[OT] My aching neck...

[Henry]

AuroraGyps has a good point - neck position while sleeping can be a major cause of simple neck pain (well, it doesn't FEEL so simple when it's happening), the answer for that is usually making sure you sleep with your neck in a proper position for the next few nights to alleviate it.

Motrin helps, for me good old-fashioned Aspirin helps, but it may not work for you, or you may be unable to take it.

I own a "buckwheat pillow", in a u-shape, designed to fit around your neck and shoulders, which I purchased from my local Wal-mart. Any time I've ever had neck pain from sleeping wrong, this helps clear me up. It also has sloved my complaints about pillows that smush down too quickly, because I'm still too much of a cheapskate to go buy a REAL Down pillow.

 

[Pants]

Walk it off.

 

[ArielManx]

There's also the possibility that you have a vertebra or two out of place, which would make a chiropractor your savior of healing. The crunch of bones being realigned is mighty freakish the first time you hear it, but it really works.

I'm not a doctor either, but I do have a bad back from a couple years of hard physical labor when I was in high school and college, plus a car accident about 15 years ago left my neck just a mess. A chiropractor has always had me good as new in just a visit or two.

Try the over-the-counter anti-inflammatories (Advil/Motrin or Aleve...both are excellent, just don't mix the two!), massages, hot packs, etc, first. If that doesn't work then see a doc or chiropractor.

Ariel

 

[Zappo]

I've heard beheading will end the pain instantly, forever, with 100% efficacy.

 

[Azure Trance]

*Ahem.*
[Schwarzenegger voice]
Only sissy wussy man go see doctor when neck hurt! Real man take pain as sign of weakness and pump iron, get big muscley! LALGH!
[/Schwarzenegger voice]

Is it a toomah?

 

[AuroraGyps]

Oops

: Fold 2 bath towels, long sides together

This should be SHORT sides together, then roll either long to long, or short to short, depending on the diameter you want.

I'm so sorry for the mistake. It was late at night & I must have gotten my left & right... I mean long and short mixed up. Goes to show, if you do give advice online, make sure you're more awake. I really hope I haven't caused any problems.

 

[tarchon]

If you have any fever or similar immune symptoms associated with the neck pain, seeking medical attention soon would be a good idea (Note the "call your doctor" symptoms on http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003025.htm) but odd sleeping positions are a more common cause. I just mention this because, while most unexplained neck pain is from largely innocuous (aside form the pain) muscle strain that one particular thing is extremely nasty.