Pain in the neck!

[KX02]

I'm hoping somebody might have some good advice for me. I sometimes get what some people call a stiff neck. The symptoms, severe pain and greatly impaired mobility. The last episode I had of this came on about 6 weeks ago. I know that when I fall asleep I tend to lean my head way over to one side, I'm not sure if this could be the cause. Anyway one morning I awoke and I did have my head over to one side and my neck was mildly sore. Then a few days later all I did was tense up for a second and bam! My necked got really sore and got worse as the day wore on. I actually had to stay home from work the next day it hurt so bad. It takes me quite a while to recover from these. Since my last one I bought a $50 orthopedic pillow. I can't say it makes me more comfortable, but I know it does definitely support me better. I always do neck rotations when working out trying to try to loosen up my neck, but that doesn't seem to be the cure. I have been doing some running on my new treadmill and was feeling about 95% with respect to my neck, but no other working out. Last night I ran and then did some ab work outs, which definitely cause you to put tension on your neck. Now today my legs feel fine, my abs, feel fine and my neck is fairly sore. This is affecting my ability to exercise and in another month might affect my riding . I have seen a massotherapist a number of times for this condition, it helps, but only seems to be treating the symptoms. I don't really care to see a chiro for this, I saw one once or twice years ago for a car accident by recommendation of a friend and having some guy grabbing my neck and yanking it is really not for me! I do think it is time to see a doctor for this, but I'm not sure who to see for this. Would an orthopedic be the right doctor If anyone else has had this type of problem, I would appreciate your thougths!

[Roostman]

My neck is sore right now. Same thing, I wake up with a sore neck and it lingers for a couple/few days. It sucks. Im gonna start getting massages (no happy endings though) cause I get up to 40 a year for free through my insurance. Might as well use them and hope it helps. Im curious too if there is a way to stop the pain quickly cause my neck is sore!

[MWV46]

One word: Chiropractor
I know you might be sceptical but I have used them many times and they do help.
You need to find a real one though and watch out for the quacks. I had one that did everything the old fashion way, massage and electrical stimulas to loosen the muscles first then a nice cracking in all the right directions. If you find one that wants to crack you cold with no muscle relaxation thats no good, find someone else.

[KX02]

Thanks for the advice Mike, I might end up trying that sooner or later if things don't improve for me. That cracking does freak me out though! That was a good point about loosening up first. That guy I saw didn't do that.

We have to throw some roost soon!

[icantslowdown]

a lot of chiropractors nowadays use activators - little handheld devices that deliver a quick whack before the muscles have a chance to tighten up. this allows them to manipulate your spine with less trauma to you. i got hit by a pickup truck in 1991 and my back's jacked, so i have to go routinely (and my health insurance doesn't cover it - nice eh?) i'd be a bit leery of going to a chiro without an MRI first to determine exactly where the problem lies though, i've seen plenty of people go through the ER and get a disc fused because a chiro made a wrong twist from not knowing where the problem was.

try stretching your neck - tilting to the side for 30, other side for 30, front for 30, back for 30. contrary to popular belief, rolling your neck is not good for you. you can also start doing some neck exercises to strengthen your neck muscles. press your forehead into the palm of your hand and push hard for 20 seconds. do the same for the sides and back. twist your head to the left, put your right palm against your cheek, apply pressure, and slowly turn your head to the right over the course of about 15 seconds. repeat for the left. dumbbell or barbell shrugs will hit the traps, concentrate on the peak shrug to hit the top of the trap. you will be sore and stiff at first, but over time the muscles will adapt and lessen your problems.

[KX02]

Thanks for the tips icantslowdown. The neck rolls are one thing that I have done for quite some time, I'm going to quit doing them and try the strength exercises you mentioned. Hopefully they will help. MV930 also suggested icing my neck and shoulders after a work out and it seems like that has made a difference for the better. I've been doing that for a few weeks now.