Stiff neck, shoulder and back, re occurring.

[rufusgti]

36 Years old, average size and weight, manual work (carpenter).
I keep getting a really sore neck, or shoulders or back. Seems like if I lift something heavy, an hour later there's a twinge, stiff neck, walking like Frankenstein, and by the end of the day I'm in pain just sat here. Happens at least once a month.
How can I help prevent this form keep happening. Is it my body weakening with age, I never had to worry about lifting or carrying things before now. It first started carrying my boy when he was a toddler. Now it seems it's every time I lift something. Also getting really stiff ankles but that's probably something totally un connected.

[Winky151]

I'd go with a combination of things.
1. RSI - being a carpenter your job is predominantly upper body, similar action e.g sawing (old school I know as you probably use a machine saw but for example) & twisting
2. Form - in the gym you think of form when lifting weights but outside a lot of the time form goes out the window
3. Age - a niggling injury thats been there for a few years without fully clearing up

I'd think of reducing the weight of item your picking up (if you can. reduce the amount of tools in the toolbox for instance) & also how you lift things (children you tend to put on one hip rather than square on). Long term I'd look at trying pilates which will help with core strength & flexibility & help reduce these smaller injuries.

[popeyewhite]

rufusgti said:

.....It first started carrying my boy when he was a toddler. Now it seems it's every time I lift something. Also getting really stiff ankles but that's probably something totally un connected.

I'll bet ankles are unconnected too. My guess is you've pulled a back/neck muscle, trapezius/rhomboid - possibly one or both. Each time you lift something now you irritate it and it becomes painful. In short you've developed a chronic injury. Gp then physio to identify the injured muscle. Meantime no lifting.

[Biker 1]

I had the recurring stiff neck every couple of months from about 35 until late forties. I was a manual worker, landscaping, until the age of 30, then did various other hands-on stuff, until doing mostly office from 35. Turns out the issue was actually stress/anxiety, so I had 9 months of weekly counselling & am now much better.
Also, osteopath helped a lot....

[Patch1875]

Biker 1 said:

I had the recurring stiff neck every couple of months from about 35 until late forties. I was a manual worker, landscaping, until the age of 30, then did various other hands-on stuff, until doing mostly office from 35. Turns out the issue was actually stress/anxiety, so I had 9 months of weekly counselling & am now much better.
Also, osteopath helped a lot....

I'm been having issues with my neck and shoulders for months now and I think it's stress and anxiety like yourself which is the cause of it all. It's much worse in the morning and evenings but not to bad when active during the day. I had a few issues earlier this year with my health which triggered stress I feel much better now with that problem but now Im going round in circles stressing about my neck and shoulders!

Had a few sessions of physio which has helped short term but can't seem to solve it completely.

[Steve Campbell]

Would also recommend seeing an osteopath for back / shoulder or neck problems. I had recurring back twinges, osteo sorted me out with massage, manipulation and some strengthening exercises at the time. I was very dubious at first, having always relied on physio for sports injuries. However, it was just like Greek wrestling with a physio ;-).