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What Causes Tightness In The Left Side Of The Neck And Back?
Question: I have had this tightness on left side of my neck and back, googled the area and it appears to be the area of trapezoidal; and then have been feeling a lot of drainage down throat, and the last week or so have felt some nausea maybe due to the draining/mucus. Plus I can feel spots on top left back side of my head, like I can pinpoint different spots. No serious pains, just dull,feeling. Have tried to google all these symptoms and it kind of leads to sinus infection? I did have a bad cold a few weeks ago so not sure if any is connected. I know I have had the strain tightness in my left side neck and back for a couple months.
Brief Answer:
Possible Daignosis : Sinusitis
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thank you for trusting HCM
The symptoms you are experiencing is likely due to bacterial infection of the sinus (Sinusitis), following cold. Cold/upper respiratory infection can decrease drainage from sinus resulting in infection of the sinus.
Since you are complaining of excessive mucus and drainage the sinusitis is likely due to bacterial infection.
A physical examination can confirm the diagnosis.
You can continue Advil cold and sinus. Use saline nasal drops and saline nasal wash to open up the sinuses. Steam inhalation twice daily.
Throat gargle with warm saline water to relieve pain and congestion.
Sinusitis will also require treatment with Amoxicillin (antibiotic).
The neck and shoulder pain is likely unrelated to sinusitis. Chronic neck and shoulder pain could be due to cervical spondylosis, occurring due to age related wear and tear of the cervical spine. Xray/MRI of the cervical spine can confirm the diagnosis.
You can apply heat on the affected area to relax the muscles and relieve pain. Cervical spondylosis is managed with physical therapy and stretching exercises.
Please be advised to follow up with your primary care provider for necessary management.
Hope this answers your question
Please address further questions here
Regards,
Dr.Lekshmi
Possible Daignosis : Sinusitis
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thank you for trusting HCM
The symptoms you are experiencing is likely due to bacterial infection of the sinus (Sinusitis), following cold. Cold/upper respiratory infection can decrease drainage from sinus resulting in infection of the sinus.
Since you are complaining of excessive mucus and drainage the sinusitis is likely due to bacterial infection.
A physical examination can confirm the diagnosis.
You can continue Advil cold and sinus. Use saline nasal drops and saline nasal wash to open up the sinuses. Steam inhalation twice daily.
Throat gargle with warm saline water to relieve pain and congestion.
Sinusitis will also require treatment with Amoxicillin (antibiotic).
The neck and shoulder pain is likely unrelated to sinusitis. Chronic neck and shoulder pain could be due to cervical spondylosis, occurring due to age related wear and tear of the cervical spine. Xray/MRI of the cervical spine can confirm the diagnosis.
You can apply heat on the affected area to relax the muscles and relieve pain. Cervical spondylosis is managed with physical therapy and stretching exercises.
Please be advised to follow up with your primary care provider for necessary management.
Hope this answers your question
Please address further questions here
Regards,
Dr.Lekshmi
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
Thank you.
I have recently noticed an indentation at back of my neck-I'm a stomach sleeper and trying to stop:) so wondering if that might be a culprit, plus sitting at XXXXXXX devises for long periods of time-both want to cut back on!
I also have had this dry tickle cough that I believe is from my BP med I was put on over a year/half ago (Lisinopril 10/12 1 x daily-a low dose) but do know that the dry cough is a very common side effect to this drug. I am actually going to ask to be taken off of it and put on one that doesn't have this side effect. The cough and mild facial acne all started when taking Lisinopril.
I'm not battling w/itchy eyes or scratchy throat and actually not much sinus pressure (?) which I relate to sinus infection but do have a constant mild stuffy nose and can feel mucus settling between my nose and throat. (Feel like I need to snort or spit it out a lot.) I take it you're suggesting I see a Dr and get some medicine (antibiotic) for it? I'm sure that is causing nausea feeling when I get it?
Re: the neck area (CS)-are there exercises to help strengthen and elongate that area? I slept on a different pillow last night and actually helped a lot, slept better!
I have recently noticed an indentation at back of my neck-I'm a stomach sleeper and trying to stop:) so wondering if that might be a culprit, plus sitting at XXXXXXX devises for long periods of time-both want to cut back on!
I also have had this dry tickle cough that I believe is from my BP med I was put on over a year/half ago (Lisinopril 10/12 1 x daily-a low dose) but do know that the dry cough is a very common side effect to this drug. I am actually going to ask to be taken off of it and put on one that doesn't have this side effect. The cough and mild facial acne all started when taking Lisinopril.
I'm not battling w/itchy eyes or scratchy throat and actually not much sinus pressure (?) which I relate to sinus infection but do have a constant mild stuffy nose and can feel mucus settling between my nose and throat. (Feel like I need to snort or spit it out a lot.) I take it you're suggesting I see a Dr and get some medicine (antibiotic) for it? I'm sure that is causing nausea feeling when I get it?
Re: the neck area (CS)-are there exercises to help strengthen and elongate that area? I slept on a different pillow last night and actually helped a lot, slept better!
Brief Answer:
Follow up answer
Detailed Answer:
Hello again,
First I will talk about Cervical spondylosis - Yes, there are strengthening and stretching exercises to help relieve the muscle tension and increase muscle strength.
An example of such exercise is chin tuck. There are also other exercises available which are described in detail and available on Spine-health website.
you can also apply heating pad to relieve the muscle tension and take Advil to relieve pain. If stretching and exercising are not helping, then muscle relaxants like Cyclobenzaprine can be tried.
It is also important to maintain good posture while sitting. Take breaks to stretch your neck while using the computer. Make sure you are sleeping on comfortable mattress and pillow.
The dripping feeling down the throat that you are describing is called Post-nasal drip. It is commonly seen in sinusitis. If the post-nasal drip is severe and you notice thick mucus, then treatment with Antibiotics is required. 7-10 day course of Amoxicillin is the treatment of choice. You can follow up with an ENT specialist to undergo ENT examination and get started on antibiotics.
Long term management with allergy medications like Cetirizine will also be needed if the sinusitis is triggered by allergy.
The cough you are experiencing could be due to two reasons- either post nasal drip associated with sinusitis or Lisinopril. Since the onset of cough and acne is coinciding with the start of Lisinopril, it is worth to try switching to another anti hypertensive. Alternate antihypertensives of choice include beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers or angiotensin receptor blockers. Please be advised to follow up with your treating physician to switch to alternate anti-hypertensive.
Hope this answers your question
Please address further questions here
Regards,
Dr.Lekshmi
Follow up answer
Detailed Answer:
Hello again,
First I will talk about Cervical spondylosis - Yes, there are strengthening and stretching exercises to help relieve the muscle tension and increase muscle strength.
An example of such exercise is chin tuck. There are also other exercises available which are described in detail and available on Spine-health website.
you can also apply heating pad to relieve the muscle tension and take Advil to relieve pain. If stretching and exercising are not helping, then muscle relaxants like Cyclobenzaprine can be tried.
It is also important to maintain good posture while sitting. Take breaks to stretch your neck while using the computer. Make sure you are sleeping on comfortable mattress and pillow.
The dripping feeling down the throat that you are describing is called Post-nasal drip. It is commonly seen in sinusitis. If the post-nasal drip is severe and you notice thick mucus, then treatment with Antibiotics is required. 7-10 day course of Amoxicillin is the treatment of choice. You can follow up with an ENT specialist to undergo ENT examination and get started on antibiotics.
Long term management with allergy medications like Cetirizine will also be needed if the sinusitis is triggered by allergy.
The cough you are experiencing could be due to two reasons- either post nasal drip associated with sinusitis or Lisinopril. Since the onset of cough and acne is coinciding with the start of Lisinopril, it is worth to try switching to another anti hypertensive. Alternate antihypertensives of choice include beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers or angiotensin receptor blockers. Please be advised to follow up with your treating physician to switch to alternate anti-hypertensive.
Hope this answers your question
Please address further questions here
Regards,
Dr.Lekshmi
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Kampana
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