ow - neck cramp

[miserablemoralvacuum]

have had a hacking dry cough for weeks. Over the weekend haven't been able to stop coughing, and for the last 3 days the left side of my neck/ head is in cramp. I've had a headache from it all day, and it's gradually spreading down my arm and back.

Can't concentrate on anything from the pain. Gets worse when i cough.

Ow. what do i do?

Mostly unproductive cough with no other symptoms = probably viral, so no useful treatment. Lying down hurts, Standing up hurts. Hot bath makes no difference. Codeine and ibuprofen make no difference and I've now run out anyway.

Help. Anyone?

Could be a torticollis(muscle spasm of the neck). If you can see a GP then it's worth the trip as they might offer you a muscle relaxant.

Otherwise, rest, heat packs, gentle movement, and massage (best in a position which your head is supported). Acupuncture is also effective.

Try rolling up a towel and tucking it into your pillow case at the bottom to support your neck.

I get this alot so you've got my sympathy.

thanks nevergoogle (good name!)

mine usually settles after 2-3 days and is gone completely by a week. so hopefully you'll be feeling a bit better for the new year.

neck exercises here the retraction ones in lying are good.

do them gently.

i found alcohol healped quite a bit after stiffness form a neck operation (not eh same day as the opperation!)

i was given drugs but they did not help stiffness, went to a party a week later and had a couple of drinks and my neck was soooo much better i could not believe it.

other option would be to rub something on it like olbus or deep heat.

It it's spreading down your arm then it is likely you have trapped a nerve in the upper part of your back. I am just recovering from the same thing. I started with a stiff neck on the right side and down the back and it then spread across my shoulder, down my arm and finally my fingers on my hand went numb. Incredibly painful by about day 3 to the point the only way not to be in chronic pain was to lie flat on my back.

I'd suggest going to see a McTimoney (sp?) Chiropractor and get some good pain killers from your GP. I really wouldn't hang around as the sooner you get seen to the quicker you will heal. I have been bad for 3 weeks now...

thanks for all the advice chaps. Have found running completely relaxes the muscles for a bit (it took a bit of courage/desperation to try it - was hideously jarring for the first half hour!). Given that the muscles can relax it's unlikely to be a trapped nerve. No great harm in going running twice a day til it calms down.

wow, well done.

spicybingowings- unfortunately you were right. Have slipped a disc, trapped a nerve... made it worse by running. Still at least that means I get to spend New Year in a valium haze. The only way I can stop the pain is lying flat in a very hot bath.

rub lots of olbas oil on it. the eucalyptus oil in it is very good at numbing the nerves. yes this does work well.

MMV - I was spicy but namechanged. Sorry to hear that, I am back at the doctors tomorrow - the Chiropractor has said that as I'm not cured (mine started 8th Dec) it is more likely that I have slipped a disc rather than 'just' trapped a nerve or possible have an age related problem (great, I'm only 41 not 61). So I am now awaiting a scan and an xray. I hope that yours is a 'simple' trapped nerve due to a easily fixed structural misalignment. I'd get some Biofreeze from Boots (its a herbal alternative to deep heat) and also some Arnica and Hipericum (both homeopathic remedies) you can get those from Weleda or a chemist that stocks Weleda. I'd also recommend a GP prescription for a strong painkiller as ibuprofen or paracetamol didn't touch mine in the beginning although I'm now down to 2 doses a day.

Then get yourself to a McTimoney Chiropractor and/or an alternative massage therapist who will at least afford some relief even if they don't completely cure you!

Good luck!

sorry hypericum