crick in your neck..

[STFUjiujitsu]

I've been rolling awhile and had many cricks in my neck. Usually I just tough 'em out but this one has lasted about 3 days or so.
What do y'all do for these cricks? Nothing? Use cold to heal it, or heat to heal it. Maybe massage it? What not to do is also a good question. If your response is a professional opinion(ex. a doc or nurse) please say so, that would be great.

 

[J Storm**]

got the same problem, just had it longer. this one crick in my neck has been there for like 2 months on and off. i think i'm gonna hit up a chiropractor to see if he can work it out.

 

[IChinaManI]

yeah is it like in the middle of the back of your neck when you look straight up? I have that too, it never really goes away :S

 

[MonkeyNuts!]

You guys gotta be careful. I had cricks in my neck for a long time, never really gave it time to heal, and then it got to the point where there was chronic pain, and turned out that I had herniated/dessicated discs.

Stretch your neck, take days off when you need to.

 

[anaconda]

I've had one for nearly two years now. Good luck

 

[Streitzguy]

You guys gotta be careful. I had cricks in my neck for a long time, never really gave it time to heal, and then it got to the point where there was chronic pain, and turned out that I had herniated/dessicated discs.

Stretch your neck, take days off when you need to.

How was your recovery? What's the situation with your neck now?

 

[JerseyTrash]

I've had one for nearly two years now. Good luck

Sounds like you may have something going on there.

 

[Chinaboxer]

i had an annoying pain in my neck and shoulders. so i went to get an adjustment and it worked wonders. i also make sure to take "hyaluronic acid" every day. works wonders for keeping joints and tendons well lubricated and also "glucosamine, msm and chondroitin".

 

[MonkeyNuts!]

How was your recovery? What's the situation with your neck now?

Recovery?

Herniated/dessicated discs are a degenerative condition. There is no cure. Just gets worse and worse, your treatment options eventually involve epidural steroid shots, fusion surgery, replacement surgery.

My neck is ok, I guess the damage sort of stabilized once I learned what was going on and made some changes in my training and also getting people who I roll with aware of it. I take time off when I need it, always stretching it 24/7.

But it's gotten to the point where I've developed pains shooting down my arm, so I dunno still not that great. Gonna try to look into chiro or massage therapy or something.

 

[SilenceKit]

Opinion based on a life-long battle with back and neck spasms, and all the knowledge acquired along the way as a result:

Cricks are usually caused by inflamed muscle tissue pressing a nerve. In such a case, ibuprofen and massage are very helpful. A good message therapist can find the little ball of inflamed muscle deep in your neck or back, and break it up. Sometimes it requires a couple of sessions to get it to behave, but the benefits are remarkable. A chiropractor might help if it is chronic.

If the crick is caused by something skeletal (herniated disk, etc) such as the poster above, you are probably remember when it happened, and too much pain to get out of bed for a few days. Unless you had an acute experience like that, you can most likely rule that cause out.

 

[Jiu-Jitsu Cop]

I have hurt my neck and upper back many times also. I get massages and see a chiropractor. I do not know if it is the same problem you are having and I suggest seeing a doctor.

I hear people ask hot or cold treatment. I use cold to take down the swelling or inflamation and I only use heat to warm up muscles before a workout but not as a healing technique. Just my two cents worth.

 

[STFUjiujitsu]

yeah is it like in the middle of the back of your neck when you look straight up? I have that too, it never really goes away :S

Mine's more when I look down, I can look straight up but touching my chin to my chest is difficult. so basically the answer I'm getting is just deal with it unless it's chronic. Massaging helps but there really isn't a way to make it go away, just time?

thanks for the advice.

 

[slideyfoot]

Mine's more when I look down, I can look straight up but touching my chin to my chest is difficult. so basically the answer I'm getting is just deal with it unless it's chronic.

I had that a couple of weeks ago. Took the rest of the week off, stretched, massaged the neck, seems ok now. But going to a medical professional, presuming you have the funds, is always a good idea: cliche, but better safe than sorry.

 

[SilenceKit]

For those thinking of going to doctors, keep this in mind:

Orthopedic specialists are surgeons. Unless it can be fix by cutting, pinning, or casting, they'll only give you pain killers.

Neurologists with a pain specialty can diagnose nerve damage, and can treat inflammation through injections.

If you have a good primary care doctor, use him/her to figure out which specialty makes the most sense for your symptoms.

 

[txfighter13]

I would get that checked out.