What has just happened to my neck?

[lilacsky89]

No idea where to put this but I wondered if anybody has experienced this and knows what's going on?

I've just woken up to a massive crack in my neck when I turned my head. Now I can barely move, the pain is down the side of my neck and behind my ear. I've found a position to lay really still but even moving my arm can trigger the pain. Any ideas what's going on?

Trapped nerve? Muscle spasm? Can you get up?

I've done this several times. It was a trapped nerve and the muscles bunch up, its agony. I've been told to take painkillers, and gentle movement. But the first time I went to a & e because I couldn't move at all. They gave me a soft collar. But this is not to say you have exactly the same thing, you might want to have yourself checked out.

Torticollis maybe? Very painful and unpleasant

Torticollis.

Another vote for torticollis. It's very painful. OTC painkillers and heat packs (such joy in July) can help.

It's so painful when that happens and can take days to ease up. Take ibuprofen regularly, or voltrol gel. It should ease up a bit.

I had this when I was in the early stages of pregnancy and had a 1 yo to look after 😱 GP said it was Torticollis and to cancel everything I had planned for the next few days, it was absolutely agony, and I could only take paracetamol due to my pregnancy. It did ease off and never had it since. Good luck OP, I hope you feel better soon, speak to your GP for advice.

Don't take painkillers. Not feeling the pain may cause further injury.
You will benefit from a targeted massage from someone who knows what they are doing.
It looks like a sudden onset , presumably the way you slept or exposed to draught,rather than progressively getting worse due to improper posture while walking ,sitting,etc.
Massage does wonders to one's body!

Ice, ice and more ice. You shouldn't get any treatment to it in the first day or two. A reputable masseuse would not touch it just yet.

Yes this has happened to me, even DH heard the horrible crunch noise. I took codeine which helped relax it & made it more bearable. It will take a few days to get better.

DH had this some years ago-I think the doctor called it a ‘wry’ neck. He could barely move.

I think it’s the same as torticollosis though. He was given a diazepam tablet and told to sleep-he slept all day and all night and it was much better afterwards.

"Reputable" masseuse may not know enough to treat such conditions, I agree.
That's why I said to be massaged by someone who knows what they are doing. If OP is local to me, I'd take care of them. Recovery will be much swifter than with doing nothing and gulping down painkillers.
OP, pm me if you wish.