Neck strengthening exercises

[mecconn]

Was anybody given specific neck strengthening exercises to do after surgery? If so what were they? I'm 8 months post op and I feel like my neck muscles are still weak and tight. I think they continue to be tight because they are so weak. Last night I lifted my head off the floor while lying down and I got a tremendous headache up the side of the neck, around my ear and behind my eye which is caused by one of the muscles (levator scapulae I believe). I still have pulling on my ears from my SCMs and off balance feelings. Any help would be appreciated.

My PT mainly focused on stretching the muscles and trying to loosen them up more than strengthening.

[berry]

Hi Mecconn

I wasn't given any specific exercises to do post-op and was told normal movements would suffice. I did however do the exercises in the following link and isometric exercises every day for about three months prior to my surgery and continued to do them post-op:
http://www.thephysiotherapysite.co.uk/exercise/simple_neck_exercise.html

Kind regards

Lynda

[Harrison]

Hey, our heads weigh anywhere between 8 and 14 pounds...so isn't carrying that around all day enough? Seriously?

I haven't said this in a many months, so it's time for me start saying this again at an increasingly annoying rate:

"...Slow and steady wins the race..."

If anything, gentle massage and very gentle stretching may provide a great deal of relief. As well, massage at the termination points of the SCM, scalenes (both ends) can be incredibly helpful! Do you know how many trigger points / muscle knots you have throughout your shoulders and neck? Have you had a reasonably diagnostic massage?

Lynda: thanks for the link. This kind of stretching seems so obvious, but how many of us actually do it!? Good reminder!

[ZorroSF]

I'm not so sure those exercises are good for you if you're that stiff. Streching the neck like that with DDD will just make it worse. Of course you're post-op, and maybe the reason your neck muscles are locked up could have to do with pain killers you are taking (if you're taking any).

Taking dilaudid and oxycontin post op actually made all the muscles in my spine lock up. In fact I attribute my cervical pain post-op to those drugs. I had a disc in my neck that was losing water, but it never really hurt until post-op.

When I stopped taking those pain killers the damage was already done, but the constant pain subsided. I never realized how bad those pain killers were until I stopped.

I would recommend seeing a physical therapist who has a long history treating patients with cervical fusions and hopefully some disc replacements. They should also be able to direct you to someone who understands myofacial release and trigger point therapy.

[maz]

Hi Meccon I went to PT Friday and was shown one very small exercise to strengthen my neck and it has really hurt ever since! Its only sitting against a wall and tucking my chin in but my neck doesnt like it!! Maz