how can i relieve muscle spasm pain in my neck?
403838
Applications of heat, mild streaching and relaxing often help.  Try this before going to meds.
291710
proper posture while on the computer, along with ergonomically correct equipment, and stretching every 10 or so minutes. assuming the pain has already occured, try resting (sometimes thats enough to lessen it), massage, or a hot compress.
1052136
Hi Kim, with neck problems the list can go on and on.  If you have neck problems it can be something as simple as a pulled muscle to something more complex like a swollen thyroid gland.  \n\nSeeing a proper doctor can help you fix your medical ailments.  If you feel a slight burning sensation in your arm or finger tips whenever you move your neck, it is probably a pinched nerve.  It's no big deal, it can happen sometimes when a muscle knots up in your neck or upper back and it may be unpleasant but will go away in a day or two.  If you've had it for a couple of months, your doctor may ask you to have surgery to fix it.  \n\nMost commonly your doctor (IF the pain is severe enough) will prescribe to you a light muscle relaxer or suggest you take Aleve or extra strength Tylenol to relieve the pain.\n\nIf you feel like you can only move your neck to one side, you probably have a really wicked cramp that needs to be worked out.  If you cannot go to a massage therapist, I recommend doing the following:  Sit in a tub of warm water as hot as you can stand it for as long as you can stand it (obviously not so hot it can burn you and not too hot if you have heart problems, are taking blood thinners or have a pacemaker) and slowly work your neck starting with your chin turned to your shoulder and then touching your chest and then over to your other shoulder.  Do that a few times and step out and it should help.  NEVER do full circles with your neck as you can do permanent nerve/spinal damage with this.  \n\nAlternating hot packs/cold packs for 15 min at a time can help loosen the muscle group.  Inbetween switching, just make sure to stretch your neck out a bit each time.  \n\nYou can also take a tennis ball and hold it between your upper back and a wall and roll it across your back that way (or have someone else roll it for you) and slowly massage your neck with it.  The tennis ball is hard enough to work out your muscles, but soft enough to not hurt you.\n\nI recommend a good family practitioner if you need to see a doctor.  You can also see a Chiropractor (M.D. with extra musculo-skeletal training) an Osteopathic Doctor (a doctor who uses a full body approach to healing and who also uses the same chiropractic movements), an Ear Nose and Throat specialist, (Otolaryngology Doctor), they can help you determine if it's something more serious than a muscle glitch, however they usually require a referral from your primary care doc.  You can also see a physical therapist who can prescribe certain exercises for you to do.  Massage therapists also work well for that (massage school students often charge less for massages and are always observed by an instructor).\n\nIf it is a simple sprain, you can also learn simple stretching exercises that can help you avoid the injury in the future.  \n\nI also want to add that you may need a new pillow or a new mattress.  If you are not getting proper spinal alignment while you sleep, your neck can start to hurt from the weight of an improperly positioned support system.\n\nIt's also possible you may need new shoes.  When you are not getting proper support for your feet, you can have all sorts of alignment problems in your body and before you know it, you hurt all over.  If you can't afford new shoes, try getting arch support or memory foam inserts for your feet.  You can also see an Orthopedic Doctor (skeletal doctor) or a Podiatrist (foot doctor) for that.  If your injury is related to sports a Sports Medicine Doctor (who usually has training in all of the above) can help you out also.\n\nI hope this helps you and that your road to healing comes as painlessly as possible.  Good luck!
389869
you can't delay it, but you should treat it like you would any other muscle pain - take two aleve.\nalso take some evening primrose oil.
592493
yes. try these:\n1. Toe wriggle - stretch both your feet, and wriggle your toes. This will ensure that your feet don't get that tingling sensation if and when you decide to get up.\n2. Thumb twiddle - Take a little break while typing at breakneck speed. Clasp your hands together and twiddle your thumbs - 5 times clockwise, and 5 times anti-clockwise.\n3. Neck Crane - while you are sitting, crane your neck and rotate it 360 degrees. This will cure all the jugular cramps you might develop.\n4. Eyelid bat - when you are straining to read the small text, and it seems blurry or hazy, bat your eyelids in quick succession at least 100 times. If you have a webcam on, someone might even fancy you.\n5. Pull hair - from any part of your body. this will ensure the hair roots get the blood circulation flowing throughout your sedentary occupation.\n6. Bum wiggle - tighten and loosen your posterior muscles - 20 times in and 20 times out. Do this every 5 minutes. this will give you the gluteus maximus to die for.\n7. Throat cleanser - while you are sitting, you might get thirsty. What better way to exercise your vocal chords too, just shout out loud - honey! get me my beer/coffee/coke/anything!\n8. Eyeball rolls - everytime you spot an answer that sucks (like this one) roll your eyeballs so that they cross each other at least 5 times out of 10. This will help you keep your head in place too.\n9. Nostril flare - flare your nostrils for bigger breathing space. You can also dig in for gold if you don't get the flare you desire.\n10. Pshaw pucker - pshaw loudly whenever your net connection hangs or your machine dies down. Then tightly pucker your lips as if you are oral retentive. This will ease the tension in your jaw area. If this doesn't help try the next exercise\n11. Teeth gnasher - gnash your teeth so hard that people can actually see the veins on your temple.\n12. Head banger - If all else fails, bang your head against the monitor. This will test the endurance of your cranium, and also the sturdiness of your monitor. If your cranium gives way, good! your grey cells might need some fresh air!\n:-P
123733
The best is to train your neck so it becomes stronger, massage is also good, apply warm towels on it and if the cramp is too strong then medicine might be needed such as diclofenak or naproxen , something that relaxes your muscles.This website contains info wich can be useful for you hope it works! http://www.webmd.com/hw/health_guide_atoz/sig54597.asp
1160352
There's a pressure point in Chinese reflexology that helps.  To locate it, start with your inside ankle.  Feel just below it and towards your calf (away from the shin).  There's a little indent in your foot there.  If you feel the indent and then feel up your calf muscle on the inside, you will notice a slight groove along the bottom edge of your calf muscle.  This is the point to massage.  \n\nRub up and down from the side of your ankle until halfway up your calf.  Do it on both legs.  This can not only help relieve cramps, but also minimize their occurence.  I have used this point when I've been doubled over in agony.  Rubbing these areas relieved the pain almost immediately and helped the cramps to pass in a few minutes.
1088560
You might have a pinched nerve in your neck.  Go see a chiropractor.
246070
Hi Laflavafave.  I am a retired Chiropractor.  I would suggest a chiropractic evaluation.  Specifically, ask the doctor to evaluate your neck for an anteriorally fixed rotational cervical subluxation.  Sounds complicated, but it could be the problem.\n\nTriggerpoints in various muscles of the neck, shoulders, upper back and chest, can be involved as you noted about the SCM.  What makes you think the SCM is in play?  Does massaging the tenderpoints (triggerpoints) in it reproduce some or all of your symptoms? Or is it because anatomy books suggest the SCMs are involved in swallowing?  Note: if their is a problem with the SCM, upper cervical/occipital subluxations should be corrected. 2nd note: also check the digastric muscle and internal pterygoid muscle.\n\nAnother thought, have the Chiropractor check you for a hiatal hernia.  That can affect swallowing and cause back and shoulder area pains.\n\nSomething is definitely causing your problem, so keep searching for help until you find the cause.\n\nGood luck!
36396
I have had Fibro since I was 16 and am now almost 36. I have the same diagnosises as you including Myofascial Pain Syndrome and others. Actually, MPS should be a given. In my experience pain medications do not work. I have also tried biofeedback, steroid shots, trigger point injections, nerve blocks, accupuncture, foot braces, wrist braces, carpal tunnel release surguries, and so much more. All just torture and I felt like a guinea pig.\nMy best advise is make sure to get plenty of sleep, take a multiple vitamin, keep active in at least low impact sports, and consider Magnesium and Malic Acid supplements (consult the doctor or a nutritionist to have your Magnesuim level checked- it is a simpe mouth swab and not painful), meditation does help some in keeping the pain back if you can seperate your mind from the pain, and try to take 2-3 warm Epson Salt baths a week (Epson salt contains Magnesium and soaking in a warm tub of it helps to get the mineral into the body. Magnesium aids the muscles in using oxygen and when the level is low which is typical in Fibro it can cause are cramps, spasms, and pain.) \nAlso, Fibromyalgia is a neurotransmitter disorder certain foods can trigger similiar symptoms to Fibro. Try eliminating Monsodium Glutamate from your diet. I did and some of my symptoms (chronic headaches and nausea) went away. It is in everything from Doritos to chicken soup. A few key finding's of an FDA study found MSG to cause a "burning sensation in the back of the neck, forearms and chest". Otherwise, learn your limits and pace yourself.\nGood luck!
364835
take an asprin (preferbably the kind ment for muscle aches)\n\nthen put a hot cloth on it for 20 minutes, put ice for 20 and repeat as often as needed, try sleeping with your back on an electric blanket (maybe... i'm not sure how safe it is)\n\ngood luck
721344
Firstly you should begin to drink as much water as you can every day...at least 8 glasses or 2 litres. I know it sounds a lot but it can be done. What you will find is that you will no longer have the same thirst for tea, coffee, juices and soft drinks. In short anything you used to take in for fluid. Please still drink your favourites but don't be surprised if you just don't feel like them. Good Luck.\n.\nSecondly, providing you have no allergy to this, begin taking a good magnesium supplement. There are many reputable brands out there. This primarily assists with circulation problems ie cramping. Do not expect overnight miracles, although you may notice an improvement quickly. It is as likely that you may have to take them for 2-4 weeks before you begin noticing a lessening of your cramps. Whatever supplement you take read the ingredients carefully and question the shop assistant if you do not understand anything. Good Luck.\n.\nThirdly, invest in a soft cushion with herbs like lavender inside which are designed to be heated in a microwave. I have one of these and I used it nightly for my recurring stiff neck and the ensuing headaches I suffered. It was wonderful. Lovely and warm and soothing and the smell just helped me so much drift off to sleep. There are many kinds on the market. Look for those in chemists, health food shops, variety stores and practitioners of aromatherapy healing products. I suggest you ensure the one that you buy is made of a soft snuggly kind of material. Place it under or over the area of your leg getting the cramps so that you are comfortable to fall sleep with it there. Good Luck.\n.\nThe above three suggestions will work together for a long term eradication of your cramps. I wish you well. Of course the short term solution is the heated pillow/cushion.
1012215
Ouch! Nerve pain like that is just awful. If you haven't experienced it, you can't explain it to someone else. It is so intense! When I was in my forties, I wrenched my lumbar vertebrae helping a service man move a 300-lb. gas cylinder. I even heard it when my back went out. I went to a chiropractor, and he cleared that out in ONE visit. Until you find a way you are willing to try, use ice to reduce the inflammation. When you do that to your back, everything gets swollen up and pushed tightly together. The ice pack makes the muscles contract and open up inside so all the parts can move again. This tightening up is called "splinting," and is a natural mechanism your body uses to protect that painful place in your back. The ice pack should be kept on twenty to twenty-five minutes per hour, possibly four times during the day. You will notice it getting much easier to bear. The ice pack also tells your brain to send more blood to that area, which helps to flush all that congestion away from the sore spot. I strongly urge you to see a chiropractor. In ONE visit, you will be able to immediately find relief to a very considerable extent from what has probably been driving you up the walls. The problem with this kind of pain is that it is relentless and does not stop while you are trying to sleep at night. If you begin to miss your sleep cycle, you will get strung out, crabby and irritable, and that just adds to it. So - if you are not keen on chiropractors, go to your family doctor instead, but do not sit home, in agony and immobilized in a chair. That would be just too stressful. Call a best friend to drive you to and from, if that would help you. Reach out. I am hoping others in this column at Yahoo! Answers will also offer you ways to get better really quickly. Please accept this huge load of love and support from Chris in South Portland, Maine, U.S.A. (I am 63 years old.)
885200
This could actually be referred pain.Pain resulting from an underlying cause elsewhere.\nBest things to do to try to alleviate these pains(after a brief but thorough warm up) are neck rolling front to back and reverse,clasp something up high and gently and slowly support your own weight while stretching your back.Exhale slightly every time you stretch a little more.Straddle stretch while turning one side then the other reaching for your toes with the opposite hand.Sit on the floor with your legs spread,slowly lean forward then to either side.NEVER bounce when you stretch as this activates the myotatic reflex and can tighten the tear the muscle.\nTry taking hot baths and ibuprofen(not Tylenol) as an anti inflammatory.
722989
Unfortunately, it is impossible to be pain free at this point. Keeping your throat as moist as possible will help with the pain. Force yourself to keep drinking water, juice, etc. Also, anything cold will help relieve pain, like popsicles, ice chips, etc. Keep fluids next to your bed so you can drink anytime you wake up. If your doctor says it is okay, take ibuprofen, which will reduce swelling and inflammation, which is probably the primary cause of your pain.
918728
see a doctor and get examined to make sure it is not serious. They'll X-Ray you to make sure. If they don't find anything wrong and you still have pain then you are probably out of alignment. This never goes away, you need to regularly do things to prevent it from flaring up. \n\n-Exercise a minimum of every other day, at least by walking but yoga and pilates is excellent for neck/back pain too. This alone could cure the pain if done regularly.\n\n-See a good chiropractor; if you don't know one ask friends for recomendations. An adjustment once a month will keep the pain at bay. If you don't like the chiro try another-there are many chiropractors there, all have different aproaches. Many chiros practice complimentary holistic or eastern medicine, if yours does not seek one of these specialists out to try accupuncture. Accupuncture is excellent. The only thing that avoided surgery.\n\n-Massages are good for stress reduction, but I never got pain relief from them. Stress reduction is my main source of recurring neck pain 10 years after my initial injuries being hit in a 5 car pile-up, and if I control stress I feel no pain.\n\n-Reduce swelling to control pain & inflammation Swelling lessens blood flow in the swollen or inflammed area(s), blood brings oxygen and carries away toxins from the muscle, which cause the knots and pain in the first place.\n\n -Alleve and Advil are OTC anti-inflammatories that work well even by taking 1/2 the recomended dose. \n\n-Ice works better or as well as Advil, together they work excellent. apply ice pack to the painful area for 15 minutes on and 15 mins. 2-3 times. Ice reduces swelling. \n\n Sleep! That's the only time your body can repair itself.
360395
Try drinking something hot like tea or hot chocolate and TAKE A BATH!  This is my best advice.  Make the water as hot as you can stand and simply soak.  The heat will relax your muscles just like a heating pad would.  Do your best to relax, and get some ibuprofen in your system as soon as you can.\n\nHope this helps!  Good luck!