Re: Neck hurting

[Guest guest]

Hi Jolynn,

I have always had neck discomfort. It is not only from the

compensation we do in order to look straight ahead, but also from

stress and, for me, allergies/sinuses. I have said before that I

have a very high pain tolerance, but once I start getting that

headache/neckache " thang " going on for three+ days... I am just

about ready to chop off all my hair, or my head! - to try and get

relief. I will never fuse any more vertabrae above what is already

done, T4 to S1. I'll just go back to pain meds. Now the only

swiveling I can do is my shoulders and above, like to reach thru'

window at drive-thru fast food, etc... I can't imagine what it

would be like to not be able to rotate my neck!

For relief: I only use small neck roll pillow to sleep on my back.

I use 2 microwave heat " beanie bags " which I put on neck and across

forehead. Sometimes I put them on chest, above breasts/below neck;

it's a comfort thing/ very relaxing. If you lay on your side when

you sleep, note how you hold your head: tuck that chin down! If you

have a neck traction kit that hangs from a door, those are great

when it gets really bad. I also do a few exercises that help:

1) Sitting straight looking ahead, take your index and middle

fingertips of both hands and place on your chin. Then, press back,

so you get the worse double-chin look you can imagine! Hold for slow

count of 10 then release. Do a few times; it sort of realigns the

vertabrae; feels good without force.

2) Another good one is to lace fingers together, hold arms straight

out in front of you. Then while left hand pulls straightened right

arm to the left, you turn head to right. Remember to keep chin

tucked down, then do opposite side.

3) Last favorite, again sitting, tuck chin down and lift shoulders

up " to ears " . Do slow " up and downs " with shoulders; then slow

forward or backwards rotations with shoulders. I call this doing my

own massage, as it works/stretches those muscles without me or

anyone using their hands. This one is nice to do before laying down

with heat pads.

Lastly, at workplace, try to take mini breaks looking away from

computer. Rearrange monitor so you are looking directly across or

slightly down at it(raise chair, add cushions, whatever).

Didn't mean to get lengthy; just totally sympathize with

neck/shoulder/head pain. Hope some of this helps, Marty (PS- I also

take 800mg of ibuprofin/ Advil or else 2 extra strength Excedrin

when I am at desperate stage.)

--- leominsterhsg@... wrote: It does not hurt all the time just

when I move certain ways. Will this go way after my lordosis is

returned? Is this caused by the craning to look straight ahead as I

bend forward all the time? ... I hope it is not an issue that in a

few years will require more surgery. I only have so many vertebre.

Jolynn

[Guest guest]

my neck has been hurting, too. Especially when I am sitting at the

computer

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