Neck pain for almost a week...

**CrystalChord** · 02-11-2011 03:20 PM

I don't know what I did to myself, and it's driving my crazy. I've had pain in my neck for almost a week now. The pain was switching sides (left, right, then left again) and it would cause one sided headaches.

Today and yesterday, my whole neck in the back has ached, which has caused pain in the back and front of my head, a tension headache, probably. It feels a little swollen too, but I'm not sure.

I've had a general run down feeling (tired, occasionally I get mildly dizzy) which I just chalked up to the headaches. Maybe I've got a cold on top of this, I don't know.

I'm just concerned if maybe I pulled my neck or if I have meningitis. Meningitis seems far-fetched, considering that my EMT friend says that "you'll know" if you have something like that.

If it's a strained neck, how long will that last? And how can I tell if it's something more serious?

**ItsASecret** · 02-12-2011 01:41 AM

Maybe I've got a cold on top of this,

A cold can cause many more aches and pains than you could imagine, super easy to catch a cold right now and it can explain all of your symptoms.

Meningitis seems far-fetched, considering that my EMT friend says that "you'll know" if you have something like that.

Your friend is beyond correct. You would be in the hospital doctors worried type "knowing", a mild pain is not meningitis.

If it's a strained neck, how long will that last?

Take an Advil, even a muscle relaxant. Neck pain can last for awhile couple days to maybe a week or so, I had stress induced headaches and muscle pains in my neck for a week....stress was due to midterms so yeah pretty common occurrence for me.

And how can I tell if it's something more serious?

It would not be anything serious unless you are in the hospital with a doctor telling you it is. And no, looking on the internet for list of symptoms is not a good method lol.