chronic neck stiffness/pain

Exactly right Gerry.  Neither are massage therapists, especially from a distance!  Good imaging from a qualified professional is very important.

Thanks for the input gerry, 

I had my x-rays done yesterday, but my GP had stated that he will write me up for a CT scan right after the results from the xray are back as he too suspects little to no insight on the problem from xray. 

An MRI might be a little hard to get him to prescribe, but will definately request one if possible.

Hi Myra, 

I don't believe my posture is that bad when I am standing as I've had many people analyze me, and my head does not stick out much more than an inch when I stand straight up against a wall. But I can't say the same for when I'm seated or infront of a computer as I tend to slouch over and rest my head in my hand (kind of like the thinker pose). I've altered my workspace to be more ergonomical as of last week and now pay more attention to keep my head up and straight and hope that this will help over the long term. 

Also, although I had noted both of the RMTs i've visted in the past stated my traps/neck were not alarmingly tense/tight, I do notice a tight string like muscle/ligament in my traps which is exactly where my pain localizes. If I dig my finger into my traps I can locate it as starting from near the middle of my upper trap and running slightly upwards/diagonal towards the bottom of my neck (approx. C7 vertabrae). It is slightly tender to touch but as soon as I try to work into it a bit, I feel pretty assured this is where my pain is originating from. Do you think if I heat and massage that area (with a tennis ball in a foam roller fashion) every second or so day that it would be benificial ? 

I believe the RMTs did not notice it because its reached vertically from the top of my trap, not horizontaly from back or front like when I am getting a massage...

Does the tennis ball help?

Using a tennis ball to massage your traps, and neck is generally a lot easier and effective when compared to a foam roller because of the size. It does help a bit for me. 

I know I'm sick of waking each morning stiff and achy.. It makes my anxiety much worse... Ugh I'm gonna try the tennis ball..

Sorry about the long wait. I moved and was overloaded with clients the last couple days. Anyway, I am quite sure you are on the levator scapula, not the trap. I access it the exact same way. A lot of people, RMT's included often mistake levator issues with trap issues. It runs from the outer edges of the upper 4 vertebrae to the corner of your scapula. It can cause a lot of havoc to your neck and shoulder as a result. The bump you found in your trap area can be treated as you suggested, but also take your fingertips and GENTLY rub the up 4 TVP's (Google traverse process) starting roughly just below your ear. Also apply a gentle stretch by 'smelling your armpit' on the opposite side you want to stretch. Be careful, this is a sensitive muscle!

Hi myra

Thanks for the responce, i got my xrays done through my GP and he stated there was no findings out of the ordinary...even though my chiro was saying my neck was slightly too straight. So im leaning towards this being a muscular problem. Would you or any other rmt you would know be practising in or around vancouver, bc? Id really love working with someone as knowledgeable as yourself

Yes this also works well for me

yes I find it works well when it is muscle stiffness.

X rays will almost indefinietly show nothing...they are merely a check to ensure nothing is broken or grossly out of order, in which case you would mostlikely be in a great amount of pain.

Like debbie said below an MRI would be the best diagnostic...hopefully i can get mine done soon

Hi Debbie, 

I went in to speak with my GP and he said the Xrays showed nothing...although i never really got to see the xray I had expected it would show nothing. He then went on to say  that he doesn't want to get a CT scan done (due to radiation) and did not want to write me up for an MRI (i live in canada and the GPs are very hesitant to give refferals for MRIs due to strain on public health system), I'm thinking of getting one done privately which would run me about $1,000. 

I do believe getting chiropractic adjustments was a great mistake, the pain in my neck has now subsided back to what it was like before the chiro but my neck and back are often cracking throughout the day which worries me that he's now created some sort of instability. 

Hi Travis,

I have dealt with neck pain for years due to an injury. I had 2 herniated discs. I had PT a few different times as well as epidural injections to shrink the discs. I went through this for 10 years and in that time I went to a chiropractor too. I also think they aren't healthy for us in the long run. It feels good for a little while then the pain comes back. No doubt it works for others.

Anyway, PT may help you once you know what's wrong. An MRI will show everything. Explore every avenue.

My pain got so bad I needed 2 to 3 pain pills each morning just to get out of bed. I'd take those and lay down for an hour to let them kick in before I'd get out of bed.

I ended up having a fusion done with a plate and 6 screws.

I do feel better. Oh and going to PT will help you with stretches. One step at a time. See what your MRI will show.

Sorry this got long winded.

Sorry Tanvir....auto correct.

What I am about to say will sound absurd, and i will probably get blasted for it.

Don't worry about imaging. Imaging is highly overrated. Yes useful in some rare instances, but generally are useless.

I had the chance to take a back and neck pain course by the Director of the Canadian Spine Society a few weeks ago . He was talking about the same thing. He basically said to us (a mix of massage and physio therapists) to stop wasting time finding a diagnosis. Start treating for pain. That is why they are here to see you. If it's a surgical issue it will become obvious. If it's something that requires immediate surgery it will make itself apparent during assessment.

Stressing about a diagnosis may actually be making your pain worse. I again can't say enough to go see a physio or massage therapist or both and FOLLOW THROUGH ON TREATMENT! A good therapist will suggest 2-3 or more visits a week for the first few weeks. Do the home exercises, get to each appointment, use that lumbar role, adjust that car seat. Realise the pain may never go away completely, but it will feel better. It may come back periodically, but it will go away again. Have faith! It will help the pain! Knowing the Scientific name for what ails you will not!

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HI Debbie, 

I am currently seeing a PT and getting some IMS treatment...he's given me some excersizes to do at home aswell which I'm trying to do as often as possible. I'm definietly going to try and get my MD to get me an MRI but I'm not too certain that he will...

Although the pain I am in is no where near the pain level that you went though I am really worried that I might get to that stage, especially how I am so young and already having problems. I've given up weight training in the hopes that some time off will help in recovery. 

Hi Tanvir,

My injury happened at age 25. I am now 42.

You might be able to use the bands instead of weights. Those will help strengthen.

Do you feel PT is helping at all?

I also did message therapy. I continue it as well. This will help relax. I had a home stim unit. I knew my diagnosis all along, just getting me well was tricky. I had spinal stenosis too, which is where the cervical spine is curved the opposite way.

Hi myra

I understand what you are saying and agree to some point...if i was seeing some sort of noticeable improvement from my treatments (whether chiro, pt or massage) i would not feel like getting imagery is necissary. But in my case without imagery how can i and whoevers treating me be assured what they are doing is the rihht path of treatment for what ailes me

This is why i feel that it is necessary to find out or atleast narrow down the root of my pain so that we may treat it correctly

Hi Debbie, 

may I ask how your injury occured ? Did your symtoms slowly progress or were they severe right from the day of injury? Mine have slowly been progressiing overtime...the chiro definietly agrevated it but since its been about a month since i've seen him and its subsided back to how i was feeling prior to getting those 'adjustments'. Just overall tight/sore feeling in soft tissue around lower cervical (mainly left side) and also around left trap. 

I've just had my second PT session, the PT is very knowledgable (clinical prof at a university nearby) and is much better than those i've been to in the past. He's been giving me IMS treatments (a specialized kind of accupuncture for muscle spasms, etc) but I havent seen much improvement as of yet. 

I've found a pretty good RMT and had about 5 sessions where he worked some deep tissues and the structures around my neck. Again they didn't seem to help too much in the long term and he himself thought IMS would be something worth trying as it allows you to treat deeper tissues that have become tight/painful. 

Also, the xrays I had at the chiro showed that I had some loss in cervical curve, not even close to being completely straight yet (he showed it against a poster wihch coresponded to phase 1) and the disc space in lower cerivcal showed minor signs of being smaller than others. 

Hi Tanvir

I worked at a freight company and worked partially on the dock. What should have been a simple fix wasn't.

Anyway, I was walking from one end of the dock to the office. I had full momentum going and there was a small box where the forklifts drive up and down, so I went to scoop it up. When I did that I felt my body separate, stretch, pull and burn. That little box weighed 60 lbs and I weighed 100.

I did EVERYTHING and that is not a joke.

After my husband watching me in pain for years he said enough and I had surgery.

I also have nerve damage.

Keep doing what your doctor says.