Neck problems

Good morning, everyone!

I’m dealing with one of my recurring issues again and wanted to hear how you’re all doing with this and what you do about it, if anything.

I often get neck pain from the tilted head position I’m in while crocheting.
As soon as I feel even the slightest twinge, I try to do some stretching exercises, like gently tilting my head to the right and left, or making careful rotational movements, etc.
For the past few days, the problem has been so bad that the pain is radiating into my left arm (this time the neck pain is on the left side, and my head mobility is also limited), and I’ve had to take ibuprofen occasionally to manage the pain.
I have an appointment on Monday to see a chiropractor.
I’m curious to see if he can help me.

Of course, I know that manual labor—and, of course, computer work as well (on top of that, I frequently have to carry my baby and hold my toddler)—are often triggers. But I can’t—and won’t—stop doing either of those things.

But maybe someone here has a tried-and-true tip?!

Hugs and a RELAXING weekend!

Yours, Nina

Hi Nina,
my physical therapist recommended that when I’m crocheting, I rest
my arms (elbows) either on the armrests
of a chair or on cushions on the couch.

It really helps. That way, the muscles aren’t strained as much.

And, of course, do some stretching exercises for your neck.
Maybe try a heat lamp or a hot water bottle (even if it’s warm in the summer).

Best wishes, Petra

Yes, my arms are resting on the armrests of the chair.

Thank you so much for your kind tips and well-wishes!
I’ll try to put them into practice.

Hi Nina,

I’m sticking to my usual recommendations and suggest yoga—both to loosen up and as a preventive measure.
It’s best to do it daily, not just when the pain starts.
Here are some specific exercises for the neck and shoulder area:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nwg5j55gicI
Good luck and get well soon!

Best, Inna

Oh, I hope you get better soon! <3 

I also have major issues in my shoulder and neck area. For me, dizziness is an added symptom. My orthopedist said the only thing that helps is exercise, strengthening the muscle groups, and relaxation. 

I like to use a hot water bottle or red light therapy; otherwise, rest helps so as not to irritate the muscles even more, and I can recommend Liebscher & Bracht on Facebook. They have great videos on this, explaining what causes the pain and demonstrating exercises. I always do those when nothing else works.

Get well soon!

Danie :)

Thanks for your tips, well-wishes, etc.—whether here, via Messenger, or in a private message!

Yes, propping up your arms helps. However, I’m notorious for writing everything down right after every round (and taking photos too), so I can hardly keep that up for long and also have to take a break after two days at the latest to relieve the strain on my neck and shoulders :-\/

But maybe your chiropractor has some great tips :-)

Hi :)
I’m in a similar situation to you. Unfortunately, I’ve just realized that I’ve developed a huge hump in my neck area, and my head keeps dropping lower and lower when I’m doing crafts (crafting, crocheting, knitting, and sewing)...
Unfortunately, this is really annoying, because in the evenings this is my main activity, and during the day—until recently—I was sitting at the academy all day studying, which also leads to bad posture.
Right now, I’m sitting backwards on our dining room chairs with my elbows resting on the backrests, so my work is at “eye level,” or I crochet while lying on the couch.
I’m going to see a doctor next week so he can take a look at my rounded back. My husband and friends find the hump alarming—I’m turning 30 now and have been doing crafts since I was a kid.
Best regards

Hello Nina & everyone else suffering,

yes, a chair with armrests is good for crocheting.

For me, the neck tension usually comes on the right side when I work too much at the PC ("mouse shoulder").

What helps then is

a) Progressive muscle relaxation according to Jacobson, especially this exercise: pull your shoulders up to your ears, breathe in while doing so, hold your breath for about 7 seconds and tense firmly, then relax your shoulders as you breathe out and let them sink down—repeat as desired

b) Put both arms behind your back, hands together, and pull your shoulder blades together, tensing your arms and shoulders, about 7 seconds, breathe as above and then relax.

c) Occasionally during the day, every now and then put your arms behind your back, hands together and rest them on the back of a chair; this is a balancing exercise, since we civilized folks work far too much with our arms forward. If that isn’t possible for you, you can try exercise b) instead.

Wishing everyone lots of relaxation
and a good night,

Traudelina

Hi,
have you solved your problem yet? Do you still have neck pain? If so, maybe I can help you.
I recently had a similar problem and searched online for a solution. After a quick search, I found out that massage can be a good solution. I looked for a massage studio near me but couldn’t find anything. Then I searched online and found a ***link removed***, and later I called them and got an appointment. Their staff helped me with my neck pain, and I can’t recommend them highly enough.
Best regards

Hi BobanR,
please don’t include external links in your posts.
Have fun!

Movement, movement, movement....
I’ve had a blockage in my cervical and thoracic vertebrae since Christmas, which has caused severe headaches. I’ve been to the chiropractor twice to get my neck adjusted and now go to Pilates and back training three times a week. Things are slowly getting better.
And: Only take painkillers for a few days. Otherwise, you’ll experience a rebound effect that just makes the pain worse. It happened to me, and it took several days for the withdrawal to pass—which manifested as even more severe headaches. I gritted my teeth, and things actually got better.

I hope you feel better soon!

Oops. I just realized this thread is already two years old… I hope you’re doing well :-)

When it comes to neck pain, I might be able to help, as I was recently looking for an orthopedic practice.
I had terrible neck problems and wanted to find a solution. My boyfriend recommended a practice
***Link removed, Mod***
. I read about their work on their website and gave them a call. After a few appointments, my neck pain went away. Their practice is modern, and their staff is really well-trained. You can find more information on their website.

Best regards

Please don’t include external links in your posts, thanks.

Well, if the pain is already radiating into your arm, then to be honest it sounds like there’s more going on than just poor posture while crocheting. If I were you, I’d see a specialist. A diagnosis from a forum probably won’t help much, unfortunately.
Personally, when it comes to back problems, I’ve had really good experiences here 
Link removed, Mod.
If you live nearby, you could stop by. Otherwise, you’ll surely be able to find a suitable specialist in your area.

Best regards

Please don’t include external links in your posts, thanks.

Hi,

I bought a massage gun (I saw one for the first time at the chiropractor’s). They cost about 70–100€ online. It’s really a great device. It loosens up the muscles again, and the tension goes away. Adhesions break up. If you use it daily, the tension doesn’t come back. I went to the chiropractor five times a few months ago. It didn’t help at all.

It costs a lot of money, it’s very painful, and unfortunately, the vertebrae shift right back out of place… so you’re back to square one. I wouldn’t do that again. I’d rather go to a physical therapist.


If I were you, I’d start with yoga exercises (you can find them on YouTube), cupping (you can buy cupping glasses cheaply online), or apply ointments directly (delphinium ointment for muscle problems).
Get well soon!!