Rant: Crick in your neck

[Joe Shlabotnik]

Probably got it from shoveling snow.

[jim]

That's probably a good candidate. I would think my snow shoveling muscles are in prime form though, but it could be an overuse injury.

[pioneer98]

What causes these [expletive]' things? I get these about 1-2x a year. I woke up this morning with a slight twinge somewhere in the neck upper shoulder/back - it's hard to pinpoint actually. Went to a yoga class this morning thinking that would stretch it out, and 10 minutes I realized that was a mistake. I am now basically immobile, unable to move my neck much. I just popped 800mg of ibuprofen hoping that will help.

I can never tell exactly where the pain is originating from. It could be behind my shoulder blade, in my neck .. I just don't know.

I feel your pain! I get one that sounds exactly like what you've got. It's in the upper back and near the neck and right between my spine and shoulder blade. I believe some muscle gets irritated there. And yes, massaging it or stetching it do nothing for it, and if anything make it worse.

Mine started like 15 years ago when I slept in a very uncomfortable hotel bed. Initially it took weeks to get better, but it never really totally went away.

I've noticed with mine that it gets worse when my posture is not good when I sit in front of a computer for a long time. Mine also gets worse when I generally get out of shape. To this day it still comes and goes every once in a while. When it came back again last year with a vengeance I nearly went to a chiropractor, but the next day it was a lot better so I decided not to. Next time I might actually do that, though. If you find something that works, let me know!

[jim]

What works best is ibuprofen - lots of it. Take 800mg 4x per day. Don't dick around with the 1-2 tablets they tell you on the side, pop 4 at a time. That and heat, which makes me wonder if it's a spasm of some kind. Mine is about 85% better now, it usually only lasts a couple of days. I think what happened was I changed my lifting routine on Monday, I'm dropping back to 2x per week instead of 3 but increasing intensity. I really didn't introduce anything new, but maybe the extra intensity strained something.

[lukethedrifter]

I'd be cautious about going crazy with the ibuprofen.

[jim]

800mg isn't going crazy, it's just a prescription strength dose. I rarely take ibuprofen, probably 10x per year I'll pop some. But when I do, it's either 800mg or I'm not going to mess with it. 1-2 little tablets don't work, so save your liver and just bite the bullet. When you need it - take 4.

I accidently took 8 once because I forgot I had just taken it. That worked too.

[lukethedrifter]

more concerned with chronic usage. what you're doing sounds right.

[jim]

more concerned with chronic usage. what you're doing sounds right.

I try to keep my liver strong so that it can handle the alcohol.

[AWvsCBsteeeerike3]

800mg isn't going crazy, it's just a prescription strength dose. I rarely take ibuprofen, probably 10x per year I'll pop some. But when I do, it's either 800mg or I'm not going to mess with it. 1-2 little tablets don't work, so save your liver and just bite the bullet. When you need it - take 4.

++ I hate taking medicine, but if you're gonna do it, don't [expletive] foot around.

[pioneer98]

What works best is ibuprofen - lots of it. Take 800mg 4x per day. Don't dick around with the 1-2 tablets they tell you on the side, pop 4 at a time. That and heat, which makes me wonder if it's a spasm of some kind. Mine is about 85% better now, it usually only lasts a couple of days. I think what happened was I changed my lifting routine on Monday, I'm dropping back to 2x per week instead of 3 but increasing intensity. I really didn't introduce anything new, but maybe the extra intensity strained something.

Yes, I think you are correct that it is a spasm of some kind.