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What Causes Headache And Muscle Tightness In The Neck?
I ve had an off and on headache for the past 5 days now and have been taking Ibuprofen, but the headache only subsides. It hasn t gone away completely. I did have a severely tight muscle in my neck on my right shoulder (I believe from carrying a heavy bag on Jan 1 -- that s when it started) and at times when I moved my head I could feel the tension go from that spot up thru the back of my neck into my head. My neck muscles do feel tense still although I ve been icing and using heating pad since it started. I don t usually get headaches -- at least not any that last this long. I am a female in my early 50s and am post-menopausal.
Fri, 14 Dec 2018
Hello,
Because the pain in the neck and the headache have started after lifting a heavy object and they are effected by movement then very likely this is a muscular pain and depending on the amount of the muscle fibers being hurt the pain can last from few days to few weeks.
Using ibuprofen and paracetamol every 6 hours and applying local compresses (some patients feel better with cold compresses and others with warm compresses) and very gentle massage should help with the symptoms. Also some exercises for the neck muscles will help relax them and reduce the pain.
These exercises are better prescribed by a physiotherapist and i would recommend you to consider a visit with the physiotherapist if the above measures do not help enough.
I hope I have answered to your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Kind regards,
Antoneta Zotaj
General & Family Physician
Because the pain in the neck and the headache have started after lifting a heavy object and they are effected by movement then very likely this is a muscular pain and depending on the amount of the muscle fibers being hurt the pain can last from few days to few weeks.
Using ibuprofen and paracetamol every 6 hours and applying local compresses (some patients feel better with cold compresses and others with warm compresses) and very gentle massage should help with the symptoms. Also some exercises for the neck muscles will help relax them and reduce the pain.
These exercises are better prescribed by a physiotherapist and i would recommend you to consider a visit with the physiotherapist if the above measures do not help enough.
I hope I have answered to your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Kind regards,
Antoneta Zotaj
General & Family Physician
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