Crick in Neck. No looking left for me? Help what do you do?

[juliagoolia]

I must have slept like a lead brick because I woke up with a major crick in the neck.

I cant look left. I can't look right while looking UP.

What do you do??????????????

Lots to do, but hardly seems safe to drive around with a head stuck in one position.

[Don Claybrook]

1. Wait

This happens to me once every few months. It usually goes away within a day or so.

[Cuban_Liberal]

2. Heat, an NSAID like Advil or Motrin, some *gentle*stretching...

It's normally a self-limiting condition.

:hi:

[juliagoolia]

3. so don't put on a head brace and hang from the doorway?

I will try the nsaid and stretch something. What I don't know.. But maybe I can find some muscle that will stretch.

[Cuban_Liberal]

7. Don't hurt yourself

When you stretch, go slowly (only) and only to the point of minimal discomfort. The heat will also help by increasing circulation to the affected area and relaxing the spasm.

:)

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

4. Roll up a big bath towel and put it under your neck and let your

head hang back on the bed..after taking anti-inflammatories...this will give your neck a mild stretch and work out the kink

[Coyote_Bandit]

5. Take 4 Ibuprofen

They will act as a light muscle relaxer.

Stand in the shower under the warmest water you can stand and stretch. I usually stretch by starting with my head down and slowly turning it from center to each side. You will feel the muscle that attatches from the base of your skull to the underside of your shoulder blades stretch. You will also feel the muscle on the side of your neck stretch. Don't roll your head as that will actually irritate the stiffness.

I have had this problem many times. Once it was so bad that I went to minor emergency was given IV muscle relaxers and sent to several weeks of physical therapy.

[juliagoolia]

8. this sounds like a good option right now

I had a frozen shoulder that lasted over a year one time.. nothing would work on that.

I will be looking for the NSAIDs- ibuprofen-aleve-motrin(see what I can find here) now..

[samplegirl]

6. Use a warm

Hot water bottle off and on and take some aleve.

[juliagoolia]

9. May sound dumb but...

Hardly ever..do I drink anything at all.

I took the four Advil. I tried stretching a bit in the shower. My mom has a vibrator that I could get my hubby to use on my back/neck

What about after all that I drink a couple beers then a nap with head on one of those cervical pillows that support your neck? will I wake with no spasm?

[GOPisEvil]

10. Italian food.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=180x7888

[curse10]

11. stretch, slowly, but stretch

and a couple of aleve won't hurt either :-)

[Lizzie Borden]

12. Horse Liniment works wonders

but you aren't likely to have it around unless you own horses.