Neck problems, not sure if this goes here

09-11-2007, 01:28 PM

Hi. I posted this question in the back problems forum but they said I might also post here.

I'm not 100% sure but I think I have a pinched nerve in my neck.

I have pain & limited range of motion when turning my head to the left, and pain when tilting my head to the left side. Also feel a general tightness when tilting the head forward or back. It's more of an annoying pain than anything that really seems serious.

This did not result from an injury or me doing anything in particular...I woke up one morning and my neck was aching and it's been that way since, and it's driving me nuts. I had been sleeping on two pillows, sleeping on just one has made it better (much less pain) but not made it go away. Physical activity makes it loosen up a bit and feel a little better, but only temporarily. It has stuck around for probably close to 2 months now. It was actually feeling alright til the other night, I twisted around to my right to look at something, and when I turned back I had a very sharp pain in the left side of my neck (where I'd been feeling the tightness). The pain had decreased considerably by the next day, but I noticed I still had the limited range of motion to the left which I had not had previously. It has stayed about the same since then.

I don't really know who I should see about this.

My girlfriend has told me I should see a massage therapist about it, and I see that they say they can fix neck pain and such.

But people on the back problems board said no, see a real doctor first. I've also gotten negative answers about seeing a chiropractor.

I don't have a regular doctor and haven't for years. I recently had mono and went to a place in town called "med express." I just have to wonder if a general practitioner would really be able to tell me much about what's going on with my neck.

Thanks for any help!

10-02-2007, 07:57 PM

Man you just described my situation. I just woke up one morning and felt like I had a crick in my neck that just won't go away. I've had it for several months now. I've had pulled muscles before from playing sports and that's what it kinda feels like on the left side of my neck. I can massage the area and it feels kinda sore. I can't really tilt my head to the left due to the pain and if I tilt to the right it feels like I'm stretching a muscle that's been pulled. If I roll my head around for a while I can loosen it up a bit, but like you said, it's only temporary. If you find any solutions let me know...

10-03-2007, 12:31 PM

I have degenerative discs in my neck and those symptoms sound very much
like mine, aside from im in 24hr a day pain even w/ meds. Go to the DOC.
It really takes an mri to find out, as far as pillows i can sleep on only one,two
makes the pain sooo much worse. GOODLUCK

10-04-2007, 06:33 AM

Hi Hunt,

I am new here but I have been to orthopedic surgeons, three neurosurgeons, two chiropractors, two primary care physicians and two pain management specialists. The only thing that most of them will agree on is if the pain is not radicular or you dont have stenosis or myelopathy, they will treat conservatively. What this basically means is that if the pain is only in your neck and you dont have a neurological deficit, they will start with conservative treatment. If you have something else causing the pain like osteophytes or bony spurs from degeneration, that might be pressing on a nerve root and that can cause radicular pain which usually is not limited to solely the neck and you may feel it in your shoulders, triceps, biceps deltoids, wrists or fingers.

Go to a really good primary care physician who can refer you to someone trustworthy. Usually the will start with x-rays since they are cheaper than MRIs and if they see something concerning, then more extensive testing will be done. Dont panic yet, just find someone who will really listen to your concerns and take some action.

BB

Neck problems, not sure if this goes here

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