Neck pain

[Cabaret_SK]

I’ve had persistent neck pain since falling off and landing on my head a few years ago. My doctor hasn’t been able to find anything definitive, but doesn’t seem to take my complaint very seriously. I’ve been to physio and the physiotherapist thinks the pain is partially related to crushed vertebrae, but that doesn’t seem to explain the muscle tightness and pain.

Looking for any recommendations that helped people with neck pain. It gets very sore and stiff (more of a deep ache vs a sharp pain), and the muscles in my neck tighten up (they’re almost always tight at this point). I’m open to any suggestions…gadgets, pain products, supplements, pillows, etc. Massage helps very briefly, but nothing lasting. Chiro and physio are good, but I can’t afford to go to chiro or physio weekly.

Thanks in advance!

[ThreeHorseNight]

Have you seen a specialist?

[Cabaret_SK]

I’ve seen my regular doctor and a physiotherapist, and have had an x-ray, CT scan, and MRI, which show bony spurs on C5 and C6. Regular doctor suspects muscle spasms.

[lizathenag]

I have bad neck pain (have seen all the specialists) and the thing that helps the most is CBD/THC) lotion. I use the High Desert Pure brand, It has changed my life. My neck would be so stiff in the morning that I had to grab my hair to physically turn my head and I would get shooting pains up my neck into my skull that would take my breath away (worst than puncturing a lung which I have also done). Anyway I thought the medical marijuana people were all just wanting to get high so I had zero expectation that it would help but I was ready to try anything. Did I mention it changed my life?. I use it at bedtime and occasionally if I wake up at night.

[Cabaret_SK]

@lizathenag

I have bad neck pain (have seen all the specialists) and the thing that helps the most is CBD/THC) lotion. I use the High Desert Pure brand, It has changed my life. My neck would be so stiff in the morning that I had to grab my hair to physically turn my head and I would get shooting pains up my neck into my skull that would take my breath away (worst than puncturing a lung which I have also done). Anyway I thought the medical marijuana people were all just wanting to get high so I had zero expectation that it would help but I was ready to try anything. Did I mention it changed my life?. I use it at bedtime and occasionally if I wake up at night.

Thanks, I’ll give this a try! I’ve tried CBD oil ingestibles (without any results), but haven’t checked out a topical cream.

[TXPiaffe]

I have neck issues from landing on my head, twice in the same day… same horse I suffer migraines as well, severe debilitating migraines. I have found that I have to have a good pillow. I also rotate through about 5 pillows as what worked for me this week, may not work next week, and on it goes. I do go to a chiro about 2x a month as well as take a muscle relaxant that is DR prescribed as needed.

[Harbour]

I have a neck condition I was born with called Basilar Invagination. You can end up with the same thing from landing on your head. Worth reading up on as chiropractic work is an absolute no no…I have weekly physio and massage appointments to try and manage the pain and as a result of the diagnosis had to give up riding because the risks became too great for me.

[Really]

I second the CBD/THC. After way too many concussions/hits to the head which resulted in persistent shoulder/neck/ear pain I decided to try the acupuncture CBD/THC route. My gummies (in either a 1:1 or 2:1 CBD:THC mixture) help me sleep and more importantly keep the pain away. When I don’t have them I really notice.

[Ryde_XC]

This past year I was having terrible neck pains
and spasms, which was contributing to nasty headaches and the pain was was radiating down shoulders and arms. I was starting to have a very difficult time lifting things, couldn’t sleep etc. Funny enough I mentioned it by my vet and she recommended shockwave therapy. I was able to find a human practitioner that offered it and got treatment. It has made a huge difference for me. Worth looking into anyways!

[Horse_Rider]

I have had intermittent neck pain for years, unrelated to any injury that I’m aware of (although, like most horse people, I’ve had plenty of direct trauma to the area.)

Last fall, out of nowhere I had neck/shoulder pain so bad I was barely functional. Long story short, my working diagnosis is a connective tissue disorder. Physical therapy helped a ton, as my issue is ameliorated by building muscle strength to take as much direct load as possible off my ligaments, tendons, etc., the way a properly fit horse’s muscling protects (but doesn’t necessarily prevent) lower limb injuries. Building up symmetrical muscling helped my body all over and really helped/helps my body cope.

As far as gadgets, I bought a Back on Track neck wrap, assuming I’d return it in 30 days when it didn’t do much. I actually like it quite a bit and found it helpful during my painful periods. Currently, an intense daily PT routine keeps pain at bay but I still have the wrap and think it was very effective when I was dealing with deep spasms that were slow to resolve.

My pillow* makes a difference too, as does padding up my office chair and couch so that my spine is in a proper alignment without perching or hunching.

I am not necessarily against chiro, but I would not recommend it in your case. Having adjustments on crushed vertebrae seems a recipe for disaster. Disrupting whatever stability your body has managed to achieve may have serious long-term effects.

*My brand of pillow is currently MyPillow.

[asb_own_me]

Having severe spinal stenosis in both my cervical spine and lumbar spine starting in my late teens/early 20s from sports overuse and repeat injuries, I agree - please don’t have chiropractic treatments on damaged vertabrae.

Pain management, muscle relaxers, physical therapy exercises to strengthen surrounding muscle groups (slowly and gently), massage and other gentle therapies are all good. Personally I love PEMF when they are coming to treat my horse. I grab a coil and treat myself

I love the BOT neck wrap and I am very particular about the pillow I sleep on, often traveling with my own. I also suffer from debilitating migraines that seem to come in waves - sometimes 3-4 in a month each lasting 2-3 days. All stemming from the neck damage.

[Jackie_Cochran]

Most mornings I wake up with neck pain. Until I stopped playing Mah-Jong on the computer my neck pain was MUCH WORSE. Hours on the computer still makes the pain worse but not as bad as when I was playing games on my computer.

Every morning, except if I am going to ride that morning, I depend on coffee, several cups of coffee, plus a soak in a hot bath.

I cannot drink coffee in the morning if I am going to ride because it makes my hand tremors a lot worse, but with a warm bath, grooming the horse and riding gently (mostly at the walk–no sitting trot!) it gets better, but my neck will hurt some until I get my coffee into me.

The BOT neck wrap helps some, especially if I use it with the BOT Neck Dicky, but on the really bad days I have to put a regular neck collar over them.

If my neck does not feel supported I end up with muscle spasms in my neck. I wear my neck brace whenever I am in a car or else I end up in severe neck pain the rest of the day.

I have heard good things about osteopaths helping this type of pain. However I have MS and de-mylinated patches on my spinal cord as well as my brain so I am hesitant. If I did not have MS I would have tried an osteopath a long time ago.

My neck pain is the result of a drunk driver hitting my car head on over 30 years ago. I do wish it would go away.

[hoopoe]

second opinion from a spine specialist.

[PaddockWood]

Some 25 years ago, after a day of riding roller coasters I could not turn my head. My neck was seized and very painful. Went to Ohio State sports med and they confirmed no disk space from years of gymnastics and riding and suggested surgery. Did not do that and instead began learning about bodywork and going around town finding the best people.

What I’ve found works for me all these years later is I press into wherever I’m sore or tight (say my neck and skull in this example) and do accupressure until it releases. Sometimes I’ll spend a day, a minute here, a minute there until it releases.

Sometimes I end up feeling bruised in those spots. But I get nearly 100% relief. And I don’t give up until I get the relief.

Then some 10 years ago I started having hip pain and went to another sports med clinic and they pointed me to Kelly Starrett (famous PT) and he’s all about using a hard ball and smashing tight tissue. It’s been the answer to pretty much any tightness.

And I press hard. So right now as I feel up the side of my neck (hard) there are all kinds of tender spots and I’ll just sit on them until they release.

Give it a try and see if it helps.

[Willesdon]

It is my McTimony chiro who keeps me sound. A McTimony trained chiro works over the entire body, not just the bit that hurts and is the alternative alternative health practioner. Oddly enough, I trust mine more because she treats horses too.

I also have acupuncture regularly, which started post-chemotherapy to deal with a persistent washed-out feeling. I mentioned my shoulder was far better but still NQR after Chiro and he said he could help with that too. He stuck in a single needle and my shoulder went PING, like a spark, and improved immediately. He said he released a muscle. Fortunately he is a very good fully trained acupuncturist.

[Cabaret_SK]

Thanks all! Lots of things to try out.

I have the BoT neck wrap, which I don’t find helps me all that much. I have ordered a new pillow (this will be the third attempt to fix it with a different pillow). I’ve tried acupuncture, which helped about as much as chiro, but then my acupuncturist moved out of the city…I haven’t found a new one since. I’ve tried osteo for other things, but haven’t gone for this.

I’m also well acquainted with self massage/acupressure, and have a variety of different massage balls (and something called the Da Vinci Tool). Sometimes this works like a charm, sometimes it doesn’t do much. If the issue that day is tense muscles, then I find acupressure helps quite a bit.

I’m sure it’s not helped by being in front of a screen for 10-12 hours (or more) a day, but I unfortunately can’t change my job. (I do find the pain is greatly improved when I’ve had a month off before and have been travelling, so a combination of no computer + lots of walking/exercise with very little sitting). I did just order a new desk chair to make me sit up straighter, and have been trying to get my home office set-up as ergonomic as possible, though this is difficult without investing $$$ in some new furniture.