Constant stiff neck tight muscles in upper back?

[TokyoJoeblow]

I’m very sorry to suggest this but you seem to be over analyzing your health issues.. I’m not saying this to offend you and I apologize if this sounds rude, but do you have anxiety or some other mental health problem? Maybe it’s better to address that first and focus on it.

Back on topic: I have highly benefited from a combination of chiropractic, hot baths, stretching and strengthening exercises.

I’m a bit afraid to give people health advice because I’m not a practitioner, so I’d like to note that you need to get your spine checked by an orthopedist before you visit a chiropractor.

I don't take offense no worries. Yes, I do suffer from mental health issues. I do know without a doubt that stress and thinking too much is the main cause of my health issues/symptoms.

I have been relaxing, stretching and doing more exercises (along with various back exercises) which has helped. My neck, shoulders and upper back feel a lot better than they were when I first created this thread.

 

[Ken1988]

Well, all good advice and most of it already part of my routine. It seems nobody else is really experiencing the strange nerve sensations on one side of their body like I am.

Let's just hope I don't turn into the next Stephen Hawking in the future...

It might be Myofascial Pain Syndrome. In Japanese, 筋筋膜性疼痛症候群. Trigger Point Injection (TPI) is an effective treatment for MPS, but MPS is not so well known among Japanese MDs.

 

[TokyoJoeblow]

Ok, so something strange did happen. I usually notice the nerve sensations on the left side only and it has been this way for years.

Then yesterday and today I start doing various back exercises and the muscle tension and nerve sensations ease up a lot (not totally) on the left side, but not I'm experiencing the nerve sensations on the right side of my body now?

So could this be a clear sign my nerves are being effected by my muscles?

I remember my neurologist saying that if you have nerve pains/sensations on one side of the body it is most likely OK, but if I experience them on both sides then that could be from cancer.

I have had an MRI on my brain and CT on my skin/entire upper body and all clear...but still a little creepy though. Definitely still going to keep doing back exercises daily and get a second opinion from another neurologist next week.

 

[TokyoJoeblow]

It might be Myofascial Pain Syndrome. In Japanese, 筋筋膜性疼痛症候群. Trigger Point Injection (TPI) is an effective treatment for MPS, but MPS is not so well known among Japanese MDs.

I'm researching about this now. Is this a rare condition? Because you mentioned that it isn't well known here. Maybe not a common condition for Japanese people?

I'm hoping it isn't anything serious like ALS, MS, cancer, etc.

The nerves in my right wrist area are actually hurting a little off and on as I type this message, which hasn't happened before. It seems the nerve sensations have partially shifted from the left to the right side of my body...almost as if the back exercises triggered the change.

 

[Ken1988]

I'm researching about this now. Is this a rare condition? Because you mentioned that it isn't well known here. Maybe not a common condition for Japanese people?

I'm hoping it isn't anything serious like ALS, MS, cancer, etc.

The nerves in my right wrist area are actually hurting a little off and on as I type this message, which hasn't happened before. It seems the nerve sensations have partially shifted from the left to the right side of my body...almost as if the back exercises triggered the change.

MPS assumes that small knots in muscle (trigger points) cause pains. TPI is a way to deactivate those trigger points. This way of understanding pains is similar to what acupuncturists do, which is one of the reasons why Japanese doctors are reluctant to diagnose MPS (“what? tsubo? go and see an acupuncturist, not a doctor’s job!”) TPI as a treatment doesn’t cost hence not profitable, which is said another reason why they are reluctant to practice it. That said, a few doctors are practicing TPI in Japan and you can find them on the net.

 

[scorpioni6ths]

So could this be a clear sign my nerves are being effected by my muscles?

happens if you have a nerve impingement (pinched nerve/compressed nerve) ... you will know if it is impinged (the nerve gets caught between major muscle groups) ... **she's not a subtle bitch** ... there will be a very sharp pain in a particular range of motion.

i pinched a nerve in my left shoulder 2 years ago doing an OHP on an effing machine

i had numbness on my left thumb, left elbow. i couldn't sleep on my back.

over the years it had fixed itself, nsaid during the first few weeks/massages/proper warmup/dumping the machine helped. the only time it feels weird is when i do overhead press (back to barbells), i feel the nerve (sharp pain) when the barbell is at eye level and over a ceratin weight only.

no im not a doctor ~

 

[TokyoJoeblow]

MPS assumes that small knots in muscle (trigger points) cause pains. TPI is a way to deactivate those trigger points. This way of understanding pains is similar to what acupuncturists do, which is one of the reasons why Japanese doctors are reluctant to diagnose MPS (“what? tsubo? go and see an acupuncturist, not a doctor’s job!”) TPI as a treatment doesn’t cost hence not profitable, which is said another reason why they are reluctant to practice it. That said, a few doctors are practicing TPI in Japan and you can find them on the net.

Oh well that is just lovely isn't it?

So if it turns out that MPS is my issue, the doctor is going to possibly act rude toward me and tell me that nothing is wrong with me (like my previous neurologist did) and tell me to just go to see an acupuncturist.

The problem with this is I don't believe in acupuncture and I have no interest in trying it out again. I have tried acupuncture when I was working and living in China and it did absolutely nothing for me.

 

[warubuta]

I don't take offense no worries. Yes, I do suffer from mental health issues. I do know without a doubt that stress and thinking too much is the main cause of my health issues/symptoms.

I have been relaxing, stretching and doing more exercises (along with various back exercises) which has helped. My neck, shoulders and upper back feel a lot better than they were when I first created this thread.

If you admit to yourself that you have mental health issues, you are probably more mentally healthy than most people. Please stop the faggotty-assed stretching and yoga horseshit. Its undignified for a man to do that shit. Drink beer. Grow fat, Make money. Have children. Read the classic books.
.

 

[TokyoJoeblow]

If you admit to yourself that you have mental health issues, you are probably more mentally healthy than most people. Please stop the faggotty-assed stretching and yoga horseshit. Its undignified for a man to do that shit. Drink beer. Grow fat, Make money. Have children. Read the classic books.
.

Oh I have never done yoga before and have zero plans of getting into yoga lol.

I only do simple stretches and not the lame ones you see on those exercise shows on TV. I definitely drink beer when the muscle pain gets to be too annoying. I often read classic books as well...actual books not e-books like all the younger folks read these days.

 

[Ken1988]

So if it turns out that MPS is my issue, the doctor is going to possibly act rude toward me and tell me that nothing is wrong with me (like my previous neurologist did) and tell me to just go to see an acupuncturist.

It's more likely that they will offer nerve block therapy which is popular in (and profitable for) pain clinics in Japan. Many anesthesiologists who run those pain clinics don't believe MPS as a mechanism to cause pains and don't believe TPI as an effective treatment.

 

[MikeH]

That said, a few doctors are practicing TPI in Japan and you can find them on the net.

As far as I know not many doctors do it in Europe either. Just make sure to check that the pain is not caused by slipped disc first. As the injections will definitely seem to work as they contain local anaesthetics but won't obviously cure the cause then.

 

[Simonka]

MPS assumes that small knots in muscle (trigger points) cause pains. TPI is a way to deactivate those trigger points. This way of understanding pains is similar to what acupuncturists do, which is one of the reasons why Japanese doctors are reluctant to diagnose MPS (“what? tsubo? go and see an acupuncturist, not a doctor’s job!”) TPI as a treatment doesn’t cost hence not profitable, which is said another reason why they are reluctant to practice it. That said, a few doctors are practicing TPI in Japan and you can find them on the net.

I hope your trigger points are not torturing you anymore

 

[LeonGRAY]

If you admit to yourself that you have mental health issues, you are probably more mentally healthy than most people.

But what if you're a sociopath?

Does that count too?

 

[Ken1988]

I hope your trigger points are not torturing you anymore

Oh, thank you. I'm fine now , but my body is still pretty much misaligned and I need to get my body better aligned sooner.

 

[Sudsy]

Constant stiff neck

You know, it just dawned on me what the problem might be.

Have you been taking Viagra? If so, you might want to swallow it faster so the stiffness starts lower....

 

[MikeH]

You know, it just dawned on me what the problem might be.

Have you been taking Viagra? If so, you might want to swallow it faster so the stiffness starts lower....

And the rhino horns are supposed to be taken in powder form.

 

[BB0523]

Do you clench your teeth when you sleep ? or grind your teeth when you sleep ? wake up with sore jaw ? If yes, then this is stress induced... even you say you are not stressed. If you clench your teeth together now, feel the muscles in your neck react even down to your shoulder ? Just another opinion from a non-medical person. If it is a disc problem, then no exercise will sort this out... maybe electro stimulation could help, but in my case, I needed surgery (done in Japan) and no symptoms at all since surgery (knock on wood).... nerve pain is quite noticeable. you are the best person that knows your body... so try different sitting positions or lay off the laptop for a day and see what happens... process of elimination is your friend here.....

 

[TokyoJoeblow]

Well, I recently started sleeping on a bed instead of a sofa. I also started using my laptop from a desk and chair instead of from a short coffee table while sitting on the floor.

I noticed that these two changes improved my neck stiffness completely and I still feel muscle tightness in my shoulders and upper back but it is way less intense.

The CT scan on my spine showed no disk issues, so ny problem is most likely from my muscles and nerves.

 

[RoboReptar]

Combo of stress, bad posture, shitty bed and not working out will do that. I’ve had similar symptoms throughout my young adulthood so far. New bed solves the lower and upper back issues but the neck and shoulder knots are still there and get worked out by a massage therapist ever month or so. Fixing my posture has helped the random nerve pain.

 

[Simonka]

Speaking of neurologists, I would like to know their opinion on the widespread squealing and convulsions in the Japanese fuzoku and porn industry

 

[Rusty Trombone]

Sounds like RSI to me. (And I qualify as an expert as I studied history at university 30 years OK)
Time to stop being a peeping tom.

 

[TokyoJoeblow]

Ok, well the pain and pressure on the back of my neck is completely gone, so that must have been related to sleeping on the couch or from using my laptop while sitting on the floor.

The strange thing is not I the pain and pressure has shifted to the left side of my neck?

I'm making sure my posture is good as much as possible, my bed and pillow are high quality and I'm spending a lot less time sitting in front my laptop...so no idea why I'm experiencing this.

I visited a chiropractor that lives nearby my apartment. He is sort if a friend of mine actually and he told me that he noticed I have a weak curve in the back of my spine and my head is slightly forward but that it isn't too bad.

He also mentioned that I most likely turn my head and stretch my neck to the right a lot more often that to the left, which is causing an imbalance. That makes sense as one of my eyes is better than the other which causes me to sometimes look one way more than the other, so I will make sure not to do this anymore.

I noticed that there is a distinct vein that pops out on the left side of my neck and I can pinpoint where the most pain is coming from...which is on the vein. It isn't a varicose vein or anything but it is like a vein that is always above the surface of my skin...something you often see on the sides of old peoples' temples.

I asked the chiropractor if he thinks it could be anything serious and he asked if I experience left side numbness. I told him I don't but I experience nerve sensations and irritation and he said it is probably alright and to just do neck stretches every morning, afternoon and before sleep.

Have anyone else on here ever experience a neck pain on one side where a vein is located?

I hope it isn't a blockage of some sort...

 

[oLUXo]

Ok, well the pain and pressure on the back of my neck is completely gone, so that must have been related to sleeping on the couch or from using my laptop while sitting on the floor.

The strange thing is not I the pain and pressure has shifted to the left side of my neck?

I'm making sure my posture is good as much as possible, my bed and pillow are high quality and I'm spending a lot less time sitting in front my laptop...so no idea why I'm experiencing this.

I visited a chiropractor that lives nearby my apartment. He is sort if a friend of mine actually and he told me that he noticed I have a weak curve in the back of my spine and my head is slightly forward but that it isn't too bad.

He also mentioned that I most likely turn my head and stretch my neck to the right a lot more often that to the left, which is causing an imbalance. That makes sense as one of my eyes is better than the other which causes me to sometimes look one way more than the other, so I will make sure not to do this anymore.

I noticed that there is a distinct vein that pops out on the left side of my neck and I can pinpoint where the most pain is coming from...which is on the vein. It isn't a varicose vein or anything but it is like a vein that is always above the surface of my skin...something you often see on the sides of old peoples' temples.

I asked the chiropractor if he thinks it could be anything serious and he asked if I experience left side numbness. I told him I don't but I experience nerve sensations and irritation and he said it is probably alright and to just do neck stretches every morning, afternoon and before sleep.

Have anyone else on here ever experience a neck pain on one side where a vein is located?

I hope it isn't a blockage of some sort...

Well, I've had a stiff neck here and there. Mainly when I sleep wrong, but nothing that bothers me daily. If I sleep without a pillow, I rarely get a stiff neck.

I have gone to an acupuncturist when the stiffness is really bad and it works almost instantly for me. I will also like to tell you that not all acupuncturists are good. I've went through about 10 or so before I found a good acupuncturist. If you're not seeing immediate results when the session is finished, then the acupuncturist isnt doing a good job. I had a bulging disc in my L3-L4 that caused me years of misery. Physical therapy, steroid injection, and meds that doctors gave me didn't work. I found the right acupuncturist and my L3-L4 doesn't even bother me anymore.

I'm not saying acupuncture will help you, but if you do use one, maybe they are not doing it right. My pain didn't go away after 1 session either, but I felt relief immediately which is why I went back. After about a year doing this twice a month, I no longer had to go again. I do occasionally set up an appointment (3 or 4 times a year) just for the health benefits.

On a side note, if the person is not checking your pulse, then they are not doing it correctly. He could tell by my pulse by my wrist if I was sleeping in a cold room or not taking hot baths. This is key for acupuncture to work. If blood is not circulating well in your body, your body doesn't function well. He always checked my pulse before and after acupuncture and sometimes during. He was the first person that ever did that and I felt instant relief when it was over. Just my experience from what I've been able to overcome.