Today’s Post comes from a Yahoo Answers– Q: I am 22 weeks pregnant with severe neck pain- Last Saturday night I slept very uncomfortably trying to get all my pillows just right. Ever since then I have had incredible neck pain. It hurts every time I move my neck around. It is even worse at night while I try and sleep my neck stiffens up and when I go to turn my neck kills and it makes me want to cry. I am not sure if this is pregnancy related or if I just have torn a ligament in my neck and need to wait it out. Anyone have this problem?
A: When you are pregnant your body is completely different with added hormones, weight and an overall feeling that you are not able to get comfortable, especially at night. Plus you have to be extra careful with what medications you take. It appears that you have strained your neck muscles. So here are a few suggestions for you on how to get some neck pain relief while pregnant:
1) Don’t sleep with so many pillows- you want to have one good cervical support neck pillow. One that will make sure that your head and neck are properly aligned while sleeping. Sleeping with too many pillow can create forward head posture which puts a ton of pressure on the neck muscles and nerves- which means neck pain, stiff neck and overall decrease in neck range of motion. Check out the Tri Core Support Neck Pillow or the Linear Gravity Cervical Support Neck Pillow
2) Because you are pregnant you want to make sure you are as comfortable as possible- take two pillows and place them under your knees- this will take pressure off the lower back when you are sleeping on your back. Incidentally, sleeping on your back during pregnancy is not recommended– especially during the later months. Avoiding it all together is a good idea because the extra weight of the uterus lies on the spine, muscles, intestines, blood vessels etc. This can be the cause of aches and pains, reducing the circulation of blood to you and your baby. Furthermore, it can cause a decrease in blood pressure ( for some it can cause an increase as well) causing dizziness. If you are a side sleeper, then you can put pillows under in between your knees. ** According to Sleep Expert, Donna Arand from BabyCenter.Com sleeping on your left side is recommended during pregnancy. It benefits the baby’s blood flow allowing nutrients to get to the placenta. It also aids in helping your kidneys eliminate waste products efficiently and fluids from your body, reducing swelling in your ankles, feet and hands. To assist in sleeping on your left side, place pillows behind your back and and between your legs for ultimate comfort.
3) Ice your neck during the day- this will help to decrease inflammation, swelling and pain in the neck and best of all, it will provide an analgesic effect. Use a 6×20 ice pack for maximum pain relief in the neck and upper back.
4) In the morning, do neck stretching exercises– The most important thing is not to do these to the point of pain, only to the point of feeling a stretch in your neck. You will notice that as you do these everyday, your range of motion will increase and the muscles in your neck will loosen up. You can also do them in the hot shower- this can be very relaxing and it will give you tremendous pain relief.
4) Visit your chiropractor for neck pain– they have many effective techniques such as cervical adjustments, gentle mobilization and neck exercises that they can do to ease your neck pain. All without the use of medications or side effects. Use google to find a chiropractic office close to you or ask around for a referral – You can also search for a chiropractor on the internet
Additional Resources:
- 6 Ways to Improve your neck posture
- Fast and Easy Neck Stretches for Pain Relief
- How to Use the Traction Side of the Cervical Linear Traction Neck Pillow for Maximum Pain Relief and Better Sleep
- Dr.Bellingers Down Loadable E-Book: The Neck Pain Relief Kit
- Neck Pain resulting from a C5, C6, C7 or C8 Radiculopathy
Visit Arc4life.com for your online selection of cervical support neck pillows, orthopedic pain relief products and Home traction units. Products for pain relief.
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I am 24 weeks pregnant and I am having the same problem but nothing I do seems to help, not the cold pack or anything. What can I do? I can’t afford going to a doctor for it.
My suggestion is to see a chiropractor for neck pain relief. They can prescribe you proper neck exercises and also do adjustments in the neck and upper back are to help you find relief.
Neck pain is a very common complaint during pregnancy. All of the suggestions listed above are wonderful. They are all things that I recommend for my pregnant patients with neck pain. Chiropractic care is very safe during pregnancy and your chiropractor would also be able to guide you to find a good pillow, what stretches to do, and when to ice or heat.
Dear Pregnancy Chiropractor, thank you for your comment. Pregnancy involves a lot of changes to a woman’s body. I agree chiropractic is a great alternative therapy that works and is effective for pain relief. – NJ
my wife has been having neck pain as well as other pain throughout her body and shes at most only 7 weeks along she also is hungry alll the time but cannot eat cause she gets sick and it get throwed up….. please if you have any advice please let me kno all this stuff is making us loose sleep can you help? thank you
my wife is about 7 weeks along and she has been getting morings sickness, headaces, as well as neck pain, stomich pain, and other pain throughout her body all at once is there anythang you can tell me how to treat this and or give advice? please let me kno
There are a lot of changes that can take place in a woman’s body during pregnancy. Not only with the added weight that one is carrying but also with the added hormones in the body.
They call it morning sickness, but for some women this lasts all day -it can be quite discomforting. It is usually worse between the 6th and 12th week of pregnancy. Has your wife tried drinking ginger tea? Also she should eat smaller meals throughout the day. Avoid strong smells and foods that bring on the nausea. When cooking in the house open up the windows and turn on the fans full blast ! Eating salted crackers can be helpful as well. Finally, tell her to stay cool- feeling warm can bring on the nausea.
Be careful when throwing up as well- this motion of vomiting can not only throw ones back out, but it can cause neck pain as well. Having good posture is important.
When sleeping I would recommend that she sleep on her back, use a contoured neck pillow under her neck, and a positioning wedge under the knees. This will allow her to sleep comfortably. It is also okay to take naps during the day.
In terms of other pains, I would recommend that she get a gentle massage,and also chiropractic can help as well. Using a heat pack on the neck muscles and upper back muscles will help as well. Gentle neck stretches are also beneficial as well.
See your health care professional if you have an extreme case of the nausea and vomiting.
Hope this helps.
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Contoured Chiropractic Pillows: http://www.neckpainreliefkit.com/lineargravity
Positioning Products for Pain Relief and Comfort:
http://www.neckpainreliefkit.com/positioningpillows
Neck Exercises:
http://www.arc4life.com/site/615058/page/993935
No More Neck Pain:
http://www.squidoo.com/no-more-neck-pain
There are special pillows that one can sleep on for ultimate comfort, especially when laying in the side position (recommended for pregnancy)- it is called a body pillow:
http://www.neckpainreliefkit.com/bodypillow
We love to take care of pregnant women. AS Mom’s body is changing,changes occur in the pelvis, loosening of ligaments and the weight gain associated with a growing baby, these stresses often cause subluxation. Mom’s need chiropractic care. The adjustment can benefit the unborn child as well.
im 9 weeks pregnant and the past few days i have been suffering with neck and shoulder pain it seems to get worse later on in the day when im sitting watching the tv its really sore and i can ardly move sometimes, it feels like someone is sitting on my shoulders, i just cant get comfertable, what can i do to make it go away?
im also the same this is my 3rd pregnancey and im 11 weeks gone. for 10days straight i was suffering from very intense migraines , shoulder and neck pains the sickness is there full on but thats not my worry. my migraines stopped and 1 week later there off again i cant look after my children as much because my husband is at work and im in alot of pain is there anything else other then paracetamol? that i can take?
iv never had this problem with my other 2 babys so i dont no what to do HELP
I’m 8 weeks pregnant and I have been experiencing severe neck and shoulder pain.. I’ve gone to a chiropractor a few times, twice this week already, I’ve done the hot and cold presses and the stretches. I also bought a cervical pillow too. Nothing seems to work! I’m not sure what else to do. Anyone think this could be more serious? I feel relief after my appts but within a few hours the pain comes back. I know tylenol is okay to take but I feel weird taking that every day and sometimes it doesn’t even help!
I spoke with my doctors, physical therapist, acupuncturist, and chiropractor. I have been having some horrible neck pain that causes headaches and nausea from the pain. Before I was pregnant I always used a TENS Unit to help with pain in different areas of my body. I ran it by all of them and the consensus was that I should not use it on my pelvis, lower back, or hips it would be ok to use for my neck and shoulders. I did it frequently for two days with stretching, ice and heat and it helped tremendously! Hope this helps someone! Of course talk to your doctor before you indulge in it!
Stacy, thank you for your comment in response to our post. Happy to hear that the Tens unit helped your neck and upper back. I would agree with all the health professionals you spoke with- TENS should not be used in the hip and pelvis area during pregnancy, but neck and upper back/ shoulders are okay.