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What Causes Neck Pain At The Back?

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Posted on Wed, 19 Aug 2015
Question: My wife is having neck pain at the back for the last few days as she was unable to move her neck around so FLEXON MR medicine for 3 days [9 tablets] she took for three days along with FAST RELIEF ointment as she is feeling much better now and is able to move neck around but still she is felling heaviness from the back neck joints towards right shoulder.
She is also having little bit pain while sleeping on that side. Could you please help me with the following and advice the next line of treatment if required with no further medicines:
1)What is the reason for the same like heaviness around that area and back pain at the neck?
2)Is FLEXON MR is the right treatment for 3 days as medicine contains IBRUFAIN which is not good for long run?
3)How long does it take further to have this normal?
4)Can she apply FAST RELIEF or some other ointment to get fast relief?
5)Is hot therapy or cold therapy is good for such muscle strains?
6)What is the correct method to apply ointments?
7)What all precautions and preventive measures one must take to avoid this in future?
Waiting for reply,
Regards
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Praveen Tayal (33 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Muscle strain or cervical spondylosis likely.

Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for posting your query.
1. The heaviness and stiffness at the back o neck is due to a muscle spasm in the area due to injury, stress or cervical spondylosis.
2. Flexon MR is a combination of pain killer with a muscle relaxant. It is not good if taken for long term- like more than 6-8 months without a prescription. For the pain that your wife has, she needs at least 7 days therapy with complete rest to the neck muscles for proper healing.
3. The time of healing depends on proper rest and treatment. If proper rest is not given then the pain may persist for weeks.
4. Yes she can apply fast relief ointment but she also needs to do a hot fomentation in the neck and do regular neck strengthening exercises under the guidance of a physiotherapist.
5. Hot therapy.
6. Apply with a light massage after a hot fomentation. Do not apply excessive pressure on the area.
7. Cervical isometric exercises are beneficial to maintain the strength of the neck muscles. Neck and upper back stretching exercises, as well as light aerobic activities, also are recommended under the guidance of a physical therapist. She can avoid using a pillow. Correct the body posture while working on computer and avoid working on mobiles or computers for long hours.
I hope this answers your query.
In case you have additional questions or doubts, you can forward them to me, and I shall be glad to help you out.
Wishing you good health.
Regards.
Dr. Praveen Tayal.
For future query, you can directly approach me through my profile URL http://bit.ly/Dr-Praveen-Tayal

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Dr. Praveen Tayal (7 minutes later)
Thanks for the mail.Could you please advice further line of treatment, she is uncomfortable while not using pillow. Please advice with some links for the neck exercises.Its not clear about the heaviness around neck & right shoulder area though there is not much pain around.
Kindly advice.
Regards.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Praveen Tayal (5 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Needs proper diagnosis first.

Detailed Answer:
Hello.
Thanks for writing again.
She needs a proper examination by an orthopedician and an X-ray of cervical spine for confirmation of diagnosis. In case it is a muscle sprain then pain killer and muscle relaxant needs to be continued. In case it is cervical spondylosis she will have to consult a physiotherapist for necessary exercises. Reading the exercises online will not help. Graded exercises are needed according to the strength of neck muscles.
She can use a very thin pillow suitable for cervical use after consulting her orthopedician.
Hope my answer is helpful.
Do accept my answer in case there are no further queries.
Regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Dr. Praveen Tayal (1 hour later)
Is travelling neck pillow[U Shape] suitable to use?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Praveen Tayal (3 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Traveling pillow will not help her much.

Detailed Answer:
The traveling neck pillow is a poor substitute for it. The pillow should be of optimum height so as not to strain the neck. It should be soft and compressible. It is best to get a pillow for cervical pains from a surgical equipment store.
Regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Dr. Praveen Tayal (17 hours later)
Hot fermentation helping quite a bit and it looks like more of a strain rather than cervical pain as such there is no injury, correct me in case wrong understanding on it.

Regards.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Praveen Tayal (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
You are right.

Detailed Answer:
A hot compress will help in loosening the muscle spasm. If the pain decreases then cervical spondylosis is less likely. Do ask her to do neck strengthening exercises once the pain subsides.
Regards.
Note: For further queries, consult a joint and bone specialist, an Orthopaedic surgeon. Book a Call now.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Shanthi.E
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Dr. Praveen Tayal

Orthopaedic Surgeon

Practicing since :1994

Answered : 12314 Questions

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What Causes Neck Pain At The Back?

Brief Answer: Muscle strain or cervical spondylosis likely. Detailed Answer: Hello, Thanks for posting your query. 1. The heaviness and stiffness at the back o neck is due to a muscle spasm in the area due to injury, stress or cervical spondylosis. 2. Flexon MR is a combination of pain killer with a muscle relaxant. It is not good if taken for long term- like more than 6-8 months without a prescription. For the pain that your wife has, she needs at least 7 days therapy with complete rest to the neck muscles for proper healing. 3. The time of healing depends on proper rest and treatment. If proper rest is not given then the pain may persist for weeks. 4. Yes she can apply fast relief ointment but she also needs to do a hot fomentation in the neck and do regular neck strengthening exercises under the guidance of a physiotherapist. 5. Hot therapy. 6. Apply with a light massage after a hot fomentation. Do not apply excessive pressure on the area. 7. Cervical isometric exercises are beneficial to maintain the strength of the neck muscles. Neck and upper back stretching exercises, as well as light aerobic activities, also are recommended under the guidance of a physical therapist. She can avoid using a pillow. Correct the body posture while working on computer and avoid working on mobiles or computers for long hours. I hope this answers your query. In case you have additional questions or doubts, you can forward them to me, and I shall be glad to help you out. Wishing you good health. Regards. Dr. Praveen Tayal. For future query, you can directly approach me through my profile URL http://bit.ly/Dr-Praveen-Tayal