omg. Last night I pulled something or shifted something or...just generally effed something up in my neckal region...

I was on the flat bench getting ready for chest press set 2 and I lifted the bar off the hook things and...lifted my shoulder or something to "scooch" down (which I had done before!!) and...BIG MISTAKE.

I immediately felt something not-right and I wasn't even done with my first lifting exercise :sick: And from there the pain shot right up through into my brain and I had this dull, aching headache for the rest of my workout...and the night...

And I woke up at about 3 A.M. with a 5-degree turn radius...so I popped some Ibuprofen and tried to lay an ice-pack on, but it fell off because I fell asleep. And this morning a super-hot shower took away *some* of the pain...but I'm back to having to turn my entire torso just to look left or right, or bend at the waist to look down. I don't think my insurance covers a chiropractor and I skipped my A.M. run because it hurt so bad...wouldn't you know the first day I decide to get back on track I seriously injure myself. :cry: It hurts soooo bad.

:nigel: N/C.

I'm really sorry! You might want to look up muscle injuries on WebMd. A regular doctor will see you. I'd actually suggest you see a regular doctor for a pulled muscle.

Icy Hot is a product you can put on for sore muscles. Walgreens has it for $4.00 (I just bought some)

I'm really sorry! You might want to look up muscle injuries on WebMd. A regular doctor will see you. I'd actually suggest you see a regular doctor for a pulled muscle.

Icy Hot is a product you can put on for sore muscles. Walgreens has it for $4.00 (I just bought some)

I tried to stop into one of those god-forsaken stores for a heat-pack on my way to work but alas THEIR DOORS WERE UNLOCKED AT 7:25 BUT THEY WEREN'T "OPEN" UNTIL 8 A.M.! :furious:

If I can somehow acquire a heat pack (one of those stick-on things) and see how that goes...hopefully it'll work itself out :-/

:nigel: still N/C.

Wheat bags that can be heated up in the microwave are really good for that kind of injury.

I've been suffering with a neck injury that is quite similiar for quite sometime. It's possible that you have too much instability in your neck, making you more prone to injury. Once the pain starts to subside, I would try some neck strengthening exercises so this doesn't happen again. I've found that stretching helps but DON'T do neck rotations. Too much flexibility in your neck is bad.. VERY BAD! Stretching from side to side, and putting your chin to your chest (and the opposite..back of your head toward your back) can really help.. Keep switching between hot and cold packs.. and if the ibuprofen doesn't seem to help after a few days (it usually takes a few days to start working) don't bother with it. No reason to take it if it doesn't help because it can tear up your stomach. I'm willing to be that this will be the same exact thing the doctor will tell you (I know because I swear I've seen the doctor numerous times about reinjurying my neck) Good luck :)

i get that every now and then but not from working out, or doing anything in particular. i'll like be reading or watching tv or something and just turn my head or stretch my neck in some way that i feel a 'snap' sort of and a shot of pain goes right up to the top of my head and then my neck is stiff and sore for a couple days.

i also crack my neck a lot. it gets stiff at work and from sitting at the computer, if i tilt my head back and stretch from side to side 8 zillion little bones in the back of my neck crack and pop and crunch. is that bad? lol

but yeah it goes away on it's own, i would just try not to strain it in the meantime but stretch (carefully) now and then so it doesn't stiffen up on you. works for me anyway but i'm no expert or anything.

If you can't get your hands on a hot compress, use a facecloth thats been soaked in hot water. I believe that you're supposed to leave on for up to 15 mins, then take it off.

Worry more about it if its still really bad in a couple days.

Ibuprofen should at least help with the headache.

I'm sorry you're not feeling so well. Do try to get a full 8 hours sleep for the next few days, as your body heals much faster when it gets adequate sleep. I know it might be difficult to sleep if you're in a lot of pain, but at least rest.

Take care

Have you tried Arnica cream or gel topically and the homeopath of arnica internally at the same time? IT works wonders for swelling and can help with pain as well. If the store you go to has more than one strenght of arnica ask for the one that is for Acute treatment. Also there are other creams like one called Traumeel (sp) ,, it has Arnica and some other things homeopaths in it for injuries.

You may want to try Alleve or Excedrine for headaches ,, as long as you dont mind the caffeine in the Excedrine,,, Ive found they can sometimes help pains that Acetominophin (tylenol) or IB profin cant
Heres a few other things I can suggest on top of what the others did,,, only leave a heating pad on for 20 minutes at a time then give it at least a short break before on again ie dont go to sleep on it).
Also.. the neck moevement that ms 17 suggested is good except for Ive been told by chiropractors to not do the head straight back towards your spine as you are hyperextending it and can incure injury (I used to do it also)

Massage can help but wait until at least 24 hours after the injury (Im a massage therapist)

and most of all have a pro look at it like the others suggested

i also crack my neck a lot. it gets stiff at work and from sitting at the computer, if i tilt my head back and stretch from side to side 8 zillion little bones in the back of my neck crack and pop and crunch. is that bad? lol
Yes! People, don't crack your own necks/backs! You can mess stuff up in there and then you will REALLY need the chiropractor.

Alternate heat and ice, ten minutes at a time for each, a few times a day. Once you start feeling better, just do the ice, twice a day at least until it's feeling totally normal again.

My neck goes out on occasion, partially because my dreads are so heavy, and it's really important not to just ignore it. See a chiro if you can manage it (it's not that expensive for one appointment, and maybe you could do a payment plan?) and do the heat and ice, for sure.

Yes! People, don't crack your own necks/backs! You can mess stuff up in there and then you will REALLY need the chiropractor.
My back cracks all the time on it's own, especially when I was in gymnastics. When my boyfriend hugs me it cracks too. Is that screwing up my back?

You're probably fine if your back cracks sometimes in the course of your normal activities. But twisting your neck/back into abnormal or extreme positions to crack it is a bad idea.

for years i've had problems with my lower back always feeling like it needs to be cracked. if i lie down when it's like that it's very painful, feels like a vertibrae is shifted and tilted up against another one. the only way i've ever been able to crack is if my bf hugs and lifts me up at the same time. however recently i figured out that if i stretch i can just work it out, it doesn't crack but the feeling/pain goes away. so i've just been doing that lately cause i figure cracking it often is a bad idea. plus i figured out i get that from slouching, so if i'm watching tv or on the computer for a while, slouching, i just try to stretch or get up and walk around now and then, it helps. plus sleeping with a pillow between my knees has helped immensely.


sorry OT i know... anyone know what i should be doing for my neck then instead of cracking? it cracks like that at least once a day