Help- painful neck after sleeping !

[Spacebears]

So I've woken this morning and can't move my neck to the left without pain. I do sleep on my front with my neck twisted and was told by my dr many years ago to stop for my back pain but I didn't listen and lo and behold!!! Has anyone been through this ? All I can do is lay in bed and apply heat to affected side. Nhs website is saying it could take a few days to feel better any tips for feeling better sooner ?

If it's severe pain and limited movement it's likely in spasm. I've had this a few times, once being the worst pain I've ever experienced. It will get better over a few days as the muscle relaxes and comes out of spasm. Regular ibuprofen and I've often used the deep heat packs that you stick on and they last like 8 hours (make sure you get ones that can be stuck directly to skin as some can't). Gentle and regular movements and stretches if you can to help get it moving.

Yes the pain is awful. My plans for the day have been cancelled. Moving my neck to the right isn't so bad but the left side is agony. Even gentle movement is horrible.

Sounds like a spasm. It's a case of waiting it out unfortunately with ibuprofen and heat packs. Although it hurts you need to keep moving it a little and gentle to stop it seizing up further. If you wake in the night it's good to sit up for a minute and try a gentle stretch as not moving it all night could keep it stiff also. But I feel for you it's horrible pain and so debilitating!

Try doing some simple neck exercises as well - this will strengthen your muscles and help to prevent strains and spasms.

Neck stretches! There’s a set I do I was shown once and it really helps ease the pain. Too hard to describe on here though. Take it gentle and slow if you do stretch and weirdly stretch into the side that hurts is the best remedy.

Stretching is so painful but it seems like the only thing that will help in the long run !

I'm suffering today too @Spacebears - it's my trapezius muscle.

In a former life I actually went to A&E where they gave me a cocktail of muscle relaxant drugs like Diazepam, I promptly fell asleep on the trolley and woke up pain free..

I'm hesitant to bother A&E at this stage, I've a Deep Heat pack on my shoulder and I've been crying on/off. It should settle for you in a few days.

Post of solidarity.

@chickeningonup I've been crying too. I didn't know if I was being pathetic or not. My partner is looking at me bewildered and confused. I'm pregnant too so only can take paracetamol

I have had this as a result of too much computer use. Have you been hunched over, clicking away the day before OP?

I was laying on bed in my phone for way longer than I should have been the day before, I also sleep on front with my neck to the side so probably a combination of both!

How are you doing now @chickeningonup ? I'm still in pain but a lot less than I was on Monday. Hoping I'll feel a lot better by the weekend

Ibuprofen gel is your friend! Not if you've taken orally already but I often wake up with a cricked neck because I wear a ridiculous sleep roller!

@RausageSoul unfortunately I can't take anything but paracetamol as I'm pregnant . Not really touching it at all to be honest. Hot water bottle has been my best friend.

@Spacebears chiropractor helped initially.. woke up at 5am crying, so I'm waiting for my GP to see me in an hour. She has promised me Diazepam on the phone but needs to make sure I'm not in a worse state for her own records.

I might kiss her.

Are you any better?

@Spacebears a chiropractor, or physiotherapist will see you when you're pregnant. Could be useful.

@chickeningonup ooh that might me an option. Still very sore to be honest but I'm able to move it a tiny bit more today. I'm definitely seeing a small bit of progress. I think this time around it's just a waiting game for me.

How's it going @chickeningonup ? I'm almost back to normal finally !

@Spacebears still tender to the touch.. but I can move and I'm not in anywhere near the same pain

Naproxen soon sorted me out I remember being pregnant and not being able to take much more than paracetamol... then breastfeeding for 18 months and being terrified that everything would pass over to my babies

How are you?

Im feeling so much better @chickeningonup hurts a tiny bit but almost full movement back without no pain now. I'm just scared of it happening again because I don't know how I managed with just paracetamol!