Neck pain

[lightsout]

I know nobody here is a doctor, but I need some help. My neck has been in some pain for about 3 weeks now. I do not know if it is from my pillows or the way I sleep or what. It is not going away. I can turn my head on either side only to about my shoulder, and then the pain starts. That is about the only time, other than laying down, that it hurts. Other times it just feels tight. It feels like, when I turn it, that it has to pop, but it won't. I tried pushing my chin around to get it to pop, and it only hurts REALLY bad when I do that.

My theory is I used another pillow a few weeks ago, during my spring break. When I got back to school, I went back to my old pillows, and this is when the pain started. So, just bad pillows after using good pillows? I have been using these pillows since about 2007. They've gradually gotten worse, but it never effected me.

Anything else it could be? This is starting to worry me and I'm starting to think it may be more than just bad pillows. Trying to avoid doctors, as I don't have the time these days to sit in a waiting room for an hour.

[dimbee]

3 weeks of pain would say to me that it's more than bad pillows. 3 weeks is concerning. It's likely a sprain, but it's smarter to let a doctor make that call.

[pstall]

gotta see a doc. if you have tried say icy hot or ibupropen and STILL there is pain, need to get that junk looked at. the wait will be worth it

[lightsout]

I actually just popped 600 mg of ibuprofen. Hope that works. Haven't tried medicine or icy hot, because I am just a broke college kid and the on-campus infirmary has been closed recently because of repairs going on, so seeing the free doc has been tough. But, they're supposed to be open in the morning, so I plan on going to see if they can tell exactly what it is.

Based on symptoms, it seems like a neck sprain to me as well (just looked it up). All the pain is in the back and near the tops of my traps, where it is really tight, so it makes sense. Thanks for the comments and advice guys.

[dimbee]

Ice it. Trust me. That with the ibuprofen should help. Gotta get the inflammation down.

[pstall]

omega 3's are good for bringing down inflammation as well. ibu is much cheaper of course

[Ja Rhule]

Sounds like a nerve... Keep that sucker warm and see what happens. In my pharmacy days lot of people had this problem. Wrap something around your neck. You can also use iodine on that spot... iodine does wonders. When weather jumps from hot to cold nerves in neck area can get inflamated.

[dimbee]

Does it hurt when you twist your neck to both sides?

[4Corners]

use your left hand player

[lightsout]

Does it hurt when you twist your neck to both sides?

Twist as in just like I'm looking over either shoulder? Or twist as in looking over my shoulder and up towards the ceiling? Either way, yes. When I try to push my chin either way, it hurts worse. Definitely less flexible than normal. That would indicate a sprain, right?

And thanks for the other advice, guys.

You may be on to something with the left-hand though. I really should switch. I won't post anything if my right wrist starts hurting. I will just assume carpal tunnel.

[ladypanther]

Ice it. Trust me. That with the ibuprofen should help. Gotta get the inflammation down.

Do not use heat! A chiropractor would likely be able to get you straightened out pretty quickly. If you can't afford that...try to take it easy...keep the inflammation down as dimbee said. If you can, sleeping in a recliner for a couple of nights might help.

Hope you feel better soon.

[Ja Rhule]

Do not use heat! A chiropractor would likely be able to get you straightened out pretty quickly. If you can't afford that...try to take it easy...keep the inflammation down as dimbee said. If you can, sleeping in a recliner for a couple of nights might help.

Hope you feel better soon.

Pinched Nerve. Do not waste your money on doctors. Back in old country we actually treat it with heat and it worked very well but cold apparently is a better way to go.

http://www.medicinenet.com/pinched_nerve/page3.htm

Use some Bengay.

[boo7382]

Sounds like you have a crick in your neck but I have never heard of it lasting that long so yeah, maybe a sprain.

That sucks and sounds like it hurts a lot, you should definitely go see someone

[Darth Biscuit]

Is this muscle pain or like joint pain? Either way I agree with lp, go to the chiro.