Neck Pain after Exercise

[DarkHippie]

Starting last week, I have been having pain and stiffness in my neck and upper back. It started after a workout session. My range of motion is not impared but the pain increases when i move my neck to the left, right, up or down. I am hoping that it is just a pulled muscle and not a spine problem. How can I tell (Id rather not go to the doctor)?

[Dr Steve]

Starting last week, I have been having pain and stiffness in my neck and upper back. It started after a workout session. My range of motion is not impared but the pain increases when i move my neck to the left, right, up or down. I am hoping that it is just a pulled muscle and not a spine problem. How can I tell (Id rather not go to the doctor)?

Most injuries like this are indeed simply "pulled muscles" and will resolve with time and avoiding the activity that caused the strain in the first place. If you start having tingling or numbness in the arm, hands or fingers, or "shooting" pains coming from the neck, or any kind of weird limb weakness, you need to see someone right away. In the meantime, you can probably get away with a nice massage and warm alternating with cool compresses, even adding a little ibuprofen as long as there's not a reason NOT to take them (stomach ulcers, allergies, etc., talk to your health care professional).

write back if anything changes.