What the hell have I done to my neck?!

[tigwig]

It bloody hurts! I lifted one of the kids I look after up today in a standing position (I bended at the knees properly lol) and as I did it I immediately felt a pain in my neck. I've been aware of it all day but a couple of hours ago it got worse and worse and I'm now getting stabbing pains down the top of my back and the pain is alot worse. It especially hurts to look down. I've taken 400mg of ibuprofen but it's just taken the edge of. What have I done?

[LoftyLottie]

Get a pack of frozen peas, wrap in tea towel and lay on your bed for ten minutes with the pack under your neck/upper back. It will take down the inflammation. You have probably jarred or strained your neck in some way and it sounds like a muscle spasm. After the ice pack try a hot water bottle in a cover for ten minutes to relieve the pain. Then try to get some sleep.

Hopefully it will ease off. You can try the same treatment again for a day or two, but if it gets worse or doesn't start to ease see a doctor.

[jno]

possibly just tweaked a vertebra half a millimetre out of place and put pressure on one of the nerves that run down the spinal cord. These things often right themselves, so take Lottie's advice.

[jno]

PS, it can happen any old way at all - just twisting your neck a bit while you sleep, for instance.

[Sqad]

I agree with the above posts with the addition of Ibuprofen 400mgms when and if necessary up to every four hours....it should take at least 3-4 days to settle,

[tigwig]

Thanks guys. The shooting pains have eased but the whole area is still painful so I am carrying on with ibuprofen and will try and avoid lifting which is very difficult in my job lol.

[RATTER15]

I done that cleaning my teeth once, I had it for 18 months and after 18 months of physio I went to a Yoga teacher (one to one) specialising in injuries, it was completely cured in 6 weeks. Well impressed!!

[hollie1586]

it only takes the smallest of wrong moves doesn't it! I put my back out a couple of weeks ago just getting up out of a chair. The pain was horrendous the day after. And just like you, to look down was excruciating. Do you have a TENS machine?