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Is Massage OK To Treat Stiff Neck?
As long as I can remember, my grandfather has always had a stiff neck to the point where he can t turn his head side to side at all. He can extend, flex, and hyperextend his neck somewhat but can t abduct or rotate his head at all. As he gets older he has been complaining of headaches, and pain medication is no longer masking the pain. The only thing I can think of is tightening of his sternocleidomastoid muscle and using massage and stretching to help with the pain. What do you think? Do you think it is something more and what would you recommend for treatment.
posted on
Wed, 12 Jan 2011
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Wed, 12 Jan 2011
Answered on
Mon, 17 Jan 2011
Last reviewed on
hi your Grand father may be suufering from arthritis of the cervical spine joints which need evaluation.
he should avoid sudden jerky movements and ask him not undergo manipulative treatment.
analgesics are not good at this age.
mostly he can be cured of the problem if we understand pathology.
he should avoid sudden jerky movements and ask him not undergo manipulative treatment.
analgesics are not good at this age.
mostly he can be cured of the problem if we understand pathology.
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