My Neck Hurts..

[Dr. X]

im not going to lie.. i didnt do this much consecutive studying while in school and i also had other things to do throughout the day.

however, now being in the same spot and looking down throughout the whole day is becoming problematic for my neck and back.. is anyone else getting pissed off at this.. i mean, last thing i want is to be distracted by this instead of studying. i turn left and right every now and then to stretch and started hearing cracks, more on left turn... (its loud to a point another person looked at me weird..lol) how did ya guys cope with this problem.. its too cold out now (snowy n slippery), but i'll start running once weather clears up a bit.

i think its a serious issue, cause i still got few months to go.

[GFLIP]

dude... i always have neck and back problems so I sympathize with you...

what works for me:
first thing is first: you have to sit up straight with your feet flat on the ground. You can use a small pillow on your lower back to help you sit up straight.
I have lower back pain all the time so I went and bought an electric heating pad ($14)... works great when I'm in real agony.

For my neck / shoulder pain (mostly on my left)... I avoid sleeping on my left side (left decubitus postion) b/c I don't want to aggrevate my neck. Sometime I get these electric shocks in my left neck/shoulder probably due to a pinched nerve or something. What works for me is sleeping on my back.

Gosh... I feel like an old man. ;)

[GFLIP]

oh yeah... lower back exercises help to strengthen up the muscles.

[mammypriya]

book stands & good lighting.i use 2 bookstands.1 lamp over each, leanback ,and enjoy !!!
oh yeah...on old indian remedy..sleep on the floor flat with no pillows..for the back /neck probs

[GFLIP]

...enjoy !!!
hmmm... I don't know about that one ;)

...old indian remedy..sleep on the floor flat...
gotta love those remedies... but yeah i heard this works too :D

[nevisbutterfly]

Yes it happened to me too and right before exams. I got an Rx for Flexeril a muscle relaxant. I took it before going to bed to relax my neck and back. You will sleep well and it helps the next day. DON'T TAKE IT AND TRY TO STUDY OR YOU WILL WAKE UP WITH YOUR HEAD ON YOUR BOOK.
It is very cheap. Try taking an NSAID with it for inflammation. Hot pads are good too.

[AUCMD2006]

don't sit the whole time. grab your lecture notes and walk around every hour for 5-10 minutes...yes in the library you will look like a dork walking with a book but every one already thinks med students are dorks

[nevisbutterfly]

http://www.valuemd.com/mua-nevis-medical-school-classifieds/130409-study-more-comfortably-laptop-desk-reduces-strain-photos.html

This link looks like a good study device. I wish I would have had one.

[MDiva]

Those are some fancy looking book stands, nice! Look $$$. I just stack a couple thick books on my desk and put the one I'm reading on top to ease the looking downward.

[JAHBUILL]

100 bux email me ill mail plus shipping brand new in box,,place pads on neck and relax good for chronic pain I WOULD not be taking meds while in school let alone test taking no way

[GFLIP]

got more info about the pads?

[DR.FATIN]

THAT'S my complain too + occipital headache:( + backpain !

[mapleLeaf]

Drugs, bookstands, neck exercises, taking breaks every 20 minutes, neck braces, shoulder braces I've tried them all. They all help help a little but will not really do the job effectively. With muscle relaxants and NSAIDS you don't want to take them for a prolonged period of time if you don't have to, the possible long term side effects are no joke. The other stuff is usually distracting or ineffective over the long term. When you are in a prolonged sitting position some people's muscles tend to get tight and stiff causing local and referred pain. Tight muscles are weak muscles and have a tough time fighting gravity. Other muscles compensate and you get muscle imbalances where some muscles are stretched and some are some compressed.This can be mild to severe and can lead to inflammation and nerve compression over time. This is especially true for people who have ever been in a car accident or had some other trauma any time in their past.

The only things I found completely effective, especially when your neck is hurting is a combination of the following:

1) Studying in bed with a semi sitting position with a bunch of pillows supporting your head/neck/shoulders or in a recliner in a reclined position (also called the astronaut or anti-gravity postion). Basically find a position that is supportive and comfortable. Noone says you have to study in a chair at a desk and this may in fact be harmful. This change can seriously increase the amount of time you can study without being bothered by your neck.
2)For inflammation flax oil or fish oil (pills or capsules) will help a lot without having to take drugs. Some doctors are even trying this with patients for inflammatory conditions before or concurrent with NSAIDS and there is a lot of research supporting this.
3)One of the most effective things if you can afford it or have health insurance that covers it is MASSAGES :) ! You're traps and SCM are probably especially tight. Or in some people it is their shoulders that are tight that refer pain to the neck. If you go to a massage therapist or an athletic therapist (Active Release techniques are really good for this sort of thing) they're expert at identifying problem areas and getting rid of all the tightness and trigger points. Having someone you know (friends, family, girlfriend/boyfriend) give you a massage can also help but it probably won't be as effective as a professional. If you have to go this route do neck, upper back, shoulder, and upper arm stretches along with this. Trained professionals really are worth it and if you try them out you'll see why. But they're not all of equal calibre either so ask around and go to one with a good reputation.
4)Lastly, cardio does help to get more circulation back in the area and possibly reduce inflammation but don't do this when you're neck is in pain or you may injure it further. Also many people have found that running aggravates their neck condition so I would suggest walking, swimming, biking or low impact cardio machines instead which are more likely be tolerated.

So in summary my advice is flax seed oil for inflammation, studying in a reclined/semi lying down position to let your neck be supported and rested, massages to reduce tightness and trigger points, and non neck-straining cardio after a safe period of time to get more flow in the area.
Hope this helps, let the forum know how things go. I'm sure MANY people have this problem.

[MDiva]

Ok, I tried the studying on the bed thing, and all I did was get sleepy. But I am a fan of the fish oils. Haven't tried flax seed yet, but will check into it. Thanks for the post, mapleLeaf :)

[mapleLeaf]

Ok, I tried the studying on the bed thing, and all I did was get sleepy. But I am a fan of the fish oils. Haven't tried flax seed yet, but will check into it. Thanks for the post, mapleLeaf :)

Lol. Ya, it takes a while to get used to. I perfected it with practice. I think it helps to use a bed that you don't sleep in if that's possible (eg. guest bed room, some other family member's room) and drink gree tea or something while you study. But, to be honest my mom still shouts at me for doing it and people sneakily check on me 'cause they always think I'll fall asleep (which I think ironically tends to keep me awake too). But, now I do full day study sessions like this and am wide awake no problem. Also, my neck never hurts at the end of the day like it used to when I sat at a desk for long periods of time. But, maybe it works for me because I do it out of necessity and have a high incentive to make it work . . . or maybe because I'm just that dedicated to being lazy :) . Anyways, I can see how it might not work for everyone. But, good luck and keep experimenting, it's the only way you'll find what right for you.

[*Mags*]

Great advice... thanks for sharing and all the best. :)

[Dr. X]

thnx to all of ur suggestions n inputs. i try to stay off of meds (nsaids or flexeril) as much as possible so i hope it doesnt come to that. tried sleeping on the floor, but its impossible without a pillow though. Now that im going to be doctor, my family is not letting me sleep on the floor either. lol. Bookstands and beds are out of question for me, cause i dont study at home except for questions on the computer. great advice mapleleaf, though im someone loves to sleep, so i know i will doze off after a few pages. i hope the fish oil brings results. for the moment, working out and massages are helping. initially I put off working out (during this study period) cause i thought I could study for that time period, but now i realize its a must. again, thnx every1.