Hi all,
28 year old male here.
12 months ago I was in the gym. I completed a shoulder shrug but pushed my head forward at the same time. I felt a crack around c6/c7. Pain was very mild to begin with but progressively worsened over 8 months or so. I restricted all movement in my neck (bad idea) in fear of doing more damage. The pain got so extreme that I was on full time opiates and went down the dark road of pain killers.
I went and got an xray. It showed no issues. So for the next 2-3 months I went and got CT scans and Mri tests but nothing showed. Then I went to see and orthopedict surgeon who gave me a referral for a spect bone scan with Contrast. The bone scan showed that blood flow was going to c7 and that an injury has been sustained there. He wanted to inject it but I was reluctant and declined. A day later I had an appointment with a neurologist who said its a soft tissue injury.
Soon after this I began seeing a person who specialises in fascia. Within 2 weeks I was off all pain medication after months on it full time. I did the opposite of what I originally did and began stretching it out as much as possible. Pain has eased to a point where I don't need meds full time.
I have noticed that whenever I do exercise (such as walking around the block/walking through the city), my neck begins to ache around c7. I cannot understand how the pain can be so localised around c7 if it's a soft tissue injury. Has anyone experienced similar???
I am seeing a chiro once per week, the fascia guy every 3 weeks and I've just started remedial massage once per week. Have seen 3 physios over the past 12 months but received no change when seeing them.
It's hard being told so many different things.
Chiro believes it's adhesive scar tissue
Massage therapist believes it's locked muscles
Orthopedic surgeon believes it's stretched tends and ligaments
Neurologist believes it'll heal in a few months...
I feel the problem is a combination of scar tissue from not moving it in months plus instability around c7 from stretching the sections that hold c7 in alignment.
Would love to hear some thoughts....