Neck pain

[asilikeit]

Hoping someone can offer a little advice or help! I woke up on Saturday with a really sore stiff neck, I had assumed it was down to sleeping in a awkward position or something like that. But the pain has got increasingly worse, I can't sleep now and it's all down my neck and across my shoulders. I've taken paracetamol and ibuprofen and also have had a heat pad on. The most relief I've had is after my husband massages it while I had a hot bath to try and help. I feel a bit pathetic as I could now actually cry with the pain 😳. From nhs website I shouldn't seek medical advice unless it persists for weeks but I can't be in this pain for weeks surely and be ok?! I was hoping I'd wake up today and the pain would be gone 😩 thank you anyone who replies

Sounds very like 'trapped nerve'. Which will come from sleeping awkwardly.

The best thing is movement/massage, swimming.

Does it hurt when you move/lift your head slightly?

Shoulder movement will help. Like swimming.

Neck radiating pain across shoulder can also be heart (angina), so worth a trip to the gp, just to be sure.

What were you researching on NHS for that response I am interested to know?

Thank you for replying. Yes very sore to move head in any direction, head feels extremely heavy and almost unstable. Have husband up to get more pain medication and heatpad and he thinks that over one side of my shoulder and blade is very swollen and rock hard. I had just searched general neck pain, try always to stick to nhs pages but they were all very blasé , no need for a doctor , general ageing etc. I'm only 33 btw.

Does sound like trapped nerve, and/or muscle spasm.

Many recommend cold compress for reducing muscular swelling.

Ibuprofen gel would be good to put directly on it if you have any, to bring swelling down? Lying down and relaxing the muscles as much as possible.

You can always call the enquiry line for some advice on relieving the pain and trying to ease it.

Thanks Christmas. I'm supposed to be in work today, not sure if I will manage it or if it's wise to be honest. I've never known pain like it and I had an emergency c section a year ago 😂 this pain feels far more restrictive. Will get some ice on after this heat patch has been on a while and will grab some ibuprofen gel- I've just taken 2 in tablet form so will need to wait a while. Thank you again

Stopping you turning your head is how I've experienced trapped nerve, and agony.

Hope it improves for you today.

I had this a year or so ago and realised, after endless googling and trial and error, that my pillows were causing it. Not sure why it suddenly became a problem after using 2 pillows all my life but I bought a decent memory foam support pillow and felt the improvement from the first night.

It took some getting used to, sleeping in a position that felt very flat, but now if I go away anywhere and use 2 pillows the pain comes straight back.

I went without a pillow and then a very thin down feather pillow to see if that helped but if anything the pain is getting worse. I've managed to get a doctors appointment this morning after getting ridiculously upset with the pain. I don't know how people with chronic long term pain do it, I'm totally floored by it .

I had similar last year. No pain relief worked. Nothing touched the sides.

Only thing that worked was a trip to oestopath who sorted it out in one session. If you are Manchester I can give you an amazing recommendation.

Thank you all- wish I was in Manchester but further north! Doctor has prescribed diazepam, will give this a blast and see how it feels later.

I had this earlier this year and it was a trapped nerve from a slipped disc. It was intensely painful, but gone within a month.

Diazepma will knock it into touch, and you'll be so relaxed it won't matter. It'll work very quickly,unless there is deeper underlying issue that's the cause.

No, you're not managing less well than others it is excruciating and immobilising; anything pinching a nerve is awful.

My mum had this. It was diagnosed as wry neck and she was given diazepam for it which worked a treat. You need to go to ooh and get something for it. You don't need to be in this pain for weeks. Get seen tomorrow.

Thanks everyone , I've taken some diazepam today and I'm not keen at all, made me very spaced out and sleepy. But considering I didn't get much sleep last night I'm taking it! Just had 1 tonight before bed so hoping I get a better night. Husband can feel a hard lump over one shoulder blade and he thinks it seems in a different position to the other but doctor barely touched me today across shoulders, felt a bit of a fraud but also that he knew I wouldn't be there if it was just a niggle as I'm never at the doctors, tend to put things off which I know isn't a good thing! Thank you all again!

That spaced out sleepy means its having the same effect in your muscles. I hope you will feel the difference tomorrow!