Question
QUESTION: Hello, first thing I want to do is thank you for your service here and let you know how much I will appreciate any help.  Ok on to the question, upon changing my sheets and pillowcases about 3 weeks ago I accidentally slept on 2 of my thinnest pillows instead of one of them and this thick one I always have on top.  I woke up the next morning with a terrible "crick" in my neck and for about 5 days I could not figure out what might have happened.  I noticed my pillow blunder on that 5th day and since then have been sleeping as I always did previously, however it has been a total of 3 weeks now and I still wake up with quite a bit of stiffness and pain.  I have tried exercising the neck, rolling it, stretching it, etc. and still have this pain every morning and throughout the day if i turn my neck the wrong way I have a sharp pain.  Not to mention it almost always feels stiff.  Occasionally when rolling it I hear and almost "feel" a slight grinding/popping/crackling sound.  I thought surely when I noticed my pillow blunder that I would be better soon but it still persists and I'm beginning to get quite worried.  Thank you for any ideas you have that may help me get rid of this!

ANSWER: Dear Chris,

Stiffness and pain in the neck can be caused by any number of things. It is very probable that the "pillow blunder" was simply a trigger mechanism that brought some underlying problem with the neck to the surface.  

Stiffness and pain in the morning is often associated with a phase 2 or phase 3 degenerative change in the spine. Take a look at this site.  http://www.echiropractic.net/subluxation_degeneration.htm  In other words, it is possible that you are experiencing some degenerative arthritic changes in the neck that causes the neck to be more stiff and sore in the mornings.  If you were in my office, I would check for some of these things:

1) Past neck trauma.  Even the most simple of past traumas, when left untreated, can cause mechanical issues in the joints that manifest themselves years later as pain and stiffness.
2) Pain, numbness, or tingling in the arms or hands.  This could indicate a possible disc or arthritic condition that is causing some nerve tissue damages.
3) Age.... all of us get arthritis. If you are over 40, your chances of having some degenerative arthritis in the neck are greatly increased.
4) Restricted neck range of motion. A loss of motion can be a sign of muscular spasm or joint degeneration.
5) Sleeping position habits. Sleeping on your back with a thick pillow causes increased pressure on the neck joints. Sleeping on your stomach is also a "no no".  The best position is on your side with enough pillow to keep the head in a neutral position, not bending too far to either side.  If you are a back sleeper, an orthopedic pillow might be in order.

Finally, Chris, you must understand that it is IMPOSSIBLE for me to actually give you much advise that is of any value because I haven't examined you!  Find for yourself a good chiropractor and have him/her do a good examination on your neck so that you can get to the bottom of what is going on with your neck. This exam should include neck range of motion, palpation of the neck and muscles surrounding the neck, orthopedic tests, muscle tests, reflexes, and sensory tests. It should also include a good medical history and chiropractic/orthopedic history.  Following all of this, your good chiropractic physician will then give you his/her best guess... or diagnosis... of what is going on, and then establish a plan for taking care of the problem.

I hope that you begin to feel better. Good luck with your neck pain!

Keith Biggs, DC
http://www.eastmesachiropractor.com

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Not really a follow up "question" but I thought I would add in some facts which I now notice should have been included in the first place.  I'm 28 years old, never had any neck trauma or problems before, but I do sit in front of a computer all day every day.  I get up periodically and walk around, stretching and moving my body around.  Thanks very much, your answer was clear and thorough.

Answer
Dear Chris,

Thanks for the additional information. I hope that the neck is beginning to feel a little bit better, but if it is not, it is time to be seen professionally.  I wouldn't go to a medical doctor right away because he/she typically will simply prescribe a pain medication or muscle relaxant, neither of which will address structural or functional problems. Start with a good chiropractor and see how it goes from there. You are young, and I assume nice and healthy, so you will likely respond well to care.

Good Luck Chris. I hope you feel much better soon.

Keith Biggs, DC
http://www.eastmesachiropractor.com