Chronic Stiff Neck

Has anyone dealt with this? On a daily basis? Curious to what the root to this could be? It's right dead smack in the middle of my neck.

 

I have it, but on the right side of my neck, from base of skull down right side of neck into shoulder area.

 

I have it like Peata describes, except on the left side. Diagnosed years ago with degenerative disc disease after an MRI. Neurologist was total waste of time. Insisted that it had absolutely nothing to do with stress. Boy was he wrong.

Nothing worked except acupuncture (slight reduction in pain) until I tried meditation. Go figure. Was in chronic pain for years with it until I learned to meditate. Returns with a vengeance in times of high stress.

 

I get it left side of neck. Thought it was MS. Lol.

 

What kind of mediation are you doing? People often think if meditation
is removing pain then the source of pain was stress related, generally
assumed it is psychological stress. My understanding is that meditation works a lot
like nutrient. It increases CO2, lowers stress hormones, increases blood circulation etc.

 

I wasn't referring to just psychological stress. Meditation indeed does all those things you describe and more.

I went from having chronic, severe daily pain to pain free with meditation. I don't discuss my practice in public forums, however.

 

When you meditate, do you breathe in through nose and out through mouth, or keep mouth closed and just breathe through nose? Which is better for CO2?

 

I really need to start meditating consistently.

ILoveSugar, do you notice any patterns to the stiffness, like it being better or worse after sleeping, a hot bath / heating pad, etc.? That might help determine whether it's the muscles/myofascial tissue directly, or something about your spine.

Peata, does it seem like your pain is related to this muscle group? If so, the ebooks he sells on that site might help (they helped me understand and treat my back pain).

 

I'll check it out. Thank you.

 

Just to put my 2 cents in here... Have you considered that this might be a type of sinus headache? The sphenoid sinus is at the base of the brain and refers pain to the back of the neck. I had aches there for years, and they would be relieved by decongestants. (Sudafed)
I have not had the problem while on the Peat inspired diet and supplements... EXCEPT when I take Progest E. That causes what feels like a histamine response, with the face and neck pain and general congested feeling.
Anyway, something to think about... Maybe it'll help.

 

That's a good point, Charlie. I don't take Progest E anymore, since it made me feel so crappy, and seen to be doing fine without it.
But I put this under the stiff neck topic because it took a while for me to realize that a pain in the neck can be a sinus problem. I did not have a sinus headache or pain in the facial sinuses.
I think Peat says serotonin and endotoxins from gut irritation are a major cause of sinus inflammation, so the carrot salad must really be working!

 

Stiff neck is said to be a symptom of insufficient choline. I don't know why this is. Perhaps the parasympathetic system needs it to balance out the sympathetic system. Ray Peat has criticized the excessive reliance on this duality by clinical science.

 

I no longer have this symptom of stiff/tight neck and/or shoulder muscles.

 

Any theories on what fixed it, HDD?

 

I think taking thyroid is the main reason. I have been supplementing over a year and a few months ago realized that it was gone. In my case, I suppose it is the muscles being able to relax.

 

Very cool! Things like that make a big difference.

 

I think I am getting a sore enck/headache and stuffy nose from an allergic reacitn to dsmo. It seems the more dsmo products I use the worse my joint and headaches are.