Thread: Neck Pain

Has anyone ever experienced severe pain in the neck caused by what felt like excessive straining?

I was doing heavy DB Hammers 2 days ago and i let my form slip a little and dropped my chin down to my chest while doing them, i know, big mistake, I should know better... Kinda why I'm annoyed at myself for it...
Anyway, as I was performing a rep I felt a twinge in my neck followed by a sharp pain, so that was the end of the training session... That afternoon/evening my neck began to stiffen up and i wasn't able to tilt my head back without a shooting pain... It's going away slowly and getting less stiff, but I am concerned on how long this is going to put me out of action for...

I know what caused it, but any ideas exactly what I've done?

Acute muscular wry neck I imagine. Quite common, Scottie, and it will settle down fairly quickly. Just don't irritate it too much or it will react by spasming.

Let the hot water run on it under the shower and try to move within pain limts. Massage, physio and acupuncture can help a lot, and even diazepam (valium) - muscle relaxants. After the acute phase is over, hot packs (like wheat bags) can help, too. Sometimes there can be a little bit of disc irritation involved, but if your pain is only isolated to the neck you should be fine. Cervical discs refer pain to the shoulder blade region, particularly when flexing the neck.

Just be patient with it. If it's been going on more than 10-14 days, get it looked at.

BD

Cheers mate, thats exactly what I was after...

2 weeks is a bit longer than I was hoping to be RS, but I guess I have no one to blame but myself...
It's slightly better again this morining, as in my range of motion in both turing my head and in tilting it without pain is better...
Might call in on my brother's osteopath mate and get a diagnosis in the flesh tomorrow...

Thanks again BD!