Stiff Neck @depth

[Otter]

I seem to have a somewhat recurring problem where during a dive, I will get a stiff neck. Turning side to side is painful while tilting my head up and down is not. When diving locally, I associated it with a combination of cold water and perhaps a stiffer hood/neck piece (its integrated into my wetsuit). However, during my recent trip to Yap and Palau, I also encountered it (no hood, warm water). While movement is VERY painful when it stiffens up, generally, the pain subsides significantly towards the end of the dive (shallower depths for a period of time?) and by the time I am on the boat, there may be some 'tenderness' if I rub my neck, but I have full and complete movement and even the tenderness is gone within an hour after the dive.

While I haven't been able to isolate the symptions, its seems to be (1) more only at depths greater than 70 fsw (2) when my head is relatively still for longer periods of time and/or (3) when I have been at a horizontal and or slightly heads down position.

On this last trip if happeneded 4 or so times out of 38 dives....to the best of my recollection all at the front of end of the trip....where coincidently, I was NOT diving Nitrox. I had initially thought it my be related to a slightly different length / position of my primary air hose due to (1) using a DIN adaptor this time and (2) perhaps during setup, the tank not being precisely positioned in the BC. The other thought was the increased 'pressure' from depth and at one point, I thought it might even be a symptom of 'narcosis'..which seemed to be consistent with it not happening during the time I was diving with Nitrox BUT also could be that my neck was getting stronger in response to the increased resistance to neck turning I was experience due to hose length, etc...I am guessing.

From a physical sitution, I work out consistently -- although I don't tend to work on my traps or neck, but do shoulders.

Anyone have any thoughts or similar symptoms?

 

[beche de mer]

Diving makes my neck sore also.

The neck position demanded by scuba diving places a lot of stress on the neck. The neck has to be extended (or tipped backward) for extended periods of time. In addition to that it's often rotated. This places a lot of strain on various structures, especially the facet joints of the vertebrae. (A common source of neck pain.)

How old are you Otter? Most of us, after the age of forty, have some degree of arthritis or "degenerative disease" of the spine.

Your symptoms might be a result of early arthritis, aggravated by extension/rotation of the neck.

If so, physiotherapy would probably help.

 

[Otter]

Diving makes my neck sore also.

The neck position demanded by scuba diving places a lot of stress on the neck. The neck has to be extended (or tipped backward) for extended periods of time. In addition to that it's often rotated. This places a lot of strain on various structures, especially the facet joints of the vertebrae. (A common source of neck pain.)

How old are you Otter? Most of us, after the age of forty, have some degree of arthritis or "degenerative disease" of the spine.

Your symptoms might be a result of early arthritis, aggravated by extension/rotation of the neck.

If so, physiotherapy would probably help.

At 45, I realize that life is nearly over. Up in until this last set of dives, I always assumed it was just the price for living this long.....the fact that it was intermittent and then almost non-existent during the Nitrox dives convinved me to at least post this and see what our strong medical community had to say.

Thanks for your reply. Since I am asymptomatic not diving and nearly asymptomatic post-dive, I am not sure how I would know if I were getting better....hey maybe I can convince my wife and the IRS that diving is required for medical reasons

 

[beche de mer]

At 45, I realize that life is nearly over. Up in until this last set of dives, I always assumed it was just the price for living this long.....the

45?? Just a pup! You've got decades declining powers and advancing senility to look forward to. Enjoy! ldman:

 

[wetnorm]

Otter,

Just my .02 worth.... Myofascial pain behaves this way.
Don't ignore it, this reinforces the pain behavior and recruits larger, nearby muscle groups, to posture sympatheically (guarding, self-protective behavior) --leading to more pain, limiting mvmnt further. Remaining in one position (reading, driving, diving, staying on the PC/web, being a lifelong Republican (whoops), etc) contributes to prolonged tone and then spasms.
Stay limber with regular stretching, self massage (boring, so invite a friend) w/ or w/o Tiger Balm, counter traction or muscle energy technqs, liberal hydration, smoking avoidance, stress managment, laying off the wt lifting; PT, trigger point injections, accupncture, and TENS are next, and requires MD and $$, so don't let it get out of control. Say no to drugs.... these are only mildly effective and delay the more beneficial things (above) that need to be done on a frequent basis.
Once a source/site of injury, your body develops a "memory" leading to vulnerability to re-occurrence, and escalation, so be prompt in recognizing and treating this issue.
Very common problem.
Epiphenomena such as Nitrox, depth, diving are just patterns in your overall behavior, although the commonality may be a stress reaction to getting it all right (DIR) and safe. The shoulders and neck are where we humans "carry the weight of the world" and stress is evidenced.
Been there, done that.
Good luck.

 

[DocVikingo]

.... to his middle school English teacher (I'll bet he even remembers the name) for a brief look:

"Otter,

Just my $.02 worth.

Once a source/site of injury has been established, your body develops a "memory" leading to vulnerability to reoccurrence, and escalation. With physical conditions of this nature, prompt recognition and treatment typically leads to the best outcome.

Myofascial pain behaves in this way, and ignoring it reinforces pain behavior and recruits larger, nearby muscle groups to posture sympathetically (guarding, self-protective behavior). Remaining in one position while diving, (or reading, driving, staying on the PC/web, etc.) contributes to prolonged muscle tone and then spasms, resulting in increased pain and further limitation of motion.

It is important to stay limber with regular stretching, self massage with or without Tiger Balm® (boring, so invite a friend), and counter-traction or muscle energy techniques. Stay well hydrated, practice stress management, and avoid smoking and injurious weight lifting. If these measures are not successful, physical therapy, trigger point injections, acupuncture, and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulators (TENS) may be necessary. These require the involvement of an MD and can be costly, so don't let your discomfort get out of control.

Be circumspect about drugs. These may be only mildly effective and delay potentially more beneficial approaches, such as those mentioned above, that work best when done on a prompt and frequent basis.

Properly managing the many tasks involved scuba diving can be stressful, and the shoulders and neck are where we humans "carry the weight of the world" and stress is evidenced. Been there, done that.

Good luck.

Wetnorm"

 

[Otter]

Otter,

Just my .02 worth.... Myofascial pain behaves this way.
Don't ignore it, this reinforces the pain behavior and recruits larger, nearby muscle groups, to posture sympatheically (guarding, self-protective behavior) --leading to more pain, limiting mvmnt further. Remaining in one position (reading, driving, diving, staying on the PC/web, being a lifelong Republican (whoops), etc) contributes to prolonged tone and then spasms.
Stay limber with regular stretching, self massage (boring, so invite a friend) w/ or w/o Tiger Balm, counter traction or muscle energy technqs, liberal hydration, smoking avoidance, stress managment, laying off the wt lifting; PT, trigger point injections, accupncture, and TENS are next, and requires MD and $$, so don't let it get out of control. Say no to drugs.... these are only mildly effective and delay the more beneficial things (above) that need to be done on a frequent basis.
Once a source/site of injury, your body develops a "memory" leading to vulnerability to re-occurrence, and escalation, so be prompt in recognizing and treating this issue.
Very common problem.
Epiphenomena such as Nitrox, depth, diving are just patterns in your overall behavior, although the commonality may be a stress reaction to getting it all right (DIR) and safe. The shoulders and neck are where we humans "carry the weight of the world" and stress is evidenced.
Been there, done that.
Good luck.

Hmmm...If I didn't know better, I would swear you were Latvian.

 

[wetnorm]

Otter,

Sorry for the format. I used "Quick Reply" which must have removed the indentations and line/space betw paragraphs. I guess this reply will confirm (to me) that this box does that. Yes, it is typed as I learned in school.

DocVikingo, thanks for editing my response.

Otter, no, I'm not Latvian. BTW you're welcome for the free pain consultation. No good deed goes unpunished.

I am new and infreq user and am learning to use the website. Also, is it fair to say this "playground" has a grumpy demeanor?

Vaya con Dios,

 

[Otter]

I was slightly confused as to what DocV was trying to do...I guess I wasn't in a perceptive mood.

If I follow what you are saying, and I am not sure I do, then the only question is WHY does this ONLY happen (1) while diving (but not consistently) and (2) at depth?

 

[wetnorm]

Otter,

This is only a guess....but if you are certain about the correlation to diving there must be something to your diving that triggers this reaction. Consider mental stressors such as: are you quick to react, are you rushed, worried about your buddy, new equip, multi-tasking in general, etc.; are there physical issues such as: does donning your BCD cause you to strain your neck/shoulder, do you reach overhead to hold/brce yourself in rough seas on the boat, etc.

Reaching back into my BCD strains my R shoulder, not left, due to old RTC injury.

Off to work, so good luck.