Thread: Neck Muscle Injury

It is great to come across this site. I have been battling a similar problem, I think mainly to Irene and Jon the trumpet player. I am a singer and about 2 years ago, had an acute muscle strain in the neck I think from one episode when I was singing with neck tension out of my comfortable range for about 45 mins. I had an acute pain on the left side of my neck lateral and antero-lateral (near adams apple) that lasted for about 2 weeks and then dulled to an ache that lasted about 3 months, mainly worse with any singing or heavy physical activity. I also developed upper shoulder pain on the same side around the trapezus I think where the shoulder curves up into the neck, i think from large numbers of push ups at training a few months after this episode of initial neck pain had resolved. Anyway, the problem is that I can now barely lift anything with my left arm as it causes pain, things like situps etc cause my neck to hurt also. The pain is a sort of burning down the lateral side of the neck on the left and also the anterior lateral side on the left right next to the adams apple. Am at the stage now where I am thinking I have to quit singing as it keeps flaring up. Have had ENT scopes done-cords clear, had a L) shoulder ultrasound-clear, c-spine MRI no nerve compression, only slight narrowing between c4-5 but not enough to cause problems. I also had that clicking sensation on swallowing about 2 years ago but this has not recurred. the problem seems to arise with any increase in intrathoracic pressure-thus lifting heavy items, sneezing, coughing hard, singing much of the time. Have tried so many different ways of singing to try and reduce/avoid the problem but it just keeps coming back and it happens when I don't sing too. Also when it flares up it lasts for a few days at a time, occasionally I take sustained release voltaren but try to avoid NSAIDs etc for long term use. Really depressing as I think that the two things I love music and sport might have to be deleted from my life Any thoughts from anyone??? My thoughts are: a tear in the omohyoid or one of the other supporting muscles in the neck region that move the larynx but also relate to lifting the shoulder perhaps (e.g levator scapulae, except that this is a very deep muscle I think and not sure that it does anything with moving the larynx)... Has anyone recovered from this kind of thing or does it tend to be permanent? Have tried alternative therapies and physio-no change in condition. Things like heat and cold do not seem to affect it. Last doctor I saw ended up suggesting it was perhaps psychological as the tests didn't show anything definitive. I know it is not psychological 'cause it HURTS and very particular activites trigger the pain! And apart from everything else, why would I want a problem that stops me doing the things I absolutely love? I also am pretty sure it is not reflux has it does not fit the picture of that condition and I did try anti-reflux tabs for a while as one doctor suggested them and they did not make any difference to the problem.
Thanks for all the great posts above too, some very thoughtful and helpful commments there.

Silva, have you tried chiropractic?

Hi Curt,
I have not tried it recently, I did many years ago for back problems without much real relief. Am a bit nervous about having my neck manipulated... it is a thought though. I will look into it. Thank you for suggesting that.

I would suggest seeing a physical therapist that specializes in spine. Usually you have to seek out a spine clinic to find one, but they look at your muscles and joints. Sometimes a skilled set of hands can feel things that doctors and MRIs cant pick up, such as deep cervical/neck muscle weakness/injury. It sounds like a deep cervical muscle, or possibly your scalenes that connect to your vertebrae and your ribs in the front. Any muscular injury to the neck has the potential to create muscle imbalances which create inflammation and pain. Usually if these persist you end up with compensating muscle issues in your upper back and shoulder area, and sometimes even pinched nerves that run down you arm. It sounds like you may have tried standard therapy before, but you really need a specialist. Good luck!

Hi, you have a great experience. Thanks for sharing. It will be beneficial for me and my friends.

I experienced neck problem. I mean, neck pain. I am really not at ease because of this pain.wew!

Thanks for the post, going through this right now, injured my neck probably from lifting weights even though I don't lift heavy weights.. I have the same symptoms as mentioned by everyone.. Pain in a certain
spot on the neck and pain in the jaw area but I don't have any discomfort with swollowing.. Went to all the specialist had the x-rays and CT scans and of course they come out normal and they said it was muscular. Was given a steroid pill which may have stop the pain
in the jaw but not in the neck..from someone that has gone through a groin injury I don't think much will work except rest..I think if you could wear a neck brace to stabillize your neck this would help I think the constact moving and turning of the neck will slow the healing, I wish I could wear one all day and all night but my job won't allow useless I go out on sick leave,(as I am writing this i thinking about just wearing one away from work). Ice and heat seem to work for me a little, sleeping on my back is the only position that I can sleep if I fall asleep on my side it will be severe pain when I wake up ( maybe from the position of the neck against that muscle)then I have to put some ice on it.

***Update ***** Update
Playing around with my neck i found a tender spot at the back of the neck opposite from the area that was hurting on the front. When pressed deep on that area and moved my neck i would not feel the pain.. I started To do a deep massage in that área on the back of the neck and immediately pain started To go away, that area will start To get real tender at that point i laid down and placês a hot water bottle on the back of the neck and the NeXT day followed it up with a chair massage at a spa concentrating on the back of the neck and shoulder. The pain in the jaw and neck was gone in three days doing this,,at first i thought this was a pulled muscle liked others have posted, but i am now leaning towards some type of stress related muscle strain, because of the fact it went away só fast just by doing massages and wet heat To the back of the neck. its still very strange because massages the front of the neck where the pain was did nothing To relieve the pain it actually made it hurt worst for me. Hopefully this will work for you like it did for me.