Levator scapulae... or cervical disk sidewall failure...

[Tom]

I have to learn not to stretch something too much when it hurts. It sets it back. I went to the dentist in October, 90 minutes of that screwed up my neck. One feature of riding a bike is you sort of hang your head out there and look up, it probably wasn't smart to try and ride through it. Chiropractic didn't help totally, I figured a good massage would take care of it. I got a good massage last week and for 24 hours it was great. 48 hours later, yikage, worse than ever. 'Stretch me, stretch me' said my levator scapulae so I did. Dumb. I should have told it to shut up and get better on its own. Problem is, I don't know if that's the whole problem because if I tilt my head back there's quite sharp discomfort, not electrical like whacking your funny bone though, that radiates down as far as my triceps. I have a history of herniating cervical disks but generally associated with a good whacking but it makes me wonder. I'd go to the doc but I got nabbed for jury duty and so far for some completely incomprehensible reason they haven't told me to leave and not come back. I suppose an enforced time off the bike in December is about the best time to have it happen except we're running 6 degrees above normal for December and some of these mornings would be fantastic. 40 degrees and calm at 5am. Grump.

[Too Tall]

Sorry to hear that Tom. What you are describing are from my experience exactly that. Ice/heat/ice and a few days not fusssing with it will help. Get better.

[Tom]

Yeah. I have to stop going "This still hurt?" and tipping my head back. I wouldn't roll a sprained ankle to see if it still hurt.

[Too Tall]

Yeah. I have to stop going "This still hurt?" and tipping my head back. I wouldn't roll a sprained ankle to see if it still hurt.

I've got a tweaked Levator S. from a motorcycle wreck many yrs. back that haunts me. When it decides to spasm the only thing that helps is ice and I use a theracane directly on the spot. Thera Cane

[big shanty]

Get an Rx for massage therapy, rest and have it worked on at least 1X/ week until recovered.

[ned]

Acupuncture. Good stuff for healing in a hurry.

Biggest neck issue/biomechnical fault I see in cyclists is not tilting the head at the very top of the spine. The bulk of our cervical extension should take place between the skull and the first vertebra with the remainder of the spine providing addition range. It's pretty common, especially in people with poor head/neck posture (99% of us), to overuse the mid-lower cervical spine.

Your pissed off levator is pissed off because it is extending the neck to hold hold your head up. Not its job.

[Tom]

Sidewall failure. It'll be interesting to see if it's the same one as three years ago when I got popped. IIRC last time it was more biceps that noticed it, this time it's shoulder and triceps. Is it possible it's from when I hit the car in May and I didn't go symptomatic until October? That'd be weird.