Tight neck muscle keeps 'freezing'?

[FairTurtle]

Posting here shamelessly for traffic, sorry! But been dealing with this for the past few weeks and GP keeps sending me away.

I seem to have a super tight/stuck-feeling neck muscle in the left side of my neck - I can't tell exactly where it is. But if I yawn, or stretch in a particular way, it's like it gets irritated and sends the area into spasm, and gets frozen. I've tried massaging it and foam rolling it, but nothing. I've had 'wry neck' or torticollis before, and it feels a bit like that, except less severe, and the muscle just isn't loosening. Has anyone had this? It's so painful, and not letting up.

You might have spasmodic torticollis, it would be a good idea to see your GP and ask for a referral to a neurologist. The treatment options are a bit limited, but there are some meds they can try, or Botox.

It might be worth going to a physio - either through the NHS referral process or, if you can afford it, privately. I had a really painful and uncomfortable problem with my upper back/lower neck/shoulders seizing up during lockdown when I'd been hunched over a laptop working from home, and physio was really helpful for that - I paid for three 30-minute sessions at £40 each and to be honest it was the best £120 I've ever spent!

@Thelnebriati Hmm I just looked this up and I'm not sure it really fits? Like my head isn't actually spasming or moving, it's more like there's a frozen muscle and when I move in a certain way it irritates it and causes pain?

Only your GP or a neurologist can diagnose whats wrong with your neck, so get an appointment.

I use Weleda Arnica Massage balm to loosen very tight muscles, it works really well. I've had muscles spasming horribly in the past and was put onto diazapam for it, which is useful but a short term solution. I suggest the massage balm, it helps me enormously but make sure you get the balm (which is an oil) and not the one called oil because that doesn't work for me at all. I would also consider supplementing with magnesium and making sure you are getting enough potassium (eat a banana daily for a while) and see if that helps. My spasm are caused by hypermobility and exacerbated enormously by stress. If yours are related to stress at all try to find ways to relax yourself like meditation.

@Skyrainlight Interesting, I am also hypermobile! I'm not sure mine is stress related, but I suppose it could be. I will get the balm - thank you! I do already have tiger balm, but I'm guessing the one you recommended is different?

Afraid it’s probably going to be all of the boring stuff. Heat, stretching, rest, etc. Agree on the Physio. When it happened to me I had dry needling done to help kickstart the process but it really came down to stretching and heat.

One thing they did tell me that helped is to find a neutral position to sleep in that includes a towel rolled up under my neck to support a good position. That was probably the second best thing I did to get past it.

I would potentially look into a Pilates provider who teaches the APPI method. Google it.

„Tight“ muscles are often weak and mimic strength by „freezing“ and becoming rigid.

You may also benefit from deep breathing techniques to ensure you’re not breathing in a shallow way as that can further exacerbate stiffness in the neck and upper trap muscles.

I’ve got something similar. Muscle on neck/shoulder are rock hard/tight and causing awful headaches. I’ve bought myself a Tens machine and am using it for twenty minutes every morning and the same time every night.

I’m starting to feel a bit looser.

Yeah I get that occasionally. I was actually born with a congenital torticollis that needed surgery, and I think it’s left me with a permanent tendency to get it. I have found that since I started doing yoga it happens less often, is less severe, and gets better faster.

No, it's not the same as tiger balm. Here's a link to the one I mean. https://www.boots.com/weleda-arnica-massage-balm-100ml--10303298

Also if you are hypermobile strengthening your body and for me stretching everyday helps a lot. Hope the Weleda Balm works for you. x

I'm find a doctor who does trigger point injection therapy. Some physios are trained as well. Helps me.

Have you been to a physio, osteopath, gp?