Sprained neck?? Don’t know what to do

[Lectei]

I had a bit of a stiff neck last night before bed - nothing terrible, very mild. Woke up this morning, felt ok - got out of bed, lifted my head and omg - I had the most horrendous pain and all of my neck muscles tightened so tight it was almost unbearable, I ended up instinctively grabbing my head trying to support it - had to sit back down, it eased off slightly but I couldn’t move my neck much without the pain coming back. Since then I’ve been almost unable to move. I tried to tie my hair back and the tightening pain came back, stood up from the sofa and it came back - I don’t know what to do, I’m in my own until tomorrow. No other symptoms, no headache, no nausea, no pins and needles etc - literally feel great other than this horrendous pain. Don’t know what to do - pretty isolated

Have you got a hot wheat bag? Those things are amazing for neck pain. Source: my mum and her arthritic neck, and me and mine that has never been right since a horseriding accident and often goes into spasm. A warm shower can help too, as can any other sensible source of heat.

As for what caused it, you might just be getting old 😉It's fairly easy in even mild neck injuries for the muscles to spasm, and there are so many nerves and structures in the neck that they can easily get impinged and, well, pain, really horrible raw nerve pain can result.

You need to get yourself an emergency appointment with an osteopath, speedy relief if the nerve is still trapped, and will deal with the muscle spasms. Sympathy though, it can be excruciating.

Alternate gest and ice.

Deep Heat and massage

Regular pain killers

Muscle relaxants from the GP are pretty magic - I did an e consultant and had them prescribed over the phone and the helped enormously.

If it doesn't ease then see a physio.

I sprained my neck once simply by turning my head, too far round, too quickly! 🤦‍♀️ It was so, so painful. I got a soft, padded neck brace and took OTC co-codamol and ibuprofen round the clock, for six weeks until it healed. You have my sympathies.

Another time I sprained my neck and shoulder and suffered sudden, agonising muscle spasms that left me flinging the mug of coffee I was holding all over the desk (I switched to travel mugs), and howling in pain in the early hours, like a wounded animal. Check up with physio followed by a phone appointment with GP who prescribed six weeks of 8 mg of diazapem per day, 30/500 o-codamol 4 times daily, and naproxen with omeprasole 3 times a day. Add the senna for the codeine, and I was rattling, or at least I would have been if I hadn't been such a zombie. But at least I was pain free. All healed by six weeks, thank goodness.

Things took a sinister turn this morning when I woke up and literally could not move my head. I couldn’t get up, everytime I tried to lift myself up I got the most unbearable agonising pain. Took me an hour of minute movements until I could eventually slip out of bed and even then I ended up on the floor in agony. Worst pain I’ve ever had. As the day has gone on it’s eased off but now my back is killing me.

I think I may know how it happened - on Sunday my daughter asked me to take this bag thing full of teddies to my house. When I got home I hoisted the bag onto my shoulder not realising how heavy it was and the weight of it nearly pulled me over. I bet that’s what did it although there was no pain at the time

Just to add when I say it’s eased off I mean I’m no longer in excruciating agony. I’m still in pain though and my neck feels like it will snap at any turn. And now my back is hurting too - presumably from how tense I’m carrying myself 🤦‍♀️

Oh no! I'm so sorry. I would still advise that you contact your GP because this does sound really painful and they might be able to prescribe you something to help relax your back/neck.

This happened to me last week. My lower back felt like it was being sliced through with a serrated knife and literally nothing helped it. I had to rest in bed for 2 days and was walking around like The Hunchback of Notre Dam. It took 4 days but it eventually went completely back to normal. Please, please ring your GP and don't be stubborn like I was because I can imagine the pain you're in right now and it's so unpleasant x

Go and see an osteopath. They’ll sort you out. I used to do this all the time when I was a child. Did it again as an adult and so saw an Osteo…. That was 15 years ago and (touch wood) no attacks since

What pain relief are you on @Lectei ? I'd definitely contact the GP they can prescribe something stronger if necessary. I feel for you!

Have a read of the following might sound familiar?helpful:

https://patient.info/bones-joints-muscles/neck-pain/torticollis-twisted-neck

Heat pack, anti inflammatories, massage.

I had this from stretching when I was getting out of bed! I had to lie back down and felt like I was going to throw up.
I couldn’t wash my face or brush my teeth without excruciating pain and was late for work because of it, my neck just couldn’t support my head without feeling like it was going to snap. The pain took my breath away.
i had to phone the dr and he gave me diazepam and strong co-codemol which helped but it was only really time that made the real difference. He called it torticollis. Basically muscle spasms in the neck.
I tried heat, ice, tens machine the works but nothing actually cured it.
I was fine after the medication and about 10 days. Definitely try to get to the Dr.

I personally find cold better than heat for muscle pain ie a frozen lavender tbag or a bag of peas wrapped in a towel. The cold seems to shrink and numb the muscle somehow and gives me some temporary ease. However as it's your neck maybe the temperature drop isn't a good idea(?)