It's 4am. I can't sleep. I'm not stressed, or having wedding nightmares. I have an unbelievably painful kink in my neck, rendering it impossible for me to lay down without the feeling that someone is stabbing me.
Pretty shitty right?
I started to sorta feel the neck pain this Tuesday...and then Thursday it was really bad...and now...excruciating. I want to scream and cry and feel sorry for myself...because I know for my wedding weekend I will not only LOOK ridiculous, but I will be in serious pain.
This happens to me every now and then...and it usually takes 5 - 6 weeks for the kink to work itself out. It renders my neck virtually paralyzed. I can't physically turn it side to side...it looks like my neck is fused. It happened for the entire month of December this year (and part of January) - and I remember for nearly two months when I lived in Costa Rica I couldn't move my neck either.
I haven't found ANYTHING that helps. Not deep tissue massage...not hot showers...nada. Does this happen to any of you?? Any suggestions?
I'm so tired.
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uggggg! this sucks so bad...i deal with back issues that flare up about once every other month. Have you tried icing it? Or chiropractic/accupuncture?
ReplyDeleteOh honey! My heart goes out to you. In terms of the neck, have you tried chiropractic care followed by massage?
ReplyDeleteIn terms of the stress and nightmares. I assure you it's totally normal. Try to remember the stuff of substance. Think about the love words you will recite to your new hubby in front of all your friends and family, and that it is a good, and happy, and lovely thing to do. Remember that, no matter what, everyone is there for you, not the cake, not the chicken, not the liquor, nor the decor. Remember that the more you smile and laugh (even if you don't feel like doing so at the time) that the simple act of smiling will make you feel better. The added bonus of smiling is that guests follow the bride. The more you smile, the more they do, and so the love grows. And remember that you have thousands of readers rooting for you and sending lots of good vibes your way! All the best to you Jes,
Christie
Oh girl--try a heating pad or other heating mechanism. I also swear by a muscle rub http://merryhempsters.com/hemp/lipbalm/T1.html with hemp. I had this happen to me (just one time, not chronically) and it was miserable. Just know that you are going to be a beautiful bride and all your family and friends are coming to support you. Hang on to that fact, and I think it will help.
ReplyDeleteicyhot cream!
ReplyDeleteyup, it happens to me every few months. being as active as possible, even though it seems the last thing i want to do, makes it go away faster. that and once or twice a day i'll lie flat on my back with my legs up on a chair at a 90 degree angle. and drink a ton of water and take vitamin b and ibuprofen. and ice, ice, ice. my neck cricks will last a week unless i do all of this, then they go away after a couple days.
ReplyDeletemy fiance is a massage therapist, and he recommends ice over anything else.. it makes you miserable while you're doing it but done a few times a day it helps decrease the inflammation dramatically.
hope this helps.. take a deep breath! it's going to be ok!
Ug this happens to me every once and awhile, but only for a day or two. Whatever you do DO NOT get a chiropractor involved. Neck manipulation can result in carotid dissection and is a cause of stroke in young people.
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry about the pain in your neck! I hope it eases in time for you wedding. I've been a lurker of your blog for quite some time, reading but never really commenting. And I just want to wish you the best of luck this weekend!!
ReplyDeleteYour blog has really helped me bring to focus my ideals of what a wedding should be for me, and help me compromise with my man of what our wedding should be for us. So thank you for all the insite (and the pretty details too!)
All the best!
oh Jes!!!! I am so sorry you're having to deal with this right now. It sounds like ice will help, I wish you had time for acupuncture or something of the like. Try taking some zyflamend as well, if you dose it up (considering you have to run and get some) it could help with any inflammation. I'll be thinking of you, you have all my hopes that this will be manageable for you for the wedding weekend!
ReplyDeleteI wonder if a chiropractor would do the trick. Sometimes kinks are caused from vertebrae being out of whack. I have only gone a couple of times... because I was in serious pain... and it worked wonders!
ReplyDeleteI had this natural rub stuff that worked great I'll try to find it while I am packing. The rub along with some Arnica and Vicodin saved my "Girls Weekend". Any chance you can get some pills from your doc? Hey and it will also make your wedding lots of fun-ha! I say try Arnica. You can buy it at the health food store and some drugstores. Rub it in your neck and also take the pills. The pills are the ones that help fast. Also, heat, cold, heat, cold-that's what my friend Ben always says and he is an awesome therapist.
ReplyDeleteArnica pills is what I mean :) It usually comes in a pack with cream and pills. It helps with stiffness. And while you are at the health food store buy some Kava :) That really helped my friend Anna with nerves leading up to her wedding.
ReplyDeleteCall a physical therapist stat! Oh god. They have little electrode machines that help with this (as do some chiropractors - ask). My back was near immobile recently and it helps. It's not a miracle cure and you need a lot of follow up, but I always feel better walking out of the therapists office.
ReplyDeleteOther - Tiger Balm, Heating pads, and SOMA muscle relaxant (only at night! It will put you to sleep!)I've often found that my muscles freak out whenever my back locks up, and that's where the majority of the pain is coming from.
Hugs. Best Wishes. You're still getting married.
I'm so sorry about your neck!! I'm sure it's a manifestation of stress and once you are surrounded by friends and family and love it will ease up.
ReplyDeleteMaybe it's in my head, but I do notice a difference in the quality of my sleep when I drink Yogi "bedtime" tea. Just drink it about an hour before bed so you don't wet it :)
No matter what, you will look gorgeous this weekend, and we can't wait to see and hear all about it!!!
Best wishes and Congratulations!!!
Oh i'm so sorry to hear that especially now. I really don't know what would help but alot of the other commenters seemed to have some really good advice. I wish you the best of luck.
ReplyDeleteI'm a physical therapist who specializes in chronic pain. I've posted a little 20-second test on YouTube so you can see whether your pain is actually a result of shoulder blades sitting too low on your trunk. The reason this could be your issue is there are muscles connecting from your shoulder blades directly to your neck and skull. These are often the culprits in neck pain. Give it a try if you like and I hope it helps.
ReplyDeleteBest,
Rick Olderman MSPT