Sudden stiff neck and feeling run down?

mamaluzi · September 2014

Hi all,

Sorry I've been a bit of a lurker lately and not posting as much....work has started for the Fall and the kids have me running around like crazy! :-P

So I'm not usually one to ask for medical advice here, but my doctor's office is closed for the weekend and I have an appt on Monday anyways, so I figured I'd ask you ladies in the mean time: I've been feeling a little bit run down lately, as if I've been fighting off a cold (ie, very slight stuffy nose/ears, a tiny bit more tired than usual, and maybe a few more aches/pains in my back than usual, etc.) These symptoms have been so subtle that I've just been attributing them to my new job responsibilities/hours, since I've been moving around a lot more lately, had to get up much earlier, and I always get a little "germy" feeling with new kids every year :-P However, yesterday, in addition to these symptoms, I woke up with a very, VERY slight stiff neck on the left side. It was so slight that I ignored it and basically didn't really take notice of it until after my final class in the afternoon. But then, on my drive home, it suddenly began KILLING me, pain shooting up from my neck into my head and down into my shoulders. This pain was horrible by the time I got home, so much so that my husband sent me for a last minute massage (what a nice guy

). The massage helped a little, but not much, nor did Tylenol....I spent the night with a heat pad on my neck, looking downward, with my shoulders hunched upwards. Not really better after sleeping last night - I'm still in that position with the heat pad as I type this! Of course I scared myself by looking at Dr. Google, but I'm hoping it's just a case of my sleeping funny or something, especially since baby's been kicking away in there. I have an appt on Monday at noon - should I wait 'til then, or go to the walk-in...? Any experience with this? Thanks

sweetbabyrahe · September 2014

I would go to a clinic to get checked out just in case. Severe neck pain can be a sign of meningitis although that is probably pretty rare

KMW08 · September 2014

I'm with PP's on either going to an urgent care (if there's one near you) or calling the on-call staff at your office.

We've been seeing a lot of neck pain (that sometimes radiates) along with feeling blah at my work. It's been about a 33/33/33% chance of viral, strep, or mono. Sometimes that pain is caused by an ear infection/sinus thing as well.

mamaluzi · September 2014

WildFlower810 said:

I have a history of back and neck problems, so I personally would be writing it off as just another day in the life of third trimester. You could very well be seeing the tension of the new school year all pile up in your neck.

I'm not well versed on what other issues or complications present themselves as or with a stiff neck, however.

You're right, it's probably nothing...I'm usually one to shrug off pain - hubby yells at me all the time for it! However, that being said, I've have stiff neck pain before, and usually it's like "if I turn this way, no pain, if I turn that way, pain. Eh." This, though, is like "ok I'm looking straight ahead not moving and the pain is throbbing in my neck. If I turn ANY way, it kills." It's not a great pain scale haha but I can still tell it's very different than other stiff neck stuff that's happened to me, and also it's semi-sudden onset and refusal to respond to massage/pain killers is weird.

I guess I'll go to the clinic...the same place where my OB office is apparently has a walk in, so why not? Maybe they can at least make it stop hurting so bad :-/ Thanks ladies - I'll keep you posted

minibean16 · September 2014

I had a really severe case of bacterial meningitis as a child, so cold/flu + stiff neck would scare me too. Glad you're getting checked out. I hope it's as common as a cold and 'sleeping funny' though!

minibean16 · September 2014

@aluzitano‌ You said you've been very busy, but I hope you have time to pop in for an update. Hope everything went well at the clinic yesterday!

mamaluzi · September 2014

Hi everyone! sorry for the late update, but everything is fine

They gave me some preggo-friendly muscle relaxer for what they said was a spasm. My OB on my Mon. appt. said that it was probably a lymph node from the cold I've been getting, pushing on my muscle and causing the spasm. So far, I'm over the stiff neck and almost over the cold

But MAN did that hurt - never had a stiff neck like that before. Glad I got checked out! Thanks for your concern, ladies, and your help!!!

minibean16 · September 2014

@aluzitano Soooooo glad to see this update - you've been worrying me, girl! I seriously have meningitis nightmares! Glad you're feeling better!

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