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Upper back and neck problems

2 replies

Twirlywurly2 · 28/01/2025 17:38

So for a few years I've had upper back and neck issues. If I sit at my desk for a lengthy period of time my neck aches.
Every now and then my neck properly 'goes' - am in agony for a day or so.

I've seen a chiropractor, GP, physio, all pretty certain it's muscular. My physio says it's muscular sensitivity from years of very poor posture sitting and gaming for hours at a time. My actual mobility is very good, it's just general muscle stiffness/sensitivity in the neck/upper back region.

I'm generally quite unfit so I'm trying to do something every day, whether it's 15 mins of pilates, yoga, I'm doing couch to 5k and I do some lightweight strengthening exercises once a week or so.
I have a special neck pillow, a decent mattress. I have a massage gun.
My physio gives me exercises and does a bit of sports massage every few weeks but it all seems temporary fixes. I've considered Thai massage but I can't afford to spend 50 quid a time.

I'm fed up of the discomfort/ache I feel every day. At the moment it just feels really sore and I feel like everything I do hurts it in some way. I can't relax on the sofa as I need to be sat up. I can't sit and play with my daughter. Every activity seems to invite a position which my back doesn't like. I need to use my phone and computer for work/general life stuff. I can't just stare at a wall all day. Even reading a book hurts!

Not really sure what else to do. I'm really hoping if I improve my general fitness it will ease somewhat. A year or so ago I got really into jogging and I did notice an improvement, but I don't have the time to become a fitness freak. I've got work, other stuff going on.

Any advice?

OP posts:
mindutopia · 28/01/2025 17:58

See an osteopath. They do much more work with soft tissues, which is what you need. I found the chiropractor was just interested in the joint subluxations and adjustments. The physio just gives out strengthening exercises, which can make it worse. You don’t want to strengthen muscles when the whole region is not functioning how it should. You’ll just get more stuck. The osteopath really worked with the dysfunction in my muscles and connective tissues. It’s the only thing that’s given me relief.

Twirlywurly2 · 28/01/2025 18:24

@mindutopia thank you. I did consider an osteopath but I just figured they'd give me more of the same stuff.
It's perhaps worth a try though.

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