Question
My neck is sore and when I turn it certain ways it cracks/pops and sometimes I can feel something moving by my sternum. I have to hold my sternum area (put pressure on it) when coughing or sneezing otherwise it hurts. Also when moving my neck, my muscle is sore on my side under my left arm(also sore to the touch) and on my chest, left side(also sore to the touch). My upper chest area (both sides)is also sore to he touch, different spots on different days, sometimes between the rib bones and sometimes on them. This all started after seeing a Naprapath last summer for what I thought was a pinched nerve in the neck. I haven't gone back since then. These symptoms don't seem to be getting better. I have a hard time lifting anything over 30lbs without it hurting in the sternum area. I hope you can help!
Thanks,
Steve

Answer
Dear Steve,

What you've described sounds like the effects of muscles in contraction between your ribs and in your neck.

A pinched nerve in the neck also usually results from such muscular contractions.

Please see my articles on whiplash injuries to understand the situation, better. I suspect you had such an injury at some point.

I would suggest sessions with a clinical somatic educator to free the muscular contractions.  The list of practitioners exists at hannasomatics.com/practitioners; self-help programs also exist (contact me for advice).

This is a new discipline in the field of health care that fills a gap left by conventional and alternative medical approaches.

with regard,
Lawrence Gold