Well, I have way too much experience with back pain and from what you are telling us a sock full of tennis balls and frozen peas are not going to help (no offense everyone). I don't know what your medical/work/athletic history is but it sounds to my that you either have a slipped disc (MRI would tell you but those can be expensive) or/and you have nerve damage somewhere along your spine. A quick and easy way to find that out is to get gabapentin prescribed...this is a plateu drug so you will have to get your body used to it over a week or so but if the pain dissapears/lessens noticeably then you will know that you have some problem with your nerves. This drug does not have any real side effects other than diareah (sp?) but look it up on the net so that you are educated on the drug if your doctor is not for it has only been around since '94 or so.
Stay away from the chiropractor on this one and try to see if there is a change you can make while sleeping (too many pillows?) or if you are twisting too much at work.
Oh you poor thing. Have you tried one of these 'wheat' cushion things that you heat in the microwave and wrap it on around the area of pain - I find that direct heat gives me better pain relief than direct cold (as in ice packs) Even a hot water bottle against it may give you some temporary relief. The heat helps your muscles to relax. Hope you feel better soon.
minnimates reminded me....an old PT (worked with dancers) told me to put three tennis balls in a sock (knot the end) and put it under your neck when you lay down. works wonders every time :) i use it for my back and hip also.
How are you sleeping? Do you sleep on several pillows? How is your mattress? Since it hasn't gone away in 4 months, it's probably some sort of strain or pulled muscle you keep aggravating.
Try buying a cervical pillow and see if that does anything.
Terrible speller I ment to say God Bless not Gog Bless hope it made you laugh that is the best cure of the lot
Try a packet of peas wrapped in a cloth leave it there for a while then put it back in the freezer and do it again it helps with the tightness. My Osteopath gave me this advice i have terrible problems with my neck, also neck exercises can help.
tens machine can also give some help.
Also accupunture very good but none of these things work for long. I didn't have much relife from Physiotheraphy didn't help me it made things worse.
Osteopath is very good more gentle then a phisio trouble is all cost money, i took up Thichi which is very gentle exercise helps relax the mind and body and keeps the everything moving.
Well not much but hope you get some relife for your pain soon
Gog Bless
Has anyone suggested fibromyalgia? I have had it for years and frequently get muscle spasms, cramps and other unexplainable pains that last for months. Or after a minor fall the pain will last far beyond normal.
Pain relievers seldom help. There is lots of info online if you think it might apply to you.
I hope you get some answers and some relief.