Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Is this common in pregnancy?

10 replies

Whysoserious · 24/05/2012 14:25

I woke up in the middle of the night unable to turn over because my back/neck was hurting so much. It was agony and I couldn't get back to sleep as a result.

I managed to get up today and go to work but I'm still in so much pain. It's agony to turn my head either side, or up or down and it's giving me a headache as a result.

Is this a symptom of pregnancy (I'm 16+4) or just something that happens to people pregnant or not (it's never happened to me before).

My anxious, pregnant, tired brain is also scared it's a horrible disease that might harm my baby Blush

OP posts:
Whysoserious · 24/05/2012 14:41

Bump

OP posts:
ItsMyLastOne · 24/05/2012 14:50

I haven't had any neck problems in pregnancy. But I did have bad whiplash when I was 13 which lasted for about 8 or 9 years. I'd often wake up unable to move and had to take medication to relax muscles sometimes. Could you be very tense or anxious about something and that could be causing the tension in your neck and upper back?

When you're home try some paracetamol, a warm bath and a nice massage from your OH! I hope it doesn't last too long, I know how debilitating it can be. Smile

Whysoserious · 24/05/2012 15:04

Thanks itsmylastone.

It really is painful Sad. I tried the massage off DH this morning and, well, let's just say it doesn't have the gentlest of touches.

I'll try some heat - am assuming that's fine during pregnancy?

OP posts:
ItsMyLastOne · 24/05/2012 15:26

My DP would be useless at the massage too!

If you're having a bath, don't have it too hot. But if you have any of those neck pillows that you stick in the microwave that should help too.

If you do any reading, going on you computer or phone etc try not to have it too low so you're not spending a long time looking down.

Don't be tempted to keep your neck still. I know it might feel like you want to due to the pain, but you really need to try gentle stretches so turning to each side, lifting your head up and down. Do it sitting or standing very straight and keep your shoulders in the same position as you turn.

When I was really bad I found lying flat on my back with my legs bent was most comfortable.

Then when you go to bed, make sure your neck is really well supported. It might mean having more or fewer pillows. A v shaped pillow is good as it's quite supportive when you're on your side.

If it persists make sure you see your gp and get referred to a physio. I also had acupuncture but it didn't work for me. I found yoga and Pilates really helped me get more strength in my back, neck and abdominals and really helped the pain. You could look into doing classes but ideally antenatal classes as you really need an instructor who's trained to deal with pregnant women.

Sorry for the long post but I hope some of that helps a little.

oikopolis · 24/05/2012 16:37

absolutely agree with ItsMyLastOne
i have experienced the exact same thing in my neck, also started while in bed in the early hours. absolutely horrible and terrifying. for me, it was a muscle relaxant and anti-inflammatory med routine in the short term, and then proper Pilates and physio exercises in the long term that sorted me out.

in pg, your centre of gravity changes, and the ligaments in your body soften, which throws things out in a surprising way for many many women. it can definitely affect your neck.

get down to the GP for some meds to break the spasm, and get a phsyio referral.

in the meantime you must must must keep moving, even though it's painful. you need a gentle walk for at least 30 mins a day if not more, the spasm will spread if you stay still. do NOT wear a neck collar thingie, it just weakens your neck -- the answer is moving, and rehabilitative exercise.

about heat therapy be careful heat can increase inflammation, which increases the sensation of pain and may slow healing. honestly, a muscle relaxant + anti-inflammatory plus gentle movement is going to help you more.

i hope you feel better soon x i know how it feels, it's really awful.

Whysoserious · 24/05/2012 17:31

Thank you both for your advice. It's really really useful.

I've been trying to keep moving my neck today so it doesn't seize up any more. I'll see how it improves over the weekend and get a docs apt next week if still in discomfort.

Have been thinking about antenatal yoga for a few weeks and I think this has given me the kick up the arse I need to start it - and maybe aqua aerobics too. Need to get my muscles nice and strong Smile

OP posts:
SimplySoo · 24/05/2012 18:34

More susceptible to RSI/carpal tunnel syndrome when pregnant so I heard, could you have injured yourself at work? Even just from bad posture at desk? Lifted something too heavy?

Staverton · 24/05/2012 19:29

It sounds like a torticollis. I had it in pregnancy- it happens both in pregnancy and when not pregnant but you are prone to things like that when you are pregnant because of the relaxin.
See your gp for meds and physio referral

oikopolis · 24/05/2012 19:44

^ yes the Dr. i saw in A&E when it first happened to me said it was torticollis, AKA "surgeon's neck". physio just called it a spasm, but then, that's what torticollis is, i suppose.

FWIW OP, my physio and Pilates instructor both independently said that the issue i was having was that I was tending to hunch my shoulders ever so slightly forward, and stick my head/neck out towards my computer screen/TV/whatever i was doing (just like a surgeon peering in to look closely at her work i suppose). this placed strain on my neck and eventually triggered a full spasm.

the ideal is, you should be stacking your neck vertebrae on top of your back vertebrae in a natural, relaxed sort of line -- so that your whole spine supports your head, not just your neck iyswim. the neck isn't strong enough to carry the head on its own, it spasms out of "panic" that it will "drop" the head.

the rehab exercises that helped for me were all to do with locating and strengthening the muscles between my shoulder blades, which enabled me to gently stretch my shoulders back out into a natural unhunched position, and at the same time, stack my vertebrae on top of each other into a proper curve (instead of having that "tortoise" effect of my neck sticking forward).

if you look at pictures of the Duchess of Cambridge, actually, you will see she has the same postural fault -- she's a tall girl and seems faintly embarrassed by her height, so she peers forward and tips her shoulders in order to get closer to the people she's talking to.

Pilates will help. Actually, look at Pippa Middleton (well known Pilates devotee) and compare her posture to her sister's and you'll see how Pilates changes things.

HTH

Whysoserious · 24/05/2012 21:30

I just looked up torticollis and my symptoms certainly fit the description. And I'm definitely walking around with my neck forwards so maybe this is what I've been doing without realising causing my muscles to spasm.

Thanks again for all the info and advice

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page