how to soothe neck pain

[jellybean12391]

I have type 1, 6.8 mm, and my worse symptom is always neck pain. Today, my neck popped in a weird way and it hurts to just hold my head up. What are some at home remedies or exercises I can try to make the pain lessen?

[Serpthia]

You could try one of those bed buddies that you heat in the microwave. I found the weight and the way it forms around gives a kind of soft support to the neck that allows it to relax. Sometimes, I have to wear it a couple of hours, but it always works for me. Also, I recently purchased a water pillow. I use other soft pillows over it for a squishier loft, and it finally seems to be the right combination for me. My head and neck don't feel like I'm sleeping on a steel anvil.

Good luck!

Serp.

[jellybean12391]

My herniation is 6.8 mm, he said anything over 5 mm is considered a chiari.

I've been on a heating pad all day today, I'm hoping tomorrow will be better.

[tdaniel770]

That was why I was asking.  It sounded like you were having all kinds of issues and I couldn't understand why they were just blowing it all off.  I had a doctor tell me that the symptoms meant nothing. Unless, I was burning my limbs on accident, such as sticking them in scolding water and not knowing it, there was nothing anyone could do for me.  I just know some doctors, who aren't specialist put a lot of emphasis on the size.  I hope you find answers soon!!

[The_Marine_Corp_Brat]

Size doesn't have anything to do with it. Mine is 9mm  and I Selma is correct... Chiari is not the herniation, it is the malformation of the skull..It is the width of the tonsils and if they r causing an obstruction and if there is overcrowding.....
It is also about finding a specialist to do the right tests and to listen to you and your symptoms.
Needless to say he is also the one that said that there was nothing more wrong with me than that my brain was to big for my skull, nothing to worry about, no big deal....Didn't matter that I was having symptoms (severe) even then. He wouldn't tell me the name of the "birth defect" I have cause it isn't anything to worry about. his words. My GP sent me elsewhere! I am still on the "Royal Chiari merry-go-round" but am working on rectifying that issue!
I know that it is not the size of the herniation and because of my GP I now have a name which was why I came here after lots of research and Dr.'s. I also have other health issues that complicate my Chiari. I had one NS say he wouldn't touch my neck compression issues due to the Chiari, You have all the symptoms (of both) but it's not a big deal, you've been able to live with it for this long so it can't be that bad. What treatment plan did you have in mind? if it's the same as what I'm thinking we might be able to do something. I just looked at him like he'd lost his mind! I'm not a NS or a doc! Lol! Some people should not carry a licence to practice medicine! Lol!

[selmaS]

  For what it is worth, mine was 4mm and 6 mm.....

Chiari is not the herniation, it is the malformation of the skull.....and Drs that say other wise have not been reading up on the most recent research on chiari and will not  be of help to u....

Someone with a 2mm herniation can have more issues then someone with a 13 mm herniation....

It is the width of the tonsils and if they r causing an obstruction and if there is overcrowding.....usually referring to a retroflexed odontoid or other anomaly ...like a kinked brain stem....these r more of an issue then how long the tonsils r.

Find a true Chiari specialist and u will see a huge difference.

[tdaniel770]

If you don't mind me asking, what was the size of your herniation that they didn't think it was significant enough?  I thought the size had very little to do with it.