Neck pain

[Amooti]

I've had a pain on the left side of my neck for almost two years now. At first when it would be coming, i would feel the tendon which is attaches the scapular bone to the head just behind the left ear stiffen and then sort of snap triggering an intense pain which will not allow the head to moveto the left but can allow movement to the right. This pain would radiate to the chest making breathing difficult and any movement of the arm would make the pain worse. This pain would last for upto a week and go away. currently, the pain can last up to more than 2 weeks. Although previously i would feel much pain when i made any movement, now the pain is permanently there and tthere is no posture where i can feel relief. The pain is now restricted in the neck.
I have visited doctors who think it is a muscle but i have had no response to the drugs they prescribe. Im 49 years.

[mike1105]

sounds like muscle to me too. do you spend alot of time on the computer?? you may have something called upper crossed syndrome-- it is a muscle imbalance from closed in/rounded-forward head posture.. i had it in the neck muscles and the chest (pec muscles) also-- it is annoying and nasty !!  It also caued nasty knotting in my mid back muscles. the fix is trigger point release/stretching of the SCALENES/SCMS/UPPER TRAPS/PECS and strengthening of the mid back. get a book by clair davies for the trigger point relief. see jolie Bookspan's website for pec stretches (done in a doorway or against a wall) and for posture correction, and see a site by ERIK DALTON (you may have to search his site) for literature about upper crossed syndrome. also a guy named Paul D'Arezzo has a great little book on posture to prevent this nastiness from coming back once you fix it. just be patient. your case does not sound nearly as bad as mine was (I AM pain free now--but it took my many months to get there) but muscles have stubborn memory.

[chadry]

I had a work related injury to my neck. I felt a pop and my neck stiffen up. This lasted about a week . I was told it was muscles. After repeated drs. visits I had an MRI done. I had several herniated and bulging discs. I get periods where all of a sudden it just stiffens up. Can barley move it at all. This like you lasts at least a week or 2. I also get severe pain down my left arm now that they say is nerve pain. That is horrible. I wish you luck and hope you find answers to resolve or at least help you. Let me know how you are making out.
Chadry