Chronic Neck & Shoulder Tension

[Diligence]

I just used the search feature on this board to search for prior threads having to do with chronic neck and shoulder tension.  I easily found one with several good suggestions.  But mostly, I wish I could just get a shot of magic relaxation for my general shoulder area so that they would relax!

I take time to stretch out my neck every morning and often at bedtime too.  I've been doing this consistently for at least two months now.  My neck and shoulder tension remains essentially the same:  better than if I wasn't stretching, but still very tight.  The doctor has examined me to determine if there is anything medically wrong.  Nothing was identified. 

I vigorously clench my teeth throughout every night.  (I have a night guard for that.)  I wonder if the clenching perpetuates the tension.

I have suffered with neck and shoulder tension since adolescence.  During adolescence my tension periodically became so intense that my muscles went into spasm so that I could not turn my head until the spasm worked itself out over the course of days.

How many of us suffer with this same tension?  What do you do about it?

Warm regards,

Diligence

[healing_orlando]

Hello. I suffer with many types of stress related symptoms, especially when going through a though time with my BPD mother. The best remedy for me has been to exercise. It doesn't have to be heavy exercising - I found that a 30 minute walk if I am not in the mood to do heavy exercising with weights, etc, will do wonders for me. Hope this helps.

[HazelJade]

Diligence, I have had the very same thing you describe in your post, the chronic stiffness in my neck and shoulders, clenching my teeth at night and the occasional, very painful "block"; there have been times when I was unable to lift my head from the pillow, in the morning, without using my hands to sustain my neck... .  even when the pain is not so acute, it's really exhausting, i know. I do feel for you, and for us. The only thing that REALLY helped me has been shiatsu.

To me, it worked like some sort of a miracle; not just it healed the blocks, it finally helped me getting in touch with my feelings, my inner balance and myself.


my warmest wishes

[GeekyGirl]

I get that tightness in my neck and jaw, and it's REALLY annoying. What has helped is yoga and massage.

[mosaicbird]

Yes! I suffer from the same exact thing... all of my tension goes straight to the neck/shoulders. I've been told before by a massage therapist that it's unreal that my lower back is tension free while the upper half is a mess.

For mine, I get massages, have been to physical therapy (the electro-muscular therapy is extremely helpful), and take muscle relaxers when it becomes unbearable. I have also found this book - www.amazon.com/Trigger-Point-Therapy-Workbook-Self-Treatment/dp/1572243759 - very helpful over the years.

[livednlearned]

Ditto for me on the back/neck pain and stiffness. I've had massage before, and a lot of massage therapists have suggested shiatsu because I have the tightness in my legs is too intense for massage. Apparently that is common with people who have been abused, and massage Ts suggest shiatsu to help with the mind-body thing.

My shoulders and neck are so tight right now it's making me feel ill, like low level flu almost. I don't really know why now -- it isn't even close to the most stressful time in my life.

[doubleAries]

Over time, the tension in my neck and shoulders has caused myofacial trigger points to develop. I can't function without massage therapy (I go for an hour once a week and feel guilty for doing something that feels good for myself).

I got a neck injury from childhood abuse via my mother (long gruesome story) and it took years to realize what the problem was--my C-1 vertebrae has been severely out of alignment for years and years (pinching my brain stem a bit and causing other problems like low blood pressure, low body temperature, hormone imbalances, dehydration, all kinds of stuff). I've been seeing a specialist for sevral months, but the neck and upper back tension make it difficult to get it back in place and make it stay in place (the C-1 stays in place solely through muscles and ligaments). Often I don't even notice how tense I am (except for the pain it causes).

I haven't found any one single thing that has been the "mircale cure", but have found several helpful things--electrolytes, especially calcium; massage therapy; finding time to be alone and quiet and purposefully relax (usually before bed); alternating hot and cold packs; certain stretches (pushing shoulders downward, head forward chin on chest and pushing on the back of my head); a great little device called a "back knobber"; counseling.