My neck is hurting

[Dave]

I don't know what's wrong with my neck, but it really hurts. Maybe I slept on it wrong; I don't know. But it's worse today. I can't even turn my head to my left without a lot of pain. Say some prayers, please! Also, has anyone else here experienced the same thing?

[Sojourner]

I've had problems with neck pain since I was a youngster. I was in a car accident when I was 4 and hit the windshield, and my neck has never been the same since.

I went through a period of time where it was hurting [i]all the time[/i] and I had to take ibuprofen at some point almost every day. I went to a chiropractor for more than a year, which helped in the short term but as soon as I stopped going the problems re-appeared. In my case, as I've gotten older it's been exacerbated by job-related things like stress and sitting at a computer all day. I make a conscious effort to get up and move around frequently because of that.

The thing that helped the most, and has been a God-send, has been buying an orthopedic pillow that gives me good neck support when I sleep. I also occasionally visit an massage therapist who works the kinks out of my shoulders, and that also helps a TON.

[Thumper]

Sorry to hear about your neck, Dave. The same thing has happened to me, with my neck and/or my neck and shoulders. I've found that ibuprofin is helpful, and that in the long run applying a cold pack to the pulled muscles (rather than heat) is a good way to go within the first 48-72 hours. The cold doesn't feel as nice immediately, but it seems to help bring down the inflammation. You want to make sure that you wrap the cold pack in a towel so that you don't hurt your skin, and only leave it on for about 20 minutes at a time.

I've also found chiropractors very helpful. If something like this comes up, I go in for one or two adjustments to get things re-aligned. They are also good about noticing what activities I'm doing that can lead to the problems in the first place. For example, if you are a student, or if you read a lot by looking down at a book or papers that are on the flat surface of a table, you may be causing strain to your back. So buying a holder that keeps the book vertical to the table may help deal with these problems in the long run.

I hope some of these ideas are helpful for you . . . .

[Cow of Shame]

yeah. Mine hurt so bad I had to use my hand to help lift my head off the bed to get up in the mornings...my neck couldn't support my head, it hurt so badly. I just massaged it, and took advil. It went away eventually. Unfortuantely, I don't have any suggestions to help you....

[Norseman82]

[quote name='Sojourner' date='Oct 27 2005, 12:11 PM']I've had problems with neck pain since I was a youngster. I was in a car accident when I was 4 and hit the windshield, and my neck has never been the same since.

I went through a period of time where it was hurting [i]all the time[/i] and I had to take ibuprofen at some point almost every day. I went to a chiropractor for more than a year, which helped in the short term but as soon as I stopped going the problems re-appeared. In my case, as I've gotten older it's been exacerbated by job-related things like stress and sitting at a computer all day. I make a conscious effort to get up and move around frequently because of that.

The thing that helped the most, and has been a God-send, has been buying an orthopedic pillow that gives me good neck support when I sleep. I also occasionally visit an massage therapist who works the kinks out of my shoulders, and that also helps a TON.
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Dave, since you were in a car accident last year, have your neck checked out just to be on the safe side.

[cmotherofpirl]

Take a warm shower and some aspirin if you can. Wrap yourself up [u]warmly[/u] and lay down - no pillows and no turning your head at all. Put on some chant and relax.
Do the same thing when you go to bed, flat on your back , with pillows on either side of your head, and keep your neck WARM.
Get checked out by your doctors well.

Do you have headache?

[Jaime]

Tequila

[Sojourner]

[quote name='hot stuff' date='Oct 27 2005, 12:59 PM']Tequila
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That's your answer for everything ...

[cmotherofpirl]

Southern Comfort helps as well.

[Sojourner]

[quote name='cmotherofpirl' date='Oct 27 2005, 01:12 PM']Southern Comfort helps as well.
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I had my first SoCo this summer. Yum.

[sweetpea316]

I feel your pain... my whole body hurts after playing an extremely hardcore game of ultimate frisbee the other day. Ouch.

[Proud2BCatholic139]

Yeah, maybe it is just a sore muscle.
That happened to me before, and as I'm driving, I couldn't turn on my left side and that stunk like a skunk.
Just keep stretching don't do straining activities and you'll be fine.

[Guest T-Bone]

[quote name='Dave' date='Oct 27 2005, 11:00 AM']I don't know what's wrong with my neck, but it really hurts.  Maybe I slept on it wrong; I don't know.  But it's worse today.  I can't even turn my head to my left without a lot of pain.  Say some prayers, please!  Also, has anyone else here experienced the same thing?
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[/quote]

You don't have a fever do you? It could be meningitis. That comes around college campuses this time of year...

[quote name='cmotherofpirl' date='Oct 27 2005, 12:12 PM']Southern Comfort helps as well.
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I prefer Frangelico for things like that...or Scotch. Scotch it always good...(Single Malt Scotch, preferably older than I am...)

[ofpheritup]

[quote name='cmotherofpirl' date='Oct 27 2005, 01:12 PM']Southern Comfort helps as well.
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Well thank you what a lovely compliment........
OH, OKAY, HMM NOT TALKING ABOUT ME. RATZ.

Moving along :

HOMEMADE HOT PACK, sounds weird but it works.
In case it doesn't this was my housemate's invention...HE'S A MAN.

Taka a sock, preferably a long one fill it with rice, tie a knot in the end.
MIcrowave for 2 minutes wrap it in a dish towel. IT DO GET HOT.

You can only use it so many times before the rice needs to get
replaced. Trust me you'll know when....it stinks.

Hope this helps.

[cmotherofpirl]

The only problem is you have to keep getting up to reheat it.

The ultimate hotpack is a nice warm cat or dog [ husband would work, but they tend to snore]
I have both [cat and dog not husband ]
so the dog warms my feet and the cat warms where ever it plops.

Edited October 27, 2005 by cmotherofpirl

[ofpheritup]

[quote name='cmotherofpirl' date='Oct 27 2005, 05:19 PM']The only problem is you have to keep getting up to reheat it.

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That's what I first thought but they last longer than you think.
I've really caught on to using them. And it saves having to buy something else from the drugstore.

[RC_]

The rice thing does work...

[LSW]

I've been having some pain on the right side of my neck for a few days now but it seems to be going away. Maybe wait a few days and see if it gradually goes away.