Hi all!
My little one woke up with a sore neck this morning. She didn't do anything to it yesterday (we had an unusually calm day yesterday, due to weather), so I assume she kinked it sleeping. I had her do some stretches, but I think they made it worse not better :-( She's taken some Ibuprofen and is taking a hot bath right now. If it keeps up, I'll see if I can get her pediatrician to refer a pediatric chiropractor but that seems like a real overkill for now. Any recommendations? Home remedies? Things to avoid? Stiff neck in kiddo is harder than stiff neck in adult!
TIA
The Next Morning: Okay, she woke up without the kink. She says it's still stiff, but she's not in pain anymore. She doesn't have any accompanying symptoms or signs of illness, so I think it really is just a sore neck.
Thanks ya'll, I really appreciate your feedback.
We've always used a heating pad with a damp wash cloth in between the pad and skin.
I don't know why but damp heat seems to help the muscles unclench better than anything else.
I keep some Aspercream on hand and rubbing that in helps too (plus it's non smelly and doesn't irritate skin).
My kids and I have all been battling a bug this week that involves a very sore neck, sore throat and a cough. Maybe your little one is catching it too.
My older kids would get one from time to time when they were younger. Applying heat and a light massage can help. If you can, apply heat every couple of hours if it is really bad. One thing to avoid is forcing the muscle--such as forcing her to turn her head all the way. But also do not restrict use. One thing my son's doc had told me to check on , lightly massage his neck from the base of his skull to his shoulder blade. See if you feel any tiny bumps or hard spots. We did this each time and never came across anything odd. We were also told to watch for a fever since it could be a lymph node issue. And we were told to check with the doc if it lasted more than a few days.
I know when I get a kink or pulled muscle it lasts at least 2 or 3 days.
There is also a chance that a virus settled in the muscle in her neck. That happened to me as a child. It just had to run it's course and was gone in a few days.
My first grader will often say his neck hurts when he means his throat hurts. Ask her to show you where it hurts...if she indicates the front of her neck, it's most likely her throat (just a bug), and if it's the back, it'll most likely work itself out soon. Kids heal quickly!
My children have all been treated by our chiropractor since birth. There are many ways they put their spines out of alignment and that results in soreness and illness because the brain sends all it's messages to the nervous system through the spinal cord. If the pathway is blocked, messages don't get through and the body starts to compensate for the part that's not working.
I'd love to find a pediatrician who would recommend a chiropractor, but I'm not sure there's one that exists! A family chiropractor would be able to help by gently adjusting your child, and if more symptoms accompany the sore neck, of course you'd want to see an MD to rule out an illness. (And a chiropractor worth anything will be the first to tell you if they think the problem is systemic and not orthopedic.)
If her muscles are swollen, it might be too soon to stretch them. If she also has a fever, call your doctor.
Otherwise, ice it for the first two days and then use a heating pad for the next few days if it is still bothering her.
Ice works better than heat when its really bad. And as for your pediatrician refering you to a chiropractor that probably will not happen!! Most PCP dr's don't like chiros!!! i have learned that from experence. You will need to call around and see if any specialize in children.
Well my daughter is 10.
And whenever her neck hurts... it generally means that she is getting sick.
It could be a cold or any kind of bug.
But whenever she is sick, or getting sick, her neck (the back of her neck) starts to hurt.
Maybe one time, it was a stiff neck from sleeping.
Take your little one to the Doctor.
A sore neck, can also be Meningitis. For example.
Don't take her to a Chiropractor yet.
Take her to the Pediatrician, first.
Advil for kids, and an icepack on her neck, for now.
But take her to the Doctor.
Her neck pain is probably, the muscles.
Not the spinal bones.
Or it could be a simple kink in her neck/muscles.
Who knows.
Don't manipulate her neck. Because it can make it worse.
Probably just a pulled neck from sleeping but you have the right idea
about consulting her ped to ensure it's nothing more serious.
You might even be able to call in & speak to the advice nurse.
In the meantime, you could warm up one of those bean fillled neck pillows
You can make your own if you don't have one.
Hope all is well for her very soon!
Often my daughter will describe her sore throat as a hurting neck...does she have sniffles, fever or any other signs of a cold or flu coming on as well?
Take her to the doctor tomorrow. Stiff necks in kids are not the same as adults. Kids joints are young and healthy with no reason to get stiff like our adult joints. As a physical therapist and a Mom, I would want to rule out stuff first. Sometimes viruses can swell glands making things sore. The Dr. should also rule out meningitis...not to be scaring you, but stiff neck can be a sign. Have your little one checked out to, if for no other reason than to put your mind at ease that it's only muscle soreness.
