Cricked neck - help

[NailsHairNipsHeels]

So I stretched "wrong" yesterday morning and I've cricked my neck and It's been bloody agony ever since and now making me feel so sick.
Are there any magic cures?

I've tried heat and ice, alternating.
Taking paracetamol and ibuprofen but not doing much
From prodding my neck there's no actual sore bit that I could rub on deep heat
I didn't sleep a wink last night and I'm struggling at work to concentrate so I'm tired and very grumpy

I feel your pain! I've ended up having to go to GP with mine after 2 weeks of it not resolving. She's given me naproxen, strong co-codamol and diazepam to get the spasm under control. The only thing I found relieved it before the drugs was a wheat heat pad on at all times. Hope it eases soon 💐

When this happens to me I find gentle stretching (eg getting into the child's pose occasionally) helps most. I don't know if that is terrible advice though, just that is what has helped me.

Osteopath would be my go to.

And nurofen plus but that knocks me out so not helpful for work.

I'm trying to keep stretching it and moving it. I can't look left at all unless I move my whole body. Looking down is fine looking up is so painful.
It brought tears to my eyes putting moisturiser on my face this morning
I'm hoping I don't need to see a Dr mine is a joke to get any appointments with
I'll try leaving heat on it today and keep moving it/stretching

I use Ibuprofen gel rubbed in and a hot wheatie bag. It's painful. A higher pillow when in bed helps too.

I use Voltarol and massage the area myself

If you can't make it to an osteopath then I second gentle stretching, and a hot bath. Do you have a bean pillow or a hot water bottle? Tiger balm can also be very helpful.

Stretches:

• Childs pose
• Tilt your neck forwards, back, to each side etc. Gently.
• Standing childs pose (use a breakfast bar or similar, bend at the waist with your Hands on the breakfast bar. Also try moving in this position. Move head gently left and right, put one arm back and then move neck left and right, then the other arm etc)
• Cat cow
• Tilt your ear to your shoulder, then the other side and repeat. Do a few times and then try holding your head and pulling the stretch further (i.e. if you're tlting to the right, reach your right hand over to cover your left ear and gently pull your head forwards and right)
• Sometimes with necks it's wider muscles that goes so working the general upper back can help. Find a door frame or corner wall and use that to gently apply pressure to the muscles between your shoulder blade and spine
• Lie on your back and turn your neck to each side as far as is comfortable. Repeat. Try again with your arm stretched out wide in the direction you're facing.
• Roll your shoulders forwards and backwards.

Hope it alleviates soon!

Thanks for all the suggestions I'm trying to keep it moving as much as possible without making me feel sick it's currently throbbing and giving me a sore head and still 2 hours until painkillers
My work set up definitely isn't helping I work off 4 screens and the lateral movement are jarring

You poor thing. I’ve had that and it’s awful.

Do you have the money for a private physio? Don’t go to an osteo - it’s likely your ligaments and muscles will be involved and you need someone who gets all that.

This is obviously not medical advice but I did used to find having a couple of glasses of wine helpful (I’m allergic to iburprofen so I have limited pain relief options!)

Ibuprofen gel helped mine, pain free within 3 days

No help but absolute sympathies. I had this when dd was about a year old. Had to get my parents to help out for the day. It was worse than childbirth pain.

Only suggestion is googling how to use your pillow to sleep at a better angle for tonight. To gently stretch the neck and to avoid it getting worse.

Good luck

Some advice here: https://www.dchft.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/ED-Acute-Torticollis-0414.pdf

Or you could do what I did about 25 years ago when I woke up with this and assumed I had done serious damage to my neck and insisted on being taken to A&E.

Back then they humoured me and gave me one of those thick padded neck collars to wear. (which do nothing by the way either for your neck or appearance)

These days I suspect it would be a long wait and an advice sheet, although they might offer diazepam.

Thank you for the advice sheet I'm finally finished work and relaxing at home with a drink to see me through til bed and more painkillers. I've got a hot water bottle tied on with a scarf and I cried feeling sorry for myself!
I knew "cricked neck" wasn't the official term I've been doing stretches all day so hopefully it's feeling better in the morning. Failing that I'll phone the GP on Wednesday