Help with a neck strain

[Doug Szolek]

For the details of how this happened see my post on the Strength Training Forum

http://circularstrengthmag.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=67

The condition is most evident when I turn my head from the cheek bone to the left. When I do this I feel a twinge (a several inch long line of pain/discomfort) that starts just to the left of the base of my neck in the rear and extends up towards the corner of my jaw. It begins to fade drastically in intensity at about midway up the neck. I'm having trouble pinpointing it but it seems to be either in the trapezius muscle or right along the cervical vertabrae. Though considering the trapezius attaches to the vertabrae maybe I'm right on both counts. At the most extreme turn that I can muster I'd rate the pain at about 6-7.

So on top of my regular joint mobility routine that I did right after the event, I have done a deeper session of neck range of motion exercises which lasted about a 1/2 hour. It consisted of: Head Turns, 4 Corners Decompression, Infinities, Diagonals, Yin Yangs, Clover Leaves, Revolvers, Circles, Hourglasses, Rolls, and Rolling Infinities.

The tension and pain have reduced since this second neck intensive session and I'm thinking of working through it once more before bed and then once more upon rising before tomorrows training sessions.

So with that being about as detailed report as I currently have time to share, I'm looking for further advise to resolve this tension/discomfort as quickly and safely as possible. Any and all tips, tricks and advice will be thankfully evaluated and applied.

riding the spiral,
doug.

[rbibbs]

I think Dr Cobb is on the road Doug, he's coming here in October, can you email him directly?

I can't tell you much you don't already know, you've got a whiplash, like I did when I landed face-first bodysurfing with my entire body weight ("it ain't much, but it was enough") behind me. And in 1968, nobody at Sandy Beach had heard of Zdrovye, so I stiffened my neck and toughed it out, which in turn made it into a semi-permanent distortion of my structure and function which took DECADES to undo. Fortunately, you're more enlightened, you'll be fine.

My "expert medical opinion", if it hurts to drop 90# on your jaw, don't DO that. :wink:

Rick

[Doug Szolek]

Thanks for the laughs and the insight Rick,

I'll remember that tip about not doing what hurts the next time I'm on the bench.

-doug.

[Doug Szolek]

Oh yeah, nearly forgot to post my progress to this point.

I've been doing the above Neck intensive mobility routine twice a day in addition to my Daily Range of Motion and the twinge is nearly gone.
:)
At this rate it should be gone completly by the end of the weekend.

-doug

[bob_stra]

So with that being about as detailed report as I currently have time to share, I'm looking for further advise to resolve this tension/discomfort as quickly and safely as possible. Any and all tips, tricks and advice will be thankfully evaluated and applied.

doug.

Tips - avoid falling weights? ;-)

Advice - without being there in person to give you a physical exam, I can only give you the standard RICER advice. However, one tip I find personally helpful is the use of contrast baths. Go to your local swimming pool. 5 minutes in the spa, 5 minutes in the cold pool. Alternate. but make sure as much of your body is immersed as possible.

Tricks - well, not really a trick. Consider it an exploration

http://www.nas.com/~richf/low1.htm

and / or this one, seeing that the feet are about as far from the neck as possible (less chance for the body to sieze up / resist)

http://www.nas.com/~richf/low45.htm

[Scott Sonnon]

Great resources, Bob. Thanks for sharing!