Creaky neck

[pastafreak]

I have been under a bit of stress lately,and it always affects me physically...in this case in my neck and shoulders.My muscles are very tight and stiff,and I keep hunching my shoulders up. In the past week or so I have developed a "creaking" sensation and sound in my neck...it is as if the vertabrae are clicking or rubbing together. Not painful....but very unsettling. Any recomendations to help relieve this??

[weeal]

hi pasta, you could try those wheat sacks, the ones you heat in the microwave? Ive heard theyre really good for easing tension away
I do that too when stressed, I haunch up and its normally one side of my neck

[meglet]

A massage maybe?

[pastafreak]

I do have one of those heat packs.....I will try it tonight as I sit hunched over the laptop!!!...and a massage sounds great!...but is there any particular type that would work best!!.....and i always worry that after a massage i will feel wonderful for a bit-and then the tension will come right back!

[SRH]

I've mentioned my neck problems on AB previously and have had NHS physio, acupuncture, anti-inflammatories etc.

The best things though have been spending less time on the computer (hard, I know), warm wheat sacks (thanks to fellow ABers for recommending this one!), massages and going to a chiropractor (far better than the physios, who basically said 'you're stressed - change job!')

The 'cracking' sounds are not dangerous, just a sign of your muscles being tensed up.

Most important thing, though, is to keep it moving - keeping still just makes the pain and stiffness worse. Yoga and Pilates are good for loosening up.

Hope you feel better soon...

[meglet]

I'm probably one of the few people that actually hates massages. I have a bad back and they always manage to lean on the most painful bit! But speak to a reputable beauty therapists that do them and if they have trained masseurs they'll know which one will suit (not that I can ever tell the difference between them anyway...)

[radiogaga]

i find going swimming tends to chill me out when stressed.
it helps with my achey muscles.

[yogasun]

Yoga is brilliant for such problems. I am a bit biased having practised and also taught it for over 30 years or so. Worth finding a local class.

[knobbynonuty]

Not this pasty is it I suffer from this.

http://www.surgerydoor.co.uk/medical_condition s/Indices/A/arthritis_neck.htm

Do you hear and feel like a chrunching if you roll your head around in a circle.

You know what I mean.

[pastafreak]

ooo-that is a bit scarey,knobs.....I don't have pain,thank goodness-just tension. I think I need some sort of violent target practice-so i can get rid of my stress-lol!