From time to time when I've trained too hard I suffer from a bad neck that just aches like hell and always seems to come when I have plans!

It's killing today (putting my coat on triggered it!!! After 5 consecutive days at the gym), and I'm meant to be going out tonight for a work do. Apart from painkillers, what can I do?!

Gaz

Posture.. but it's difficult with the neck, whatever you do it ends up hurting more.. Try some deep heat rub prehaps?
Hope it gets better soon... theres nowt worse than a pain in the neck :)

Originally posted by GazB
From time to time when I've trained too hard I suffer from a bad neck that just aches like hell and always seems to come when I have plans!

It's killing today (putting my coat on triggered it!!! After 5 consecutive days at the gym), and I'm meant to be going out tonight for a work do. Apart from painkillers, what can I do?!

Gaz

Keep it warm... hot water bottle wrapped in a towel? or get a massage from a friend or family member if possible... warmth is good for pain relief... hope it eases soon :)

Originally posted by honeyplanet
theres nowt worse than a pain in the neck :)

:roll: lol

Have you had an impact on your neck or your head? If so, get it checked out first. Mate of mine used to have recurrent neck pains after training and it turned out he had a hairline fracture of one of the cervical vertebrae.

If it is a regular muscle strain then try contrast bathing. Alternate hot and cold compresses on the area of the pain. I used to do it with a hot flannel and a bag of frozen peas from the freezer.

Used to help me.

Joe

I've never had a bad neck after going to the gym, what exercises are you doing, like HP said, it's probably your posture thats causing it, not the work-out.

looks like your night is ruined either way, if you take pain killers drinkings not advised.

Don't know your age mate but could you have a touch of arthritus in your neck where training triggers it off.
I have the same problem especially when I do over 4 hours on the bike.
You would be as well checking it out with the Doctor.
you could have a small fracture, unlikley but the neck takes hell of a lot of strain and physio may be worth checking out.

Originally posted by honeyplanet
Posture.. but it's difficult with the neck, whatever you do it ends up hurting more.. Try some deep heat rub prehaps?
Hope it gets better soon... theres nowt worse than a pain in the neck :)

Yeah I'll try some deep heat later as it works pretty well usually.

Originally posted by JoeP
Have you had an impact on your neck or your head? If so, get it checked out first. Mate of mine used to have recurrent neck pains after training and it turned out he had a hairline fracture of one of the cervical vertebrae.

That could be possible, I've had recurrent problems since I was about 15 when a "wrestling" move went wrong and I had a very bad neck for about 2 weeks. Is it the doctor that looks at it, or do you have to arrange an appointment with the hospital?

Your g.p will refer you.. they may also make an appt for you to see the physio

For tonight so you can get hammered, rub some Ibuprofen gel on it, you wont feel a thing...some good suggestions have been made on here about what it could be. It could also be a trapped nerve. I sometimes get pain at the bottom of my skull, just at the top of the neck after doing weights and it's apparently pressure on a nerve.

Docs and hossy is your best bet.

I'm booked in at the docs today so I'll see what he says, if the deep heat/ibuprofen works well I'll go out.. if not, looks like I'm in for the weekend :(

become a hostage in iraq :D seriously, it would depend on how it was caused,if its through bieng in a draught then warmth and massage, if its been wrenched, you need to see the doctor

Take some Nurofen Plus (Gotta be the Plus, not the normal stuff), and drink plenty of water throughout today. The neck muscles can contract if you are dehydrated, which may be the fact if you are sweating a lot through exercise.

I suffered with my neck for years as a result of a bike accident in my teens. I'd worn neck collars on and off for years and was in constant pain. I was referred for physio and she showed me some simple exercises that really do help.

The best one is simple and effective. It can be done sitting or laying down. Pull your chin into your top chest/throat (if that makes sense) as if you are making a double chin, pulling the back of your neck back. Pull your shoulder down at the same time and it stretches the bones/muscles in your neck. Hold ofr a count of 5, relax for 5 and repeat a few times. It may feel a bit wierd at first but it really does help me no end.

Hope you feel better soon x

Arnica is fantastic for muscle and tissue trauma either in a cream, gel, tincture or homoeopathic tablets, all available from Wicker Herbal. If you carry some about with you, take it as soon as possible.

Also, have a look at realignment. Don't know much about it but I've heard it works wonders. Try googling for it.

I'll nip to Tesco at lunch and get some deep heat, ibuprofen and Nurofen Plus.. Hopefully a mixture of the 3 will sort me out :D

Originally posted by GazB
From time to time when I've trained too hard I suffer from a bad neck that just aches like hell and always seems to come when I have plans!

It's killing today (putting my coat on triggered it!!! After 5 consecutive days at the gym), and I'm meant to be going out tonight for a work do. Apart from painkillers, what can I do?!

Gaz


find out if your training regime is correct.
recurrent neck strain from exercise, indicates one of two things.
too much - either reps or weight or your doing something slightly wrong. it could be posture or tensioning whilst straining to lift.
take advice.its free so its cheaper than ibuprofen etc.

(my wife used to be an instructer for a gym chain)

The trouble is when you heat the area, is that you don't do anything to reduce the inflamation. Yes its great to ease the pain, but if you want to reduce the inflamation you need to ice the area.
The best way is to ice it and heat it alternately.

Also make sure that you warm up properly before and warm DOWN after the exercises.

Hope you're feeling better by now anyway.

GazB, I get a badneck all the time in winter and the only way to stop it happening is to wear a scarf.

Deep heat will work but you have to becareful, you're not supposed to use it around the neck area, its easier for the chemicals to get into your blood stream from there. Obviously I do it all the time and then lie on my head and have an out-of-body experience......hmmmmmm

I find a soft collar helps mine best

Originally posted by GazB
I'll nip to Tesco at lunch and get some deep heat, ibuprofen and Nurofen Plus.. Hopefully a mixture of the 3 will sort me out :D

Just to make sure you mean Ibuprofen GEL! The active ingredient in Nurofen is Ibuprofen so be careful to to take anything else with ibuprofen in orally, using the gel at the same time as tablets is ok though.

Yet again, neck is killing me! And once more, did it in a really stupid way.. By yawning!

Best crack open some deep heat :(

Yet again, neck is killing me! And once more, did it in a really stupid way.. By yawning!

Best crack open some deep heat :(

Was gonna tell you to tell er to bog off... but now i see its an old thread...

I'd get checked out by the Dr's if not already... there must be something wrong with your neck if you keep having problems...

As i said before keep it warm and keep doing neck movements... dont let ya neck stiffen up :)

A xx

Doctor gave me an x-ray card to use but as it cleared up by the morning I didn't bother. It's just so frustrating that it happens for the daftest reasons!

Doctor gave me an x-ray card to use but as it cleared up by the morning I didn't bother. It's just so frustrating that it happens for the daftest reasons!

Do you wear a scarf?

I can sympathise, i'm suffernig from snowboarding related whiplash at the moment, aggravated by teaching jiu jitsu last night a bit too vigourously.

I'd skip the deep heat, all it actually does is cause the sensation of heat. The alternating cold/hot will do more for it. And in the future if you can get cold on it first as soon as you feel a problem you may avoid most of the pain as it will reduce any inflammation.
Neurofen gel and ibuprofen tablets will both help to reduce any inflation as well, and they aren't contra indicated with alcohol, so you can still drink.

I should go to the dr,s even if the pain ease,s think you need to have an xray. I have neck pain quite alot. sometime,s cannot move and I cry with the pain make,s me feel sick. I have to keep moving. otherwise if feel.s worse. Just go to the dr,s get this sorted.

Do you wear a scarf?

Not usually no.

Instead of going to the dr's next time, go to a&e, you'll get x-ray there & then, & if needed they'll get you an appointment with the orthorpedic consultant a lot quicker

I too get a recurrent bad neck that happens every 6 months or so (random really).

It's all linked to a car crash i was in when i was 17, since then I sometimes re-injure it playing football, but I play every week so it's not every time.

I've also re-done it sneezing and by being sick. I know exactly when it happens because the back of my neck makes a noise that i can only describe as an electric shock noise, like a fizzle and crack at the same time.

I have been to the doctors twice about it but they are useless. Reading about it it sounds like my neck muscles are trying to re-align my skull with my spine.

It normally lasts 3 or 4 days in which time sleeping is really hard for the first day as when it isn't kept moving it is in absolute agony at even the slightest spasm. The exercises i do are similar to the ones above, do a bowing motion with your neck, then tuck your chin in, then look at the ceiling and then look left and right keeping your head level.

A further useful exercise I have found is stand straight against a wall - and using only your eyes, look to 2 o'clock, 4 o'clock, 8 o'clock and 10 o'clock. This apparently uses some muscles deep in your neck. I must say first time i did this you could hear the neck sort of uncreaking its self.

However I'm not sure whether these exercises help long term or not as when i did them the overall pain lasted for more days than before, but hte exercises meant i could alleviate it during the day.

I use ibuprofen gel on it too, but it's not really very helpful also try paracetemol with dihydrocodene in. I'v ejust bought one of those wheat bags too, so I'll let you know if that helps next time.

All in all though it's a REAL PAIN.

might go to A&E next time.

1. Wheatbag heated in the microwave (you can buy these from Wilkinsons now, amongst other places).
2. TENS machine. Dont put it on your carotid artery.

I used to get reccurring neck pain which was getting crippling until I had accupuncture for it. That was ten years ago, it still comers back from time to time, but it's not nearly as bad or as frequent - touch wood.