Curiosity...Neck injuries

In light of the soma article, how many of us have had neck injuries?

I had one the summer before my freshman year of college (trampolines+alcohol= ). I spent the weekend in the hospital as they thought I'd cracked my neck. Luckily I didn't so I avoided the halo. But, I was in a neck brace for months and months (blew a Field Hockey scholarship because of it).

The older I get the more problems I have, especially with backing my car up. Got to learn to use those mirrors!

I have a couple of bulging discs. Whenever I try to get it worked on, either chiroparatic, PT or aqua therapy it feels worse instead of better.

Any one else have neck issues?

Charlotte

Charlotte, I have a friend who had car accident about 20-25 years ago, who has constant headaches and neck pain. She recently called and told me about a pain management class supervised by a PT, internist, and a psychologist. She was a very happy camper, her pain and headache have lessen considerably. Previously, she told me that she prayed each night that she might experience just one day without the headache and the neck pain.

The psychologist told her to go off pain meds; she was not on any, since she did not like the grogginess the meds caused.

The PT believes that you have to look at the whole body (posture) and has been working on her entire body to correct muscle in-balances. She said that has really worked for her. Previous PTs only treated the neck area.

The MD sent her to a spine specialist, after the PT found a bulging disc on her lower back. So far, the only treatment she has had is the PT.

Everybody is different, but that is what has worked for her. For my headaches, I've had a neuromuscular therapist work on my muscle in-balances and that has also provided some relief. I now have good days, prior to that, constant headaches with nausea and some dizziness. On the good days, the headache is barely there.

Sounds promising! It would be so nice not to take med's. From every standpoint, expense, side effects. How wonderful not to have to deal with that. I'll definitely talk it over with my neuro.

Charlotte

I've had 4 whiplashes and a couple of really bad muscle tears. I have to do daily stretches to keep my neck loose or it HURTS! Especially when I am doing a lot of computer work. My first rib also likes to pop out of place and that causes unbearable neck and shoulder pain. A PT figured that one out and showed me how to get it back into place. Three doctors could not figure out why that hurts so much! I love PT's even if they do torture you on occasion.

Keep your neck limber and it cuts down on pain especially if you've had injuries.

Alli

Alli said: "My first rib also likes to pop out of place and that causes unbearable neck and shoulder pain. A PT figured that one out and showed me how to get it back into place."

I have a rib, under my left shoulder blade that also pops out. And the pain radiates to the sternum, where it makes you feel that you are having heart attack. I going to have find out how to pop in back in place, by myself. Some times, I am able to get back in place, but I do not have a sure fire technique. When I can not, I have to go to a chiro to work it back it place.

Thanks Alli, for the info.

In July 1989 I fell asleep at the wheel, and rolled my light truck. I got a whiplash, and one of the worst headaches ever. I have since been diagnosed with Cervical Spondylosis.

But, I have had headaches, that were probably migraines, since childhood, long before the whiplash injury.

I did notice a slight change in migraines for me when I had gotten into my accident. I hurt my neck, I have a disk problem but it is minor. I had migraines before that and I do think neck injuries and any injuries to the head can change or cause migraines but in my case, I think most of my head pain is hormonal/runs in the family. Anything that causes pain in that general area causes muscles to tense and can set off a m. IMHO. Who knows though, it's a good topic.

yes

on the eve of the milennium we got a very big car into the back of my tiny old fashioned car with no real safety features on the motorway at 70mph. Ended up with a lot of whiplash especially round the neck and two years of chiropractic so I could keep walking straight. I was dizzy and felt sick a lot immediately and getting headaches from then on.

However I had a history of mild migraine before it happened.
Di

This is a very good topic, since I also have very chronic neck and shoulder pain - it is always there and can have very bad flare ups. Plus some say the neck pain causes the migraines and some say the neck pain is caused by the migraines. What to believe?

I've been in several car accidents too which I think exacerbated things, but I don't think caused the neck problems, but who knows!

I've been diagnosed with fibromyalgia, since I do have the widespread tender points, but the majority of my pain seems to be in the neck/shoulder area. (Actually, it is really bad today as I write this!) Plus, fibro is such a wastebasket diagnosis that no one really knows what to do with.

Last year I had a cervical MRI which showed mild herniation at C4-5 and moderate to severe hern at 5-6 with spinal stenosis (narrowing). The pain management specialist I went to told me it had no impact on the migraines. I know better. My migraine doc (Neurologist) said the neck problems can absolutely trigger migraines and head pain and explained how the nerves are all intertwined.

It is frustrating because I've been to a chiropractor - no real help. I do myfascial release which does help a little. Not huge but a small piece of helping to loosen things up. All the other things I've tried have not been helpful. It's frustrating isn't it? Not to mention that many Drs don't know that they are talking about and there is very conflicting information out there.

It's all so convoluted. I've had migraines since puberty, although they were not very frequent until about 4 years ago and then, boom, very frequent and mixed-transformed migraines and nearly daily head pain. Like so many of you, there is a hormonal component, but that doesn't explain everything.

Plus, I can have raging neck pain one day and it won't trigger a migraine and on another day I'll feel the neck/shoulder pain come on and that is my prodrome for a bad migraine to come. Huh? Sometimes I want to cry because I'm always trying to figure out something that can't be figured out!

One final note, I have taken a gentle Kripalu Yoga class and am starting it again soon, and I do find it helpful in terms of my body feeling better and sleeping better. No super help for migraines though. But the better sleep can't hurt.

Thanks for letting me share my experience. I love to read everyone else's because it really helps. I think hearing each other's experiences can shed light on our own migraine journies, not mention how much better it feels to not be the only one grappling with this.

Peace,
Jane