Once again, with the utmost of respect I disagree one hundred percent with the suggestion to use either a soft cervical collar or a muscle relaxant. Muscle relaxants decrease muscle tone and increase presure on the punched nerve. This is the road to a frozen shoulder and a lifetime of agonizing level ten pain.
The treatment is:
(1) Rest for a week. Anti-inflammatories. Prednisone for two weeks, then ibuprufin. Start at 60 mg oral prednisone a day, then taper down.
(2) Intermittant gentle cervical traction 5-10 minutes in duration six to eight times a day.
(3) Good hydration.
(4) Range of motion exercises rotating the head 360 degrees through the limits of pain.
(5) Isometric exercises to increase muscle tone. Flat of the hand against the forehead. Force forehead against hand. Do the same with the head to the left, the right and back.
(6) Avoidance of riding in a truck or using an inflatable cushion while riding in a car.
(7) Steroidal cream rubbed transdermally on the back of the neck.
Hi, Thank you for your question. I think your symptoms may be due to nerve irritation in the cervical (neck) spine because of cervical disc bulge. This pain may be referred and perceived as occurring in the back of head & shoulders (as electric sensation)- LHERMITTES SIGN, arms or chest, rather than just the neck. Other symptoms may include vertigo, nausea (dizziness) and stiffness. It will be best that you consult a neurologist who would like to prescribe Pain killers, steroid and muscle relaxants. Other treatments could be cervical orthosis such as a soft cervical collar or stiffer neck brace to restrict neck movement till you get complete recovery. In addition, cervical traction may also be suggested by the doctor, if condition is severe. Hope this helps.
I know it's a year since you posted, and I can't seem to find a thread on here to find any resolutions, so if you are still checking in would love to know what you found out about your condition as I am having exactly the same symptoms.