Woken up with a stiff neck - what can I do?

[sparkler1]

Looks like I've slept awkwardly last night and I have a really stiff neck. Pain right down my neck into my shoulder. Just dropped dd to school and I could barely turn my head when I was driving.
Have a lot of driving around today and I need to find a way to ease it. Any tips?

Happened to me last week. I took ibruprofen and paracetamol and kept moving it gently.
Took a day to go though

Time (unfortunately), pain killer, keep it moving as best you can - try not to stiffen further.

Diclofenac over the counter to ease it. Voltaren is the most popular brand name.

thanks guys - have taken paracetamol. Don't have anything else in at the moment and have lots of taxi-ing kids today so won't have time to get to chemist. Let's just hope the paracetamol and lots of movement will help.

diclofenic are prescription only in UK

Get a stick on heat pad they really do work wonders. Like a giant plaster

Sparkler
If it's really bad, the GP will give you something like valium - I had the same problem as you and was really shocked when the doctor said it! But it seems that the drug makes the muscles relax when they have gone into spasm. It did work and I didn't feel too spaced. I was in tears with mine because I couldn't move one side of my body - was pre-kids, so not sure how I would have coped now!

I've done this too and it was so painful--I do empathise. I found a cold pack, rather than a warm one, to be most helpful. Just wrap a pack of frozen veg in a teatowel then tie it on with a scarf.