neck pain

[leahsh]

i've seen the DO 4 times, seen a dentist for possible TMJ, seen an ENT (nothing wrong in my throat after looking inside), seen a neurologist (nothing neurological, he sid ) about my neck pain for 9-10 weeks. the pain subsides a bit when i am standing up and i feel the front of my neck tightening when i am sitting down. i have asked over and over but got no answer if there is some muscle pulling somewhere that's straining my neck when i sit down? after sitting down, when i swallow, i feel like there's something in my throat and then, it will subside. could i have pulled a tendon while sitting at the computer for a long time with no back support? i don't know whether i should try to stretch to improve or if stretching will make it worse, because after doing some neck exercises, severe shoulder pain got added to the frontal neck tightness.

[monsterjam2]

Thanks for the update!  It sounds like you are on your way to a complete healing!  Hang in there!

[leahsh]

thank you so much for your advice. another doctor (urgent Care)ordered neck ultrasound bec of the location of the pain, but ultrasound seemed okay, the way the tech told me it wasn't an emergency. i went back to the DO and she agreed to refer me to a physical therapist.
        i had quite a scare a few days ago bec i would feel a kind of click when i swallow, but it moved to whichever part of the neck hurt. the DO pressed on my cartilage while i swallowed and while i felt something, but she said my cartilage was moving normally. (she did that bec i was wondering about dislocated cartilage) i would feel the click only when my neck outside hurt. so, the DO said the click was the muslce and when the muscle pain goes away.
        another thing, last week, the click felt more like clicks, like my swallowing was passing through 3-4 ridges, but now, most of the time, it's only one, so the DO thought it was going away, eventually.
        but i'm still not turning my head, it's been two weeks, so i hope a physical therapist will be able to help me.
        i really think my muscles were overstretched both by my sitting in front of the computer and neck exercises that was given to me but was not really shown how to do it correctly.
       at least, the DO listened to me today. hopefully, this problem goes away, completely.

[monsterjam2]

Yes, a muscle strain will heal itself, but it will take a little bit of time (not uncommon for it to be 4-6 weeks).  If the Flexeril was prescribed by one of your docs for this condition, by all means, take it.  It will help relax the tight muscles and allow them to heal.  You can also take some over-the-counter anti-inflammatories (Ibuprofen, Aspirin (as long as you are not on blood thinners, etc.) or Naprosen).  Heat, to your tolerance, will help to relax those muscles, too. (it will work to help reduce swelling for about 20 minutes out of every hour, but you can use it for comfort as long as you like, just be careful not to burn yourself).  If it's not getting better in the next week or so, I'd either revisit your primary or place a phone call to him, telling him it is not getting better.
Hang in there!
Hope you feel better soon!!
Beth RN

[leahsh]

i had a physical, too and my thyroid is normal. also, when this started, swallowing food, singing actually relieved my throat. and the ENT said because when i did these things, i was relaxing my muscles. all this 2 months, i was doing these exercises that the DO gave me. then, 3 days after the ENT visit, i woke up with fresh pain around my neck, on top of my shoulders and this spot on the right frontal side of my neck that felt the pull the most everytime i exercised was very very sore to the touch.
            it was horrible pain that lasted for two weeks, i had to lie down every 3 hours. the top of my shoulders,and the area around my neck would feel so heavy. and the swallowing became painful at times, different from the swallowing sensation i used to feel. i'm pretty sure this fresh pain was from the exercise because the sore spots were the lace i felt the pull.
     but the DO said NAAAAH, couldn't be the exercises. the frequency of the pain radiating around my shoulders and the base of my skull became less frequent after two weeks but it still hurts so bad to turn and i'm not daring to turn my neck this time) if i strained a muscle, will it heal by itself even without an MRI? the neurologist thought i didn't need it, he didn't think there was a pinched nerve. so, what do i do now?  the pain keeps me up. afraid to take FLEXERIL because i might not feel the pain and end up movinr something i am not supposed to move.

[monsterjam2]

It could be a swollen lymph node.  They run down along side your trachea, and if one is swollen, it may feel like something is stuck in your throat.  I'm not sure how it is tied into standing or sitting, though, or the severe shoulder pain.  I had one a few months back and it took almost two months (and 3 trips to the doc) to go away.  I'd continue to follow up with your primary if it's not better in the next couple of weeks, and I think I'd stay away from neck strengthening exercises! ;) Hope you feel better soon.