Neck injury this morning- really hurts, cannot move to one side. Help please!?

Question

This morning on my way into school, I slipped on the icy floor just inside the door of the building and caught myself from falling. However, this really hurt my neck, with sharp, shooting pains from the nape down into my shoulder- it was on my left side only. By the time I got to the nurse's office, I could not put my head straight up, and 3 hours later I still can't. Everytime I try there is severe (and I'm no baby when it comes to pain) shooting pains that last, and so my head must remain almost completely to one side, just over my right shoulder. It is constantly aching, even after max amounts of ibuprofen. I have a doctor's appointment for later but am not sure if they are competent enough to reach an answer.

What's going on here?!?

Thanks! It seems to have cleared up after a few days of massage, alternate heat and cold, and muscle relaxants used sparingly. Will follow up with chiropractor to make sure, thanks all!

Answer 1

First of all, you must be sure that it is your muscle the one in pain, easy to know, use your hand and finger press it, if this hurts, then your muscle got stretched really violently during your fall. It happens, and it is sort of common on such falls.
Forget about seeing a chiropractor, they are not trained for this stuff. This is also not a whiplash effect result, whiplash effect occurs mostly in car accidents and requires your head to go violently from one side to the opposite at least two times (forward and then backwards).
This is not a dislocated vertebra either, if it was then some place in your spine would hurt badly and at all times.
A physiotherapist is the most indicated proffesional to look after you on this matter.
So far, you may want to try this:
You need to stretch your muscle, very slowly and gently, may hurt a little, but try to do this as gently as it to make you uncomfortable, avoiding pain.
First, massage, with the opposite hand, the muscle all along, using your finger tips as if they walked along it. Do this for a minute.
A warm (bit hotter than warm) waterbag for five minutes previously may help a bit.
Next start stretching the muscle by tilting your head towards the opposite side of your muscle, do this as if bouncing your head (like a basketball but really gently and softly), so that your muscle will stretch and back again, then stretch and back again and so. Do this for another minute.
After that, start moving your head in like drawing a circle above you with your forehead. Also this must be done slowly and gently for about another minute.
Finally, again with the opposite hand, massage your muscle again, now pressing one side with your fingers and the opposite side with your thumb. Start from up the muscle and go downwards (towards your heart). Your fingers and thumb also must do this as if they walked along the muscle... always towards your heart.

This excercise will take about five minutes, or ten if you use the hot waterbag previously (not as hot as to burn your skin). Repeat this every two hours. By the end of the day your pain will be very little and you'll be able to tilt your head towards the opposite side. Every time you repeat the excercise try to tilt your head a bit further than on the previous set of excercises.
No need for medication at all, unless the pain right now is so bad that you want a pain killer. If so, don't use paracetamol or Tylenol (same thing), get a different one, tylenol has more effect on fever and very little effect as a pain killer.
Good luck.
Regards, Lifeguard.

Answer 2

it happened because of the way you fell. the muscles tightened up really tight or my have been twisted a little bit. you've just strained them a bit. i did the same thing a few years back. my neck was stuck to one side because of the pain.
i would use a heating pad or wet a hand towel and place in on a plate and microwave for a couple minutes. be careful when you take it out! it will be hot, and it should not be dripping but pretty damp. place another towel on your neck and the hot towel on your neck.
with this treatment, my pain was gone mostly in 24 hours, completely in 48.
lie down and relax! it really helps!
go back to the doctor is the pain is too severe to handle!

Answer 3

Since you slipped and caught yourself, I bet you wrenched your neck, tearing ligaments or muscles causing a soft tissue injury, sort of like a whiplash..a cold pak, then heat, then cold then heat.... the best thing you can do is get a heating pad and put it on your neck for thirty minutes and then cold or rest for forty five, then heat, then off and continue for as long as it takes to feel better. You may want to get a soft collar to keep your head supported whil it heals. Dont over do the ibupropen, it can tear up your stomach, just take it easy....and it should heel in a week or so... max ten days...

Answer 4

college school? if so do u have a health center with physical therapist you can go to (for treatment) they had one at my college (13 years ago) and it helped Alot becuase it was on campus.
if high school. :( yeah go to your doc did you tell your parents what happened?. u will probably get a muscle relaxer and refered to physical therapy. sleep with a towel rolled up (on your neck for support) or a good pillow and massages will help..
i had that pain for a long time after a car accident its a stabbing sharp pain that will take 1 side and make you feel lopsided. try something like ben gay (salonpos ) patches will help as well (they are like ben gay but in a patch)
you should be ok in a few weeks your muscle probably is just really sore.. they have those ice packs/hot packs that can help as well. (some you microwave, some u put in the freezer) try those..
good luck!!!!!
soak in a HOT bath and if you know a good friend who does massages that will help... good luck

Answer 5

I'm not a Doctor , but i have had neck problems for alot of years. It sounds like you may be experiencing something like whip Lash. Either that or you dislocated a vertebra in your neck which can be very painful. Either way you really need to see a Doctor. Good Luck

Answer 6

You should take a washcloth and wet it with hot water, not too hot but as hot as you can handle and put it on the side of your nexk that hurts. This should help relax the muscle. Keep using warm, moist heat until you see your doctor. Hope you feel better.

Answer 7

I wouldn't go to see a doctor I didn't think was competent, but that's just me. You might want to try a chiropractor and massage therapist.