Question
I was awakened in the middle of the night last night due to a very large "pop" at the top of my neck followed by excruciating pain. As far as I can tell, I was just turning my head. I didn't feel any that my move was restricted in any way, until after the muscle (right side of the neck, about an inch up from the base of my skull) popped. I have full mobility, but if I turn my head even a fraction of an inch to the right (or rotate my neck at all, up or down) while facing to the right, I am plagued with excruciating pain. Any idea what might have caused this, and do you think I should seek medical attention?

Answer
Dear Lila,

Your description sounds like a muscle spasm, which would also change the alignment of vertebrae and interfere with movement.  Muscle spasms happen when a sudden injury pulls on an area of the body and the body reflexively protects the area by tightening muscles.

Medical attention will help if it involves specifically retraining your neck movements.  If not, I don't expect medical attention to be helpful, in the long run.  If you want a diagnosis, see a medical doctor -- but understand that the brain controls most muscular activity and that bones go where muscles pull them.

Please see my article on whiplash injuries to understand more about neck muscle spasms and about retraining muscular control and movement:  somatics.com/page4.htm.

with regard,
Lawrence Gold