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Severe neck pain and stiffness. Could it be a fracture?

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Hello, I took a serious elbow to the back of my neck during a basketball game. When I got hit my neck instantly folded down. It was located near the bone. I instantly got a headache and I don't recall how I got from one end of the floor to the other. I didn't continue playing. This was yesterday at around 11 o'clock. I'm now experiencing severe stiffness in my neck, shoulder, arms and my back. I had an occasional tingling in my fingers and hands. The trainer said she was concerned because I had pain even when she listened my head and turned it all directions. She was also concerned because it was by the vertebrae. What could this be?

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Category: Family Physician-GP
 20 Doctors Online

Hello, the symptoms that you have described are probably suggestive of a neck strain rather than any serious injury. The cervical spine protects the spinal cord, provides support to the head and allows high degree of mobility and range of motion. Triggering factors for the onset of neck muscles strain can be due to various factors like sleeping in a motion which strains the neck, or a sudden jerk in an awkward position while playing, carrying a heavy weight on one side of the body. Obviously the muscles supporting the neck may injure or the ligaments or tendons if it gets injured, you can apply ice cold packs or heat application, gentle massage until you see your doctor .If the pain is severe and symptoms lasts for more than a day or two and associated with arm pain, numbness or tingling, a chiropractor attention will be appreciated. I would suggest you to get an X ray neck to rule out any fractures and consult your orthopedician with these reports. You can also use tablet ibuprofen twice a day after food for a week to relieve the pain. Hope this helps. Thank you.


Dr. John Monheit
Category: Family Physician-GP
Experience: 
Residecny: North Colorado Family Medicine
Medical School: The Chicago Medical Center
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