acute wry neck

[realitybugll]

I woke up this morning, sat up, and had lots of pain in my neck. My neck is forced to the left side away from the painful right side. I tried to lay back down but suffered lots of pain in doing so. Then it took me about half an hour to sit back up. I managed to walk about the house, use the bathroom, heat up some food all with my head crooked, but now I'm back in bed for the last few hours... still cannot move my neck much. I just have a little pain but its exhausting to keep my neck this way. I did lie down again, the only way I managed to do this was to lie on the painful side, on-top of some pillows. But I get stuck where, even with my head tilted far right, I cannot sit back up because of pain.

My brother has been helping me out, and did some research and found a diagnosis

here is two short articles on acute wry neck (acquired torticollis)

http://www.australiandoctor.com.au/patient/030912AccuteWryNeck.pdf
http://www.physioquestions.com/2011/01/10/wry-neck-or-torticollis

So, it looks like I won't be left this way for too long. I just have to bear it out. Wondering if anyone else has experienced this, and suggestions.

I am confused on the physiology. what the "pain" is a result of, and how come, all by itself, given time, my neck should just correct itself?

It's kind of funny because I have two rabbits as pets, and remember about reading this in rabbits. indeed its really common. So this is an interspecies-ailment, and cause for the onset is really unknown. just a genetic defect I guess.

 

[Laura]

Same response we give to everybody with similar problems: DMSO cream and taping are what really worked for me. You might want to see a doctor, though, because you could be moving into a herniated cervical disk which is what I had a few years back. The most awful pain I've ever experienced. But it is possible that the medical taping could give you fairly quick relief.

 

[Gertrudes]

I've had similar problems wetroof. For me, rest was the best solution. However if it persists, I would definitely go see an osteopath or physiotherapist.
Besides the DMSO suggested by Laura, you can also try Arnica cream.

 

[Rhys]

My partner had a herniated disk a couple of years ago and she was bed-bound for weeks. It's something you want to avoid happening at all costs if you can help it!

There's a website called C for Yourself that suggests large doses of Vitamin C (10-20g a day) can help repair a disk herniation, as it is required for collagen formation. There are a few positive reader experiences that testify this.

It's one for the arsenal, fwiw :)

 

[realitybugll]

I got some DMSO overnight shipping. Should arrive tomorrow. Probably I could see a doctor Monday If condition is still present. Will take some vit. C couldn't hurt, thanks.

 

[Laura]

I got some DMSO overnight shipping. Should arrive tomorrow. Probably I could see a doctor Monday If condition is still present. Will take some vit. C couldn't hurt, thanks.

Do, immediately, check out the "medical taping" techniques and if necessary, just use wide bandaging tape with NO stretch applied. Search the forum for the term to find the pictorial manual that shows how to apply it.

 

[realitybugll]

this morning it was definitely better than the previous morning. DMSO came, and I applied it. This seemed to help. It's very interesting stuff. I walked to the store and got some "sports tape" and applied it using the method which they use on children for congenital torticollis. there is some stretch and it feels very good. I'm glad I did this. SO, I'm gonna be alright if the trend continues. Learned a few things. I've been moving around getting some things done but cautiously.

 

[Laura]

this morning it was definitely better than the previous morning. DMSO came, and I applied it. This seemed to help. It's very interesting stuff. I walked to the store and got some "sports tape" and applied it using the method which they use on children for congenital torticollis. there is some stretch and it feels very good. I'm glad I did this. SO, I'm gonna be alright if the trend continues. Learned a few things. I've been moving around getting some things done but cautiously.

You do NOT want any stretch on the sports tape!!!

 

[realitybugll]

Laura, I actually think it was on all right. But I took it off now and am laying down for a couple hours. Before I use some more tape I Will look it up Online. Today was the day I needed to do rendering and canning, and I managed it all with my brother. My back has just been aching the last few hours, but it is already feeling better sitting down. This was because the way I keep my head I think. Though it is mostly straight now. okay, well I am happy to get it done, and I learned some new things.

It's crazy to think I could wake up with such sudden debilitating pain with no apparent cause, and for it to last long time. For you gertrudes, I am guessing it was more slow onset. Australian website tells their is two types distinguished by different joint disfunction. But actually just " torticollis" (twisted neck) there is many different causes. My mom has had neck pain similar to mine when I was younger. Similar thing I understand. Now I know how it feels...

I was laying on my back and with a cold draft yesterday morning. This is the same for many people before the onset, but it's not proven cause.

 

[Phill4]

Well, I woke up this morning with a little pain, not even enough to disturb my day , and as the day went by i was sitting on this chair, and my guess is that it gradually got worse throughout the day now it's 4 am and im just like that
my head crooked . a horrible pain that comes and goes as i make the slight lets move in the wrong direction.

just got on just now...... horrible!!!!


it seems all muscles get tense simultaneously.

i got the DMSO sometime ago for a different problem, ill try that right now.
ill get you with the feedback tomorrow.

i dont want to think is a disk, but my neck is curved ...

 

[Phill4]

is DMSO supposed to burn????????
i can't even lay my head down.
the other side of my neck began to hurt, ==another spasm- omg!!==
im holding my neck with my hand

 

[truth seeker]

is DMSO supposed to burn????????
i can't even lay my head down.
the other side of my neck began to hurt, ==another spasm- omg!!==
im holding my neck with my hand

Hi Felipe4,

I'd suggest that you see a doctor for this issue so that you can find out what exactly the problem is before you attempt to treat it.

 

[Nienna]

is DMSO supposed to burn????????
i can't even lay my head down.
the other side of my neck began to hurt, ==another spasm- omg!!==
im holding my neck with my hand

Hi Felipe4,

I'd suggest that you see a doctor for this issue so that you can find out what exactly the problem is before you attempt to treat it.

Yes, or a chiropractor.

 

[Phill4]

Thanks. My mom and brother massaged my back from bottom to top while holding (or trying to hold) a straight posture.
when the massage was done i put a Icyhot patch on my neck, then my mom made a pillow-shaped thing with a blanket so i could lay down. and so i could sleep.
the pain is no longer intense but im wearing a patch right now though. i don't think i can move it abruptly yet.
its still there and my neck is a little inflamed.
i drank a cup of ginger tea to help circulation, but i honestly think resting , now that i can hold my head straight, is the best i can do...

thanks for the info.



in the meantime, i was looking at images of the neck muscles.


the one that originated the pain seems to be the ones located right where the skull begins.

seems like very slow and controlled motion is helping a lot too.

 

[realitybugll]

I'm pretty sure it will pass. if you'd rather not wait it out, you could try the lying at a slant method. after I did this, the pain was reduced a lot. the problem is finding a 20 degree angled place to lie down. also this remedy might be for spontaneous onset only, and may not work.

it's mentioned in this book (link takes you to the correct page):
http://books.google.com/books?id=qQH7qyg37egC&pg=PA285&lpg=PA285&dq=acute+wry+neck&source=vrt&ots=gGbx9mwUKu&sig=VMXByYnNyxCreZ1GiAmfYUOdaZQ&hl=en&ei=-FezTpLcK8WwiQLp94x3&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=12&ved=0CHYQ6AEwCw#v=onepage&q=acute%20wry%20neck&f=false