Hi, thanks for writing to HCM.
Based on the description, I suspect that you might have suffered a cervical strain (involving injury to the ligaments/muscles).
An Xray of the
cervical spine and an MRI scan may be necessary to rule out the extent of the
soft tissue damage.
The general recommendations for the condition are as follows -
- Take Rest and do not do any activities that cause pain till the acute pain subsides. Use a soft
cervical collar for a few days.
- Apply ice or a cold pack to the painful area for 15 to 20 minutes, 4 times a day for several days. Wrap the ice or cold pack in a towel. Do not apply the ice directly to your skin.
- Take
ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) or
acetaminophen (Tylenol) to help relieve pain
- Use heat only when you are returning to physical activity. Then use it before stretching. Gentle heating can help loosen the muscle
- When the acute pain is gone, start gentle stretching exercises. Stay within pain limits. Hold each stretch for about 10 seconds and repeat 6 times.
-
Physical therapy may speed up the recovery process. Therapeutic modalities such as
Ultrasound, Massaging and specific exercises will be helpful.
Hope this information is helpful. Good day