Ouch! My Neck!!!

JRstriker12 · 05-05-2008, 06:33 AM

It figures that I follow up my very first USTA league match and league win with a strain to the left side of my neck/Trapezius

Racket arm/shoulder/neck - okay
Non- racket shoulder/neck - feels stiff and painfull, like having slept on it wrong.

Felt totally fine, feeling good after the win, until I sat down in the car after my match.

Has this ever happened to anyone else?

mnguyen8 · 05-15-2008, 01:17 PM

I am having this problem right now. It's been like 6 months now and I can't figure out what it is. Maybe pinched nerves by something non-tennis related but it always gets aggravated after playing. I think it might be serving. I am planning on bringing it up with my physician at my next check-up. It has gotten so bad that I feel it when sleeping and am contemplating playing less than my current 3-4 times a week. Let me know if and when you find out the problem and solution.

JRstriker12 · 05-15-2008, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mnguyen8

I am having this problem right now. It's been like 6 months now and I can't figure out what it is. Maybe pinched nerves by something non-tennis related but it always gets aggravated after playing. I think it might be serving. I am planning on bringing it up with my physician at my next check-up. It has gotten so bad that I feel it when sleeping and am contemplating playing less than my current 3-4 times a week. Let me know if and when you find out the problem and solution.

I didn't really find a solution. the pain has faded for the most part. Iced it and stayed away from tennis for a week an it feels better. Played the other day - felt a slight twinge, but I'm alright, no further pain.

I read somewhere that you should treat it like a muscle strain and avoid stretching it and avoid massage in that area. I thought it was a tight muscle so I made both mistakes of stretching and rubbing the areas down.

strike · 06-02-2008, 08:56 AM

I've had these a lot over the years...if we're talking about the same thing, it is similar to when you pinched a nerve in your neck, "slept on it wrong", etc. Very tight and painful to move in most any direction...so you find yourself moving your whole body to look in other directions.

I have found the cause of this to be weakness in the shoulder muscles.

Rowing exercises at the gym have greatly reduced these for me. The ones that work out the whole shoulder/neck area (back view in the pics on the machines) specifically. As I have strengthened mine over the years, I have them rarely.

If you ever go to a sports chiropractor...they can do some active release which helps greatly I found. But weakness is the cause, so strengthen that area first.

Trainer · 06-02-2008, 09:30 AM

If you can't get relief from stretching, a good Chiropractor can help. What's interesting to me is the location of the problem is not always where the pain is. I had a similar problem a week ago, and my chiropractor released several vertebrae in the middle of my back and between my shoulder blades, and this alleviated pain in my neck...

MrAWD · 06-02-2008, 10:13 AM

Just don't ever let your chiropractor to adjust your neck!! Your neck and your life are way too valuable to gamble with them like that!!

To the OP, I also believe that what you have comes from the weakness of your muscles. The problem here is that tennis is one sided sport (for most parts) and it builds your body in a disproportional way. This is the cause of a lot of injuries in tennis (and other one handed sports). The main goal for you is to visit the gym on regular bases and make sure to always start your workouts with your weaker side. Also, try to use barbels (or just single handled weights) whenever possible so you would know how much of imbalance there is. That way your weaker side will have slightly better workout and after a while you will be able to bring your body in balance, which is the ultimate goal in avoiding the injuries in tennis!

Fedja

strike · 06-02-2008, 10:24 AM

to clarify...I didn't mean get a chiropractor to manipulate/adjust your spine or joints...but there seems to be a new breed of them that do just as much, or more work with muscles

specifically, this is the technique I was referring to:
http://www.activerelease.com/

I know there are a lot of skeptics and it's a big debate, but I found it helpful.

A good massage and icing afterwards helps too.

MrAWD · 06-02-2008, 10:29 AM

Well, since I was on the thick said of the stick several years ago with the chiropractor adjustment of my neck that lead to the internal bleeding inside my head and week of ICU followed, 2+ months off the work and with 7 months total to get back to close enough to normal shape of things! So nothing against you strike!

Just be careful with any neck adjustment! That is all!

Fedja

strike · 06-02-2008, 10:35 AM

ouch...sorry to hear that.

I went to one chiropractor before, helped with pain in my arm and the aforementioned neck issue, and after he wanted to do that neck crack. Since he had helped so far, I let him do it.

It definitely feels weird, makes your neck feel looser some, but generally made me uneasy...like it was something that shouldn't be cracking. So I don't have it done...and, based on your experience, would never again.

Glad to hear your back on the court!

scotus · 06-02-2008, 11:45 AM

There are different types of chiropractors.

One type only does cranks: a neck crack, hip crack, and tells you to go home. This type also does the neck crack in a very dangerous way--should I call it a swinging neck crack?

Another type works the muscles and soft tissues a lot. And when he cracks necks and backs, it is always done in a very gentle manner. I feel very safe with this method and I let him adjust pretty much anything. And yes, he does the ART as well.

05-05-2008, 06:33 AM	#1
JRstriker12 Hall Of Fame Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 3,258	Ouch! My Neck!!! It figures that I follow up my very first USTA league match and league win with a strain to the left side of my neck/Trapezius Racket arm/shoulder/neck - okay Non- racket shoulder/neck - feels stiff and painfull, like having slept on it wrong. Felt totally fine, feeling good after the win, until I sat down in the car after my match. Has this ever happened to anyone else? __________________ Ludacris: My chick bad! Tell me if you seen her. She always brings the racket like Venus and Serena! Last edited by JRstriker12 : 05-05-2008 at 06:53 AM.

06-02-2008, 08:56 AM	#4
strike Rookie Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: NC Posts: 208	I've had these a lot over the years...if we're talking about the same thing, it is similar to when you pinched a nerve in your neck, "slept on it wrong", etc. Very tight and painful to move in most any direction...so you find yourself moving your whole body to look in other directions. I have found the cause of this to be weakness in the shoulder muscles. Rowing exercises at the gym have greatly reduced these for me. The ones that work out the whole shoulder/neck area (back view in the pics on the machines) specifically. As I have strengthened mine over the years, I have them rarely. If you ever go to a sports chiropractor...they can do some active release which helps greatly I found. But weakness is the cause, so strengthen that area first. __________________ Babolat AeroStorm 2008, Dunlop Max 200G Pro Alpha Pioneer DC Plus

06-02-2008, 09:30 AM	#5
Trainer Semi-Pro Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 405	If you can't get relief from stretching, a good Chiropractor can help. What's interesting to me is the location of the problem is not always where the pain is. I had a similar problem a week ago, and my chiropractor released several vertebrae in the middle of my back and between my shoulder blades, and this alleviated pain in my neck... __________________ I'm glad our ancestors capitalized on the mutation that resulted in an opposable thumb.

06-02-2008, 10:13 AM	#6
MrAWD Semi-Pro Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Reading, MA Posts: 679	Just don't ever let your chiropractor to adjust your neck!! Your neck and your life are way too valuable to gamble with them like that!! To the OP, I also believe that what you have comes from the weakness of your muscles. The problem here is that tennis is one sided sport (for most parts) and it builds your body in a disproportional way. This is the cause of a lot of injuries in tennis (and other one handed sports). The main goal for you is to visit the gym on regular bases and make sure to always start your workouts with your weaker side. Also, try to use barbels (or just single handled weights) whenever possible so you would know how much of imbalance there is. That way your weaker side will have slightly better workout and after a while you will be able to bring your body in balance, which is the ultimate goal in avoiding the injuries in tennis! Fedja __________________ BLX 90 (2g total at 3&9, 2g at 12) 48/55 lb main/crosss, 3 Redondo Mid (10g total at 3&9, 2g at 12) 47/55; main: RAB Monoflex, cross: Gosen Sheep 17 Last edited by MrAWD : 06-02-2008 at 10:21 AM.

06-02-2008, 10:24 AM	#7
strike Rookie Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: NC Posts: 208	to clarify...I didn't mean get a chiropractor to manipulate/adjust your spine or joints...but there seems to be a new breed of them that do just as much, or more work with muscles specifically, this is the technique I was referring to: http://www.activerelease.com/ I know there are a lot of skeptics and it's a big debate, but I found it helpful. A good massage and icing afterwards helps too. __________________ Babolat AeroStorm 2008, Dunlop Max 200G Pro Alpha Pioneer DC Plus