Neck Spasms

Neill Smith · 07-14-2009, 12:15 PM

I get neck spasms occasionally that sideline me for a week, make it difficult to sleep, and are pretty painful. I've found some good ways to decrease frequency, but they flared up yesterday and I'm looking for any advice on speeding recovery. Here's what I currently do:

440 mg naproxin every 4 hours
Heat pack
Icy hot
Self massage with tennis ball

Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.

Neill Smith · 07-14-2009, 12:52 PM

Update: That's probably too much naproxen.

Derek Simonds · 07-14-2009, 04:59 PM

I would ice for 15 minutes then heat for 15 minutes and do that for an hour at a time. I get them sometimes also. They suck.

Garrett Smith · 07-14-2009, 06:53 PM

Sounds like torticollis to me from your short description. Spasms are the body's way of locking up a compromised area to prevent further damage. You should get this checked out further, and I don't mean by only an orthopedist.

Steven Low · 07-14-2009, 07:02 PM

Yeah, something is probably misaligned if muscles are getting tight and spasming..

get it checked out by a chiro or physical therapist

Derek Weaver · 07-14-2009, 08:15 PM

I got the same thing after a kind of scary neck injury my senior year of high school when I was still playing rugby.

See an orthopedist, but like Garrett was saying, extra care is likely a good idea. Chiro is a good way to go when you've got something like that.

Dave Lemanczyk · 08-16-2009, 10:03 AM

In 2002 I was hit by a drunk driver and it did a number on my neck, back, shoulder area. The pain comes and goes from time to time. If I had to give you one piece of advice to get you through some spasms it would be to;

1. Have X-Rays done to make sure no structural damage has taken place
2. MRI if you can to make sure there are no disc herniations
3. Lay in a warm bath tub for 30 minutes daily.

Little things can become big things over time if nothing is done about it. I hope you feel better and I kow what it feels like.