Neck pain help needed

Does anyone have any experience or advice they could share? I'm dealing with some neck issues—basically, certain positions cause my vertebrae to pinch a blood vessel, which messes with my circulation. It leads to weakness, dizziness, and all that.

It’s been an ongoing thing—it used to flare up occasionally, and I've already done the whole routine of tests and treatments (like heat therapy and electrical stimulation). But since it's back, I wanted to see if anyone has recommendations for something else—maybe a specific spa resort or a different type of therapy? I need something I can actually access now, because trying to get a new appointment through our healthcare system is just ridiculous...

Thanks a lot.

It looks to me like you’re dealing with some chronic spinal issues.
Unfortunately, there’s just way too little emphasis placed on maintaining spinal health here in the States, which is exactly why we see so many complications stemming from poor posture and spinal misalignment.

Since I don't know the specific nature of your condition, you might want to consider seeing a chiropractor—you really never know what might help.
Beyond that, there are various corrective exercises for the spine that a physical therapist could recommend, or you could always try practicing yoga.

If you happen to have a pool nearby, ice swimming could also be a viable option for you.

But I’ll say it again: talk to your doctor first!

Heating pads and electric blankets aren't going to fix the root cause here. It sounds like there might be some structural issues causing restricted blood flow through your vertebral arteries.

I’d really suggest seeing a physiatrist first, and then finding a solid physical therapist who can walk you through specific exercises. There’s actually one particular movement designed to help boost circulation in those vessels—I could try to describe it to you, but I’m honestly worried about you doing it wrong without someone there to guide you properly.

At the end of the day, these kinds of things really only get better with consistent movement. Whether it's swimming laps, yoga, or Pilates... just pick 🙂

If you have a desk job, try to get up and stretch every once in a while. Also, make sure your monitor is right at eye level; having your neck tilted at a weird angle all day is such a common culprit for these issues.

Personally, I wouldn't go the chiropractor route. Those kinds of adjustments can sometimes lead to complications, especially if you're middle-aged or older...

And seriously, try to track down a high-quality pillow—most of those cheap ones we end up sleeping on are absolute killers for your neck...

Thanks for all the input—I’m really hoping more people chime in here because you can learn something from everyone! Honestly, my mom is dealing with this chronic neck issue (so she’s definitely not some 😁 kid), and I highly doubt she’d ever head to a chiropractor on her own volition. She’s already gone through a bunch of spinal scans and tried various treatments, but nothing seems to be making a dent. A solid physical therapist might be the way to go... I’ll try to look into it, but you know how parents are—they usually fight seeing a doctor because they think they already know what's wrong and will just 🙂. I’d love for her to get some real therapy, specific exercises, or maybe even a procedure (does that have a formal medical name? I want to know what to ask about...), just so she can finally get some relief.

If you're a little squeamish about chiropractic work, give osteopathy a shot instead.

They need to start physical therapy. The whole point is to master these basic exercises so they can actually manage them daily at home. Also, they absolutely have to use a medical pillow
I went to the local training center this past winter. The sessions run about 30 minutes—followed by about 15 minutes of electrical stimulation therapy

You could try physical therapy or see a physiatrist, but if I were you, I’d hit up an educated chiropractor first. Honestly, those guys seem to dive way deeper into how everything connects than most MDs do, and they really know their stuff when it comes to spinal mechanics.
If your mom is really against the idea, maybe stick to more conservative treatments for a bit like some folks have suggested, but whatever you do, please don't rush into any kind of neck surgery without getting a solid opinion from a chiropractor first. Only if they tell you there's absolutely no other way should you even consider going under the knife.👍

Scott Allen10, hats off to you... but did you know that CVA is actually one of the potential complications from cervical spine manipulation?

Personally, I wouldn't let a chiropractor touch me, even though I'm super interested in manual therapy myself. I tend to overthink things before I perform any kind of procedure on someone else, and I just don't have the nerve to attempt neck manipulations. Everything else is fair game, though...

Casey Palmer5 said:Scott Allen10, you're totally right to bring that up... honestly, I was just reading about how CVI is actually one of those potential risks you have to watch out for when someone starts messing around with cervical spine adjustments.

I honestly wouldn't trust a chiropractor with my spine, even though I’ve always been super interested in manual therapy myself. I tend to be pretty cautious and overthink things before I ever touch anyone else, so I just couldn't bring myself to mess around with neck adjustments—everything else is fair game, though.

Look, I’ve heard people bringing up strokes as a potential complication, but honestly, I think that falls more into the "possible" category rather than something you see happening regularly, especially since a trained chiropractor knows exactly how to read a situation before jumping in. It's kind of like any other diagnostic test or procedure you'd run at a place like Mayo Clinic—there’s always a tiny margin where things could go sideways, but in this case, I really feel the risk is minimal. Plus, when you consider that the carotid arteries do way more of the heavy lifting for blood flow to the brain than the vertebral ones do, there's a certain level of safety built in regarding stroke risks.
I mean, at the end of the day, it’s really a matter of personal preference, but I honestly feel like finding an educated chiropractor—not some random quack off the street, but someone who actually put in the work with a legit degree after six or seven years of school—is hands down the best way to handle any kind of spinal issues you might be dealing with.😉

Casey Palmer5 said:.

Ultimately, you can only fix these issues through consistent exercise. Backstroke, yoga, Pilates... pick one. 🙂

I tried Pilates once, and it just wasn't for me.
We spent so much time in positions where my neck felt
tense (half-lying, half-sitting) and I didn't feel particularly comfortable
doing those types of movements.

😕

You really should have mentioned those neck issues to your instructor so they could tweak your form for you (if they know what they're doing, they'll catch it immediately).

Whenever you feel off during an exercise or hit a sharp pain, just stop right then and there. Pushing through can actually make things worse. I'm not talking about post-op rehab where discomfort is expected, but otherwise, working out shouldn't be painful...

As for chiropractic care, it’s really down to personal preference. Just be careful, though—since there aren't many highly qualified chiropractors out there, you really need to vet whoever you go to. Personally, I find spinal traction and mobilization much safer and just as effective as those super aggressive adjustments. It's all about your own philosophy, I guess, because your spine doesn't actually have to "pop" for things to shift into place. Honestly, most people love that cracking sound because it gives them that instant feeling that everything is back where it belongs.

The thing is, those quick fixes usually don't last very long because everything tends to slide right back to how it was. If you haven't stabilized your spine by building up the surrounding muscles, that treatment isn't going to stick.

BTW, there's even a tiny theoretical risk of carotid artery dissection following certain procedures, so....
I know the risk is statistically minor, but for me, the risk-to-benefit ratio just doesn't sit right. That's just my humble opinion, anyway...

Casey Palmer5,
could you describe one of those exercises you mentioned earlier?--
the one that helps 'release' the tension in the neck muscles and tendons?
thanks

I don't have any major issues, except that
for several years now, I've felt this ache in my neck—on the back left side
that radiates toward the base of my skull and down my lower left jaw.
A few years ago, I went through all the tests—nothing specific
turned up.
Now, it flares up when I'm stressed, when I haven't
slept enough, or if I've been carrying a heavy bag on my left
shoulder. It's like the whole area feels sensitive—
even around the sinus bones...😢

If you're struggling with circulation issues, there’s one specific movement that really helps, but you have to make a point of doing it several times throughout the day.

To be honest, I feel a little awkward even describing this because I don't want anyone to get the wrong idea, but it’s honestly best when someone else demonstrates it so you can actually feel the sensation for yourself. Try to tuck your chin in as far as it will go—you know, enough to really define that jawline 🙂—while simultaneously pushing your head slightly forward so you feel a good stretch along the back of your neck...

Already "practicing" 🤣

thanks 👋

Jose Miller3 said:Maybe try picking up a decent pillow—those cheap ones most of us sleep on are basically neck killers...

👍
I dealt with this exact issue—just fixed it with a better pillow.

So, what kind of pillow did you end up getting?

I once bought one of those "orthopedic" pillows—it had this wavy shape,
sort of a ridge followed by a dip, then another ridge,
and I found it incredibly uncomfortable to sleep on.
Now, I prefer a standard pillow that’s just slightly lofted.
🙂

Picking out the right pillow is such a personal thing—there’s really no one-size-fits-all solution.

To be honest, I usually end up sleeping without any pillow at all, though I know that probably isn't the best way to go... luckily, my neck hasn't given me much trouble yet.

I did try a Tempur-Pedic pillow recently, and man, I absolutely loved it.

Ideally, you want something a bit smaller with medium firmness. Your head and neck should both rest on it so your spine stays perfectly aligned; if the pillow is too huge, it just forces your neck to bend forward awkwardly.

silvermason16 said:So, what kind of pillow did you end up getting?

I think it’s called a medical pillow—it’s basically just a roll, maybe 4 inches wide and about 16 inches long. Picked it up at a pharmacy near the cathedral in Bakersfield for $33.

PS. I went through a whole battery of tests; the imaging showed some early bone spurs on two of my cervical vertebrae, but everything else came back pretty much clear. During the balance test, the specialist noticed something off when I moved my head a certain way, but that was about it.

I’m getting up there in age, and a few years back, I dealt with some pretty nasty neck issues and vertigo—bad enough that I ended up in the ER. In the end, it was actually some advice from the neurology department at the Mayo Clinic that finally sorted me out.
They gave me a surprisingly simple suggestion: ditch the pillow entirely. Instead, take a large towel, roll it up into a cylinder, and tuck it right under your neck while you sleep, making sure you stay strictly on your back. It was a bit of a struggle to get used to sleeping on my back at first, but I’ve been doing this for about five or six years now and haven't had any issues with dizziness since. I’m not saying this is a magic fix for everyone, but for me, it 🙂
You can probably find specialized pillows designed for this, but I’ve just stuck with the rolled-up towel and I’m perfectly happy with the results.
PS, a side effect of sleeping on my back is that I snore like a chainsaw.😁