Question
My son woke up yesterday morning complaining about his neck. He said he felt it pop and we kept him home from school...I expected he slept on it wrong and would be fine in a few hours. Well now the left side of his neck is swollen on the neck muscle under his left ear and his neck is crooked.



He is 7 yrs old by the way. Any advice?

Answer
He has torticollis.  This simply means that his neck muscles are in spasm and this cocks his head slightly forward and away from the pain as a result.  It's the body's defensive reaction to an irritating glitch in the neck joints.  I've treated this several times and so long as your son is healthy, and he had a normal neck prior, he may find immediate relief with manual therapies.  This would include joint manipulation and muscle techniques.    There should be no reason to take xrays.   So, find a good chiropractor.  

'Regards,

Dr. G