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I need medical advice and this forum provides the most cost effective I can get right now.

bpost
As you know my neck is solid bone with appliances, fused from C2-C6.  A week ago I awoke with the muscle on the left side of my neck hurting like the dickens.  It even hurts to rub on it.  It is the muscle that runs to the base of your skull down along the side of your spine.
I went to bed feeling fine woke up hurting bad, having fought this now for a full week I need to get it fixed. 
Moist warm seems to help for the time the heat is on it, taking Naproxen Sodium, my go-to pain killer, does not even knock the edge off. 
From past experience muscle relaxers have never worked for me on anything.
Any other suggestions for getting this muscle to relax?

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Comments

28 comments

Date Votes
  • danielgage
    my chiropractor would say ice pack
    3
  • yonson
    +1 on ice pack, first choice for muscles in spasm rather than heat.
    3
  • bpost
    danielgage said:
    my chiropractor would say ice pack

    Applying cold with the titanium rods in my neck so near the surface would cause agony.  Cold really hurts my neck but thanks for the suggestion!!!
    3
  • SCOUT5
    Generally it's ice for muscle or joint inflammation and heat for infected tissue.   However heat does sometime help tense muscles.   If you do not already take an anti-inflammatory, aren't on blood thinners, don't have renal issues, and your stomach can take it you may want to take ibuprofen on a regular schedule for a few days.  Try 600mg every six hours, the max does is 2400mg a day.  You can also take Tylenol (acetaminophen) 650 to 1000 mg between ibuprofen doses.  The max dose of Tylenol is 4000mg a day.  Understand you do not want to take max doses of either of these for extended periods.   If you are already on an anti-inflammatory do not take the ibuprofen, there is too much chance of you waking up with a bleeding gut.

    Muscle relaxers work if you take them, they are not pain medication to be taken only when you hurt.  That means taking them regularly.   It takes time for the muscle relaxers to work and assist the tissue in healing.  If the muscle relaxers make you too tired to work through the day or too drowsy to be safe then at least take them at night, every night, for at least a week regardless of if you think they are helping or not.   

    If you don;t have prescribed muscle relaxers you can try Benadryl (diphenhydramine)  25 to 50mg at bed time.  It will help you sleep and has some muscle relaxing effects.  Muscle relaxers are antihistamines too, but work in the body a little different targeting muscles more.

    Edit for explanation:  Acetaminophen and ibuprofen are both prostaglandin inhibitors.  That is the mechanism they use to block pain signals (among other things).  They work at different points in the neuro tract, thus they enhance one another in stopping pain by blocking the signals in multiple places. 

    Of course, the best advice is to talk to your doctor.  
    3
  • dreher
    If you are fused from C2-C6 than to me you need C1, C7 or something lower adjusted.  If I had metal rods in my neck I wouldn't let most chiropractors anywhere near me, as most chiropractors are like most MD's and can be hazardous to your health.  Do you have an activator chiropractor anywhere in your area??  It is just about impossible to get screwed up with an activator as the force is so low.  The flip side is that that same low force often doesn't move a vertebrae.   If you have a good activator man in your area he would be worth checking out.     
    0
  • Butchdog2
    Most likely a chiropractor won't touch you.
    Heat pad might help. Might not be inflammation but could be muscle spasms
    3
  • SCOUT5
    During my career as a RN  I've taken care of several patients with neck injuries caused by chiropractic adjustments, some of them serious, including lacerated arteries.  I wouldn't let a chiropractor get close to my neck or anyone's I am responsible for.   
    3
  • jimdeere
    The medical advice received on an Internet forum is worth what you paid for it. I would see a doctor if I were you.
    3
  • montanajoe
    • Community moderator
    New pillow
    Warm damp towells
    Good luck
    0
  • SCOUT5
    I forgot to mention, do not take Naproxen and ibuprofen together.  Use one or the other but not both, they are the same classification of medications.  
    0
  • montanajoe
    • Community moderator
    Switch hands.   On your press,switch hands.  Sounds like you've been reloading like a storm.  Have you over done it?  
    3
  • jltrent

    Aspercreme ....the kind without the lidocaine works best for me on my neck.

    https://www.walgreens.com/store/c/aspercreme-pain-relieving-creme/ID=prod4344-product


    3
  • He Dog
    Apart from Barzilla, what you are getting is worth exactly what you are paying.  See a freaking doctor, you can probably do so on-line. 
    0
  • mrmike08075

    Naproxin as an anti-inflammatory

    Icy hot topical cream may help you

    Over the counter lidocaine dermal patches might help you

    Tramadol as a prescription pain med for back and spine issues possibly

    A neck brace or similar arraignment for sleep maybe

    Cortisone and steroid injections

    Benadryl as mentioned

    The heavy hitters schedule 3 pain meds may become needed

    And of course you already know that surgery will probably be what the doctors recommend - I assume that you don't want to be forced to choose that option due to risk and cost and such.

    Sorry for your need - wish it was not so.

    Mike

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  • brier-49
    96 pound Asian woman to walk on your back !!
    0
  • bpost
    Thanks one and all! 
    No chiro's for me. I have 25 years of dealing with them and most are a bit off kilter, they have helped in the past but since surgery there is nothing a Chiro can do for me.  I will stay on the Naproxen and just deal with the pain.  No docs around seeing new patients.  I have been reloading a LOT and that may have something to do with it.  I will stop reloading this week and see if that helps.
    Youins' is da best.
    0
  • diver-rig

    Acupuncture really helps my neck and lower back. I go to a chiropractor in Omaha for it. She doesn’t even try to talk me into adjustments.


    Sounds like you slept on it funny. When I do that, and try and just tough it out, it takes 2 weeks to ease up.


    Getting acupuncture done, better in a couple days.


    Of course, YMMV.


    Best of luck.

    6
  • SCOUT5
    Good catch by MontanaJoe.  If you've started doing a lot more reloading than normal that very well may be what got it going.  We over work something and it's usually the next morning that our body tells us about it.
    0
  • jltrent
    diver-rig said:

    Acupuncture really helps my neck and lower back. I go to a chiropractor in Omaha for it. She doesn’t even try to talk me into adjustments.


    Sounds like you slept on it funny. When I do that, and try and just tough it out, it takes 2 weeks to ease up.


    Getting acupuncture done, better in a couple days.


    Of course, YMMV.


    Best of luck.

    How long does the acupuncture last for the pain?  Kinda thought about that myself.  Thanks
    0
  • diver-rig

     How long does the acupuncture last for the pain? Kinda thought about that myself. Thanks



    I have adhesions in my lower back from surgery and years of abuse. Farm work, mason work, etc.


    There's immediate relief for a few hours, then it’s back. But I go back once a week for a few weeks. Every time, it feels better, longer. Couple acupuncture with a massage from mama, and after a few weeks, pain gone.


    when I sleep on my neck funny, and can’t turn my head, acupuncture will alleviate it after a couple days, instead of two weeks if I do nothing.


    A bunch of my buddies think it’s BS, and say it’s all in my head, but I think it works for me.

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  • serf
      There is nothing better than undamaged original parts so take all this below as stop gap measures as you age, For entertainment  purposes only I would suggest SAM-e https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/chapter/bk9781782624356-00433/978-1-78262-435-6 (Must not be bi-polar in Psychiatric treatment)
                                                                                  serf
    An accurate diagnosis is the first step to instituting treatments, which can include physical therapy to strengthen muscles around the neck, anti-inflammatory medication, heat/ice applications, soft collar, traction and activity modification. Other options considered are spinal injections, topical anesthetic creams, topical pain patches, muscle relaxants, analgesics or surgical intervention. Chiropractic cervical manipulation is controversial. Studies show that rehabilitative neck exercises are superior to manipulation. There are risks associated with neck manipulation that are significantly more serious than those seen with lower back.




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  • Mr. Perfect
    definitely ice.
    0
  • Mr. Perfect
    bpost said:
    danielgage said:
    my chiropractor would say ice pack

    Applying cold with the titanium rods in my neck so near the surface would cause agony.  Cold really hurts my neck but thanks for the suggestion!!!

    definitely ice. work through the agony.
    0
  • Brookwood
    Speaking only for those of us (including myself) heterosexual males;  if your pain therapist looks anything like a young Raquel Welch, your pain should diminish no matter what the treatment.  :p
    3
  • susie

    If you look at the main ingredient for a lot of the creams/balms its menthol. With that being said, vapor rub is usually a lot cheaper and something many of us have in our med stock

    0
  • KenK/84Bravo

    +1 on Tiger Balm.

    Good stuff. If you have never tried it, you should.

    I've been out for a while need to find some more.

    (Good under the nose as well.)

    0
  • Mr. Perfect
    Brookwood said:
    Speaking only for those of us (including myself) heterosexual males;  if your pain therapist looks anything like a young Raquel Welch, your pain should diminish no matter what the treatment.  :p

    Wouldn't it become chronic??
    0
  • Oakie
    My surgeon gave me a prescribed creme that helped a ton. I ran out of it and cannot remember what it is. Call your surgeon and ask what he can prescribe in a creme. 
    0

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