Neck Problem

[SST27]

Not quite sure what this might be but hopefully someone can give me some info. I've noticed over the past year maybe I've been developing a lot of neck problems. I mainly get really bad knots in my neck/shoulder area probably from using tthe computer all the time. But now it seems my neck is actually getting misaligned and cause some neck pain. If I look in the mirror, I notice my neck isn't actually in a straight line. It looked slanted. Is this a disc that is pushing out of place? Eventually it does go back to feeling and looking normal. It's pretty painful to tilt my head to the side. I'd appreciate any input.

[Seraph]

More likely to be muscles and/or tendons. There are really good neck exercises for people who sit at a desk for long periods. That, and having frequent breaks will help. Have a couple of good neck massages. Ibuprofen for pain if you have it.

[feelbad]

This very well could be just muscle tension that is doing this or it could be a couple of other things contributing as well.since you say that you can actually 'see" a misalignment at times,this would really require much more evaluation with your primary.they can usually do a basic x ray at most primarys clinics.this would show any actual misalignment of the vertebrae or the discs.x ray shows bone and discs extremely well.from that point,depending on what is or is not seen,a possible follow up with MRI to really see down to the cord and nerve level would possibly help to identify any "inner" nerve problems that can also be causing the trigger poits and tightened muscles to occur.its kind if a domino effect.any inside inflammation will cause the nerves to irritate the muscle which in turn causeds you the pain from the muscle wads and just plain over tight muscles there.

but you DO need this evaluated by your doc.in some cases,espescially with men(although women will tend to carry their stress in there neck areas),the well developed muscles up there can actually(when they are inflammed)pull things kind of out of whack all by themselves,espescially if there is some sort of degeneration of the discs going on.alot of us actually have some level of degeneration going on inside our spines just from wear and tear and yes of course,age.but this bears some further evaluation just because of the seeing a misalignment occur.once you can find out qwhat is really going on there under the skin,your doc will go to the next step depending on what is or isn't there.just doing some physical therepy(depending on what is there) can make a huge difference in the overall tightness and a big reduction in pain once those trigger points are dissipated.but you need to find out what is actually triggering these to form in the first place.

i wish you lots of luck with this and hope its just a stress thing and nothing more for you to have to deal with.please keep us posted as to what you find out.FB

[SST27]

Thank you very much for all the info. Would you recomend going to a typical doctor or should I maybe visit a chiropractor? I'm the type of person who avoids doctors when at all possible so I'm not really sure on who I might want to go see about this problem.

Thank you again.

[sleuthie]

I think that's up to you. A chiropractor will do adjustments after taking a series of x-rays and you may need to see him for a significant amount of treatments. But then if you go to a Neurologist you will prob get a MRI and maybe a little more information. Do you have headaches or arm pain? Also if you go to a neurologist you can get meds if you need them. but they will prob send you to PT, meds, injections or surgery depending on the outcome of your MRI/x-rays.

It all boils down to how conservative you are and how much time and money you want to spend for this. I started having severe right sided neck and head pain and went straight to a neurologist, had an MRI, was suggested surgery or injections and finally found a med that will take away this pain for most of the time. I didn't have surgery.

I worked for a chiropractor for 5 years and truly believe in them. But I still feel better if I have a neurologist look at issues like this too. Now, I can go to a chiropractor for therapy. I won't have surgery again since I've had 2 lower back surgeries and now have arthritis and much pain and wish that I would have never done it also had carpal tunnel on both hands last year and have it back in both. Of course the surgeons are telling me there isn't anything they can do for me.

As always everyone is different, just know that surgery isn't always a permanent fix but if you put the effort into many times a chiropractor can get you back on the road without cutting into you.

Good Luck
Cheryl