Stiff neck

[John]

Hmmmmm...

Went out on Friday night, came home sober, at around midnight, but as soon as I got home, after lounging around on the sofa, I felt a lot of stiffness in my neck. Just as though I'd slept funny, but hadn't been asleep at all.

I've just Googled what it could be, and the most likely thing, apparently, is that it's a muscle spasm. But today it's Monday, and it's got only slightly better since Friday night. I had to sleep on my left side on Friday night, as the pain is on the left, and it hurt a lot sleeping on my right.

Any ideas? Hope I'm worrying over nothing, but the odd thing is that when I left the concert I went to, I felt fine, up until getting home when it kicked in.

I'm taking ibuprofen on and off to combat the (mild) pain, but it ain't helping much.

[Ada]

Hi John,

Is the pain solely in your neck or does it also hurt in your shoulder & shoulder blade area when you turn your head?

[mathare]

Take paracetamol and ibuprofen combined - half dose (1 tablet) of each. Warm your neck up (scarf, hot water bottle etc) to see if that makes any difference.

[mathare]

John - http://www.win2win.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=37390

[Street cry]

Maybe u got a viagra stuck in your throat John

[vegyjones]

Maybe u got a viagra stuck in your throat John

Damn it, I was going to do that joke! :D

[Street cry]

So predictable aren't we ha h ha ha

[John]

Ada, it's just in my neck, bottom left hand side. Not in my shoulder, but slightly in my shoulder blade - although I must admit it's hard to say exactly if it's in my neck/blade/both. When I turn my head left, it hurts more.

Thanks for ibuprofen/paracetomal advice Mat - didn't think you were meant to take 1 tablet of each though, together? What was the outcome in the thread you linked to - you said it got better - but how?

[vegyjones]

Thanks for ibuprofen/paracetomal advice Mat - didn't think you were meant to take 1 tablet of each though, together?

I never thought you could mix, until the first time I took my kiddie to the hospital and they shoved a spoonful of both into his gob :D

I assume that they have different ingredients in them which means it's safe to take both!

[bigcumba]

You can actually take the full dose of 2 tabs of both ibuprofen (the 200mg standard size) and paracetamol (the 500mg) together, they work in different ways so they don't interact in any way, just don't take aspirin and ibuprofen at the same time as they are related, and of course don't take anything else with paracetamol in it while on the tablets.

[vegyjones]

The benefits of having a friend who's a biochemist! Always one to have on the pub quiz team in case of questions on the periodic table! :laugh

[mathare]

What was the outcome in the thread you linked to - you said it got better - but how?Time, pain relief and warmth - basically. Some of it is probably posture related too so I had a few days off work as sitting at a computer all day (and evening) isn't good for you really

[bigcumba]

The benefits of having a friend who's a biochemist! Always one to have on the pub quiz team in case of questions on the periodic table! :laugh

Simple really, I just hide from the wife for a week every month, and learn to duck :wink

[John]

Cheers BigC, that's a great help - never knew you could take both of them together. Can't be too good for your body though?! Perhaps best just to do it once every so often...

Mat, my posture's crap anyway so that probably doesn't help! I'd be better off moving my monitors at work to the right though, maybe, so I'm looking at everything rightwards as opposed to face on.

Thanks guys.

[mathare]

Tell work you'd like a workstation ergonomic check. I think they have (by law) to get you any special gear you need (wrist rests, fancy chair etc) to help your posture.

[Linfield]

I had this a few years ago. Doctor gave me strong painkillers and told me to move my neck about when the pain eased up.

[bigcumba]

Cheers BigC, that's a great help - never knew you could take both of them together. Can't be too good for your body though?! Perhaps best just to do it once every so often...


Only a problem if you take them long term at high doses, ibuprofen is dodgy for your stomach lining, and paracetamol will bugger up your liver. As long as you don't exceed the max dose you'll be fine.

[John]

Thanks guys. Still got it today, but more of a dull ache than the pain it was yesterday. Hopefully it'll start to disappear, although I woke up with a splitting headache - again - which is probably either due to:

(a) grinding teeth in sleep (my housemate's friend's a dentist, apparently my jaw/cheek muscles are bodybuilder style toned, so that's probably why)

(b) stress

(c) from the neck pain

My eyesight is fine, but I should probably go to the opticians too.

Argh! I'm a health risk to my own body. :doh

[John]

My neck still hurts.

I keep getting headaches, daily, because of the pain. I am fine when I wake up, but when I get up and start moving around, the pain sets in.

I'm going to register at the doctors tomorrow, if I can leave work early, and get an appointment made.

I'm a bit worried.

If it's a trapped nerve, what can they do?

[Ada]

I was diagnosed by my doctor as having a trapped nerve when I complained of pain in the lower left side of my neck which increased & radiated into the top of my left shoulder & what felt like my shoulder blade, especially when I turned my head.

He prescribed me 4 weeks worth of strong anti-inflammatories & told me to keep the affected area warm & to try and maintain mobility with light neck/shoulder exercise if possible.

If there was no improvement after 4 weeks he was going to refer me to a chiropractor.

My pain had reduced over 4 weeks but was still there.
I was given the option to see a chiropractor or use over-the-counter anti-inflammatories for a further 2 weeks reducing the dose each week, (I chose the tablets as there was a waiting list to see the chiropractor on the NHS), but found that more than anything, time was the greatest healer.

:thumbs

[John]

Hi Ada,

Your symptoms sound very similar to mine, so touch wood (*touches wood*) that's hopefully what it is - a trapped nerve and nothing more. The pain seems to 'shift' when I turn my head to other parts of my neck.

I'm registering with a doctor tomorrow afternoon, leaving work early especially to do this so I get there before it closes.

Thanks for explaining your situation to me though, it's 'comforting' to hear what you went through and how you got treated... and I'm pleased it got better! :)

I'll keep you posted, I'm hoping I can swiftly make an appointment tomorrow after I've registered but you never know...

[jonahjones]

Any joy with the Doctor, John?

[John]

Thanks JJ. :)

I went this morning. My neck is a little better, but he asked me a set of routine questions and came to the conclusion that I've probably sprained it. I can move it fine, e.g I can put my left ear on my left shoulder, without (very much) pain. Apparently it will take up to 6 weeks to heal if I have sprained it, as a muscle will have torn and it has to heal. Deep Heat, shirts with tight collars and sleeping with the pillow in the hole of my neck will ease it... so I'm off to buy some Deep Heat soon.

It was the first time I'd been to see a doctor in London, so I had to have my blood pressure taken and my heart rate measured. This was high/fast, and gradually came down, but was still high... so I'm off to have what I think he called an Echocardiogram where they take a picture of your heart. I just have to wait for them to call me to arrange it.

I had some blood tests done too. Been a bit of a marathon morning since I just wanted my neck sorting!

I have Pectus Excavatum too, which I knew about anyway, and my sister and dad both have it.

Fun! :doh

[John]

Stiff neck - disappeared
Electrocardiogram - had this morning
Echocardiogram - had this morning
Blue Planet - received yesterday
Planet Earth - received today
Father's Day present - guaranteed delivery by 1pm Tuesday, Amazon? You're having a laugh.

I get my results from the tests next week..... :snooze I have a heart murmur :yikes: that is all I know so far. :ermmm

[vegyjones]

A heart murmur?

A I right in thinking this can be something so insignificant that it may not have any effect whatsoever on you. At least I hope that's right.

[MattR]

My dad's had one all his life and it's never troubled him.

[TheOldhamWhisper]

... I have a heart murmur

If I remember rightly, you enjoy the odd cup of coffee? Might be a good time to watch how much of the stuff you drink - caffeine is notorious for speeding up the heart rate (and make sure you aren't topping the levels up with 'energy' drinks).

You're young enough for it not to be too much of a problem as long as you don't abuse it too often!

[Win2Win]

I drink loads of coffee a day, no problemo with my heart murmur........you'll probably realise now John what the odd fluttering in your chest was now and again :omg: I got it off my mum ::swear, and one of your parents probably has it.

[John]

Wow - thanks everyone! :)

Vegy, yeah in most cases it's something very insignificant and nothing to worry about. I found this afternoon my sister has one too.

Oldham, I did have a bit of a coffee phase - yeah. But I haven't drank coffee any coffee at all for months. I was having one cup a day/one cup every two days at most, and not for very long. Thanks for the advice though, if I 'get back into the habit' I'll be aware! :)

Keith, yeah I very, very rarely get the odd flutter... hardly ever but it does occur... but I never get chest pain, or at least only used to get it mildly after the gym... after chest pressing with dumbbells... :doh

My doctor only works Saturdays and Mondays meaning I will now be waiting until Monday 29th June to get my results.