Does anybody have a cure for a stiff neck? I've had it for about a week and it was getting better.?

Question

Just got worse tonight. All the muscles are tight and knotted and I cant move my head with out pain.
Please help. Thinking of going to chiropractor tomorrow

Chiro went well. I have vertaebrae out of place so the weight of my head is being supported by muscles instead of my spine.
Painful!!. With electric stim and some serious elbowing in my back it is getting better but one vertaebrae is still out of joint. Going back tomorrow. Thanks for all the helpful answers

chiro says I have tortecollis (spelling)

Answer 1

Definitely go to a chiropractor. I had a problem with at least once a month for some unknown reason I would pull a muscle in my neck.. Since I started going to a Chiro I haven't done it since.

Answer 2

Get under the shower for 10-15 mins, letting the shower go directly onto the stiff area of your neck. Try and massage it a little while under the shower or stretch it the best you can.

Once out of the shower, using either a cane or an umbrella, put the hooked part directly on the sore area and gently press. Hold this for about 1-2 mins - the pain will ease off, just hang in there! This is called trigger point therapy and you can learn the technique yourself.

If you can get a gentle massage, all the better.

I would advise getting a referal to a good physical therapist. Not that I am anti-chiropractor, but many chiros do not show you exercises to improve it yourself, therefore you become reliant upon them. At a physical therapist, my job is to get you independent and better asap. You can also check out the website www.mckenziemdt.org for further information and the closest therapist who specialized in neck and back problems.

Good luck!

Answer 3

besides all those other worthy answers, consider what you are doing all day long that may aggravate the problem. Sitting at a computer with your arm outstretched on a mouse will not make the stiffness any better. Hunched over a book, sitting in a slouch, or sleeping with a pillow too high. Consider rolling up a hand towel and placing it in the crook of your neck as you lay on your back. That may ease the stress on those muscles.

Consider a chiropractor that will do "trigger-point" therapy. Not one that will simply pop your vertebra. Just getting your back popped will jerk the muscles around if not done with lots of warm up and tissue massage.

Answer 4

How did the Chiropracter go? Muscle tension/spasm is your body's method of preventing further injury to local joints or a disc, in this case joints/disc in your neck. If you slept wrong or twisted wrong you may have caused an irritation in the joint/disc, causing inflammation. Your body will react to keep the area from moving (as that sets up pain signals from the swollen tissue)by increasing signal to the muscles that share a nerve supply with the tissue. Relief of the muscle tension/spasm will only be temporary until the underlying joint injury/pathology is taken care of. If it is a simple subluxation the Chiropracter should have a possitive effect with a gentle manipulation, otherwise, anti-inflammatory medication and treatment by a skilled Physical Therapist wil be most effective for both restoration of the joint motion with mobilizations and muscular retraining to support the effected joints.


14 years of Manual Physical Therapy experience

Answer 5

I used to have that problem. Too many car wrecks. :P When I would wake up in the morning my neck would be so stiff I couldn't move my head. Up or down or left and right. Sitting under a hot shower would loosen it up. I discovered by accident that if I sleep with two pillows, it doesn't do that. Been sleeping like that for years with no problem. Might wanna give it a try.

Answer 6

oh my goodness! me too! seriously, I got into a little tid bit about a week ago, and ever since then the back of my neck is killing me, I have even wondered if it could be broke with out me knowing it. The pain is less during the day, but then at night, OH MY... Its so stiff and sore!

Good luck to ya,

Answer 7

I know this will sound strange but ask around and see if anyone you know can recommend a good accupuncturist.

It helps with the pain, movement and recovery. I wish I could tell you HOW it works I just know it does. Just like any doctor there are good ones and bad ones.. ask around. If they combine it with massage it is even better!

Answer 8

ADD HEAT, AND SLOWLY DO NECK STRECHES. do not fall asleep with the heat pad on your neck you will wake up worse

Answer 9

Have someone massage your neck.

Answer 10

try sleeping with out your pillow