Pain in neck/upper spine when tilting head backwards

[Ryan_11]

I've had this problem for quite a while now. I'm a 26 year old male. I have a desk job but never suffer from any pain while at the desk or afterwards. The cause may be from weight training that I started 8 months ago, although I never felt any pain in any of the gym sessions or had a sore neck or upper back afterwards.

I only noticed the problem when I was flossing my teeth before bed one night and tilted my head back to get a better angle. When it was almost all the way back (as far as it would go normally) I noticed a pain/hard ache in the back of my neck/upper spine. Around where the crease develops between the head and upper back when tilting the head back. If I had to pinpoint it I'd say it's near the top of the spine but not quite in the neck. About where the last couple of vertebrae are that you can feel if you massage your upper spine.

I kind of forgot about it as the pain was only present in that certain position and as it's an uncommon position it doesn't affect my lifestyle. However I'd say it's been present for at least a few months.

Anyway, the reason for this post is that I went to a physio as I had a little bit of ulnar nerve twinges in my left elbow/tricep after working out. He then worked on my neck 'to relieve pressure'. His techniques were kind of pulling on my head from behind (when I was lying down) and poking in the neck area.

Unfortunately in the week after this I had pain in both arms and some tingling in my right little finger. He'd obviously caused a lot of irritation to the ulnar nerve where it originates in the neck.

I've just had 4 weeks off all exercise and am feeling better, although the pain in my neck is still there and is a bit worse than before thanks to the physio (but again only when tilting my head back).

I went to another physio and he just said that my nervous system was extremely irritable (thanks to what the other guy had done) and it should calm down after a couple of weeks. It's a week later and I'm feeling much better from a nerve point of view, but the pain in my upper spine/neck is concerning.

Does anyone know what this could be? How to get rid of it? Who would be the best person to see for treatment?

My experience is that physical therapists are pretty much useless unless used for rehab/sports injuries etc, it's just trial and error for anything else. Doctors are clueless and just send you for scans, and I don't think a scan would reveal anything as I'm fine doing everything else apart from tilting my head back. I'm also a bit dubious of chiropractors as they are the same as physios and from my recent experiences I don't want to risk having manual therapy to make things worse again. I realise this doesn't leave many options left but any first hand experience or advise would be appreciated.

[keracutz_4]

Same issues except mine is tilting left to right & turning head too far. It's been over 6 months. I've done chiropractic massage steroids & now have an mri on Thursday. Ido what else to do. Pain is in both sides of my neck identically but right side is way worse.  Have heat/tingling/numbing in right arm & pinky. Please please if anyone had anything to add please let me know!

[Chachi7171]

The inflammation would 'drain' down my arm, through my elbow (which seemed to sell and open to allow this, and down through my second finger. I spent years spinning my wheels with doctors before finding something that helped. Everything I am reading from you all is familiar. The trigger points nearly made me suicidal. I almost can't believe the daily pain I was in. Good luck...

[Chachi7171]

It is inflammation. I had the same exact problem. After a while the inflammation caused the muscles to lock, but the primary issue was removing the swelling. I also had a knot under my scapula that seemed to be "locking" all the swelling in. I got a strong anti inflammatory to clear the knot and have been able to push the swelling out with lots of icing and stretching.

[bstovall34]

I hate to sound like a broken record here, but I too have the exact same problem - extreme pain/stiffness in the top of my spine and neck area that is very irritated by looking up. It also keeps me up at night and hurts so much when I try to get up out of bed, that I literally use my hands to hold my head to alleviate the weight stress on my neck. Chirp was useless and x rays came back negative. I start PT in one week, but wonder is there any relief in sight???

[sally123E]

I to have same problem with my neck I had philosophy  after two sessions it was a lot better neck stretches help I was doing ok till two days ago spent 20mins on my rowing machine and the pain is back I allso do a lot of knitting,
I realised I need do do neck stretches first .
Stretch out fully I find swimming front crall is the best for me as breaststroke throw you neck back I am a great swimmer and I am going back swimming next week  suffer ed most of last year with my neck , I am not letting myself get like that again Hope this helps other people to find a
Elaine

[Joshua10]

my hypothesis is that it is all due to muscle weakness and poor posture and the sensitive place people are finding themselves these days. Luckily there are many posture correction techniques and strength training exercises.  A combination of the muscular strength and knowledge about posture will give you the basic tools to avoid becoming slouched over your mobile device while your back neck and shoulder muscles slowly deteriorate with every cup of coffee, exposing your weak and maligned spine to the pain that comes from vertebrae stacked on top of one another with no muscular support, and in many cases an actual pulling downward of the head for extended periods of time, over and over again, neck bent the wrong way as it should remain in an upright position with a slight curve back in the opposite direction.  The discs between each vertebrae that keep things cushy start to get compressed and put pressure on the nerves inside the cord!  Love the cord people please.  Many adjustments, electronic devices, balls, rollers, chair lumbar supports, yes yes yes whatever it takes.  But workout the back like 2 - 3 times a week and become a strong person.  Otherwise, you can stay very weak but you will likely have to live with bony shoulders and very gentle activity.  One night of drinking and sleeping on that neck wrong could throw you into a fizzy and you will be fighting with your friends and neighbors and coworkers.  You will only want to sleep and then when you are away you will likely only want coffee.  You will go to yoga which will work, but seems like you are still very sensitive.  I think the only true way is to develop back muscles and a strong core to give you that killer posture.  Then you need to maintain that and get over the whole tight little girl muscles that you probably have (somewhere in there).  Speaking to myself here, not anyone in the forum in specific.  Hope this helps.