck forward due to rigidity of the neck muscles. Similar to Kernig’s sign, research has shown that many people with meningitis don’t have the Brudzinski sign or nuchal rigidity.

How do I know if I have meningeal?

Meningeal irritation also can be tested by the jolt accentuation of headache. This is elicited by asking the patient to turn his or her head horizontally at a frequency of 2-3 rotations per second. Worsening of a baseline headache represents a positive sign.