Stiff neck. Need some help. - General Health Message Board

ghunt · 07-25-2007, 10:58 AM

About a week ago, I went to bed, woke up the next morning and had a stiff neck. Now, most mornings when I wake up, my neck feels pretty stiff, except this one didn't go away and has persisted for a week now.

I originally thought it might be sore muscles, but now I'm thinking it must be a pinched nerve or something.

It feels like it's toward the bottom of my neck or between my shoulders. It doesn't really hurt per se, most of the time it just feels like my back or neck needs cracked, except that neither of those really makes it go away (and I can't effectively crack my back because I don't know anyone big enough to pick me up and do it right...heh...I'm 6'4" and 260 lbs).

Anyway, it's driving me nuts just because it's rather uncomfortable. If I'm up doing physical activity, it seems to loosen up and feel better during (for example, I was shoveling gravel last week and it felt a good bit better while I was doing that). If I'm sitting around, it seems to get tighter. I also seem to be getting recurring headaches that coincide with my neck feeling tighter.

Any tips?

jen52983 · 07-26-2007, 08:18 AM

heating pad, professional massage and/or chiropractor.

You can ask someone tiny to walk on your back. I love it, one of the best feelings when my back and neck are really tight and stiff!

maybe you're sleeping on it all funky? too many pillows perhaps?!

ghunt · 07-26-2007, 09:24 AM

Well, I have problems with the pillows situation...

I had a new pillow for about 2 weeks before this happened, but it had gotten all lumpy before this.

I got a new pillow last weekend. Problem is, I've always been a two pillow person, and sleeping with a new pillow and one of my old pillows, they end up a bit too tall (which I'm sure isn't helping things).

But, I'm gonna see if my girlfriend can run my neck/shoulders a bit. I dunno about a chiropractor as that would be expensive.

Andrea84 · 07-26-2007, 11:36 AM

If you have health insurance you can check it out with an orthopedist. I would be careful about a chiropractor manipulating the neck. If he's not super competent can do damage. (I know this is controversial).

td9997 · 07-27-2007, 09:00 PM

Sorry about the neck pain, that hurts, does heat or an ice bag help?
dont let it get too stiff or you'll start to stay that way
relax the best you can, massage the neck, get the pillows comfy
have you seen a doc? Chiro isnt all that its cracked up to b sometimes they do more dammage than good, especially in the neck area

do you have a soft collar to wear temporary? the neck buddies they sell in the stores nowadays help
keep your chin down and shoulders too, dont posture

take care we only have one neck

I do hope you find comfort

td