Neck & upper back tightness/cramped - help?

[LiveWell]

I have had a tightness in my neck area and upper shoulder area for the past three days. I am positive that I did not strain anything and it happened as the day went on at work where I do no physical labor. I sit in an office all day at a computer. It was getting pretty bad last night (its still therenow, just not hurting when I move slightly) and I thought I might want to get to a doctor in a few days.

My question is .. I was reading through the forums again and it dawned on me that maybe its a lack of something. I KNOW that when you get cramps your lacking in potasium or magnesium or even calcium .. but when I think of cramps I think of leg cramps or giant crippling charlie horses. Then it dawned on me.. am I simply cramping up???

Has anyone had any experience in back, neck, shoulder cramps from lack of nutrients? And, more importantly, what should I go get to try and ease it? I already take OneADay carbsmart, flax, fish, borage oil, Vit D, Vit C. ---- I ran out of extra calcuim pills and keep forgetting to get more.

[LOOPS]

Did you calcium pills have magnesium in them? Because I know that taking calcium without magnesium can result in or make magnesium deficiency a lot worse.

Also if you are taking extra vitamin D you need to take extra calcium and magnesium to process it.

Try to get some calcium and magnesium that has an absorbable form of magnesium (i.e. anything but magnesium oxide or carbonate).

Potassium is important too - I just use lite salt. Cramps can be caused by either too little calcium or magnesium. I take both.

[LiveWell]

Did you calcium pills have magnesium in them? Because I know that taking calcium without magnesium can result in or make magnesium deficiency a lot worse.



No they had extra vit D.. just as the Vit D pill has a little calcium in it. I thought you only needed the two to react together, I didnt know you needed the three - I dont even know if they sell it like that.

[mike_d]

I sit in an office all day at a computer. That will do it to me-- turned out it was my eyesight, I had to get special glasses for the computer so I don't slouch. Maybe adjust the monitor or keyboard position? I also use a trackball instead of the mouse, they can cause shoulder pain. Aleve (Naproxen) should clear it up. Or a heating pad.

There are many OSHA links on this topic.

http://www.ergonomics.com.au/pages/400_useful_info/420_how_to_sit.htm

[LOOPS]

Yes they do sell combinations - but there was a recent study done on the absorbability of Mg oxide and it came out at something like 4%. This is the type most cal/mag pills have. So you can end up absorbing the calcium and not the magnesium.

I take magnesium malate and whatever calcium is to hand (right now a mixture of calcium malate and calcium citrate), plus some cod liver oil.

[cs_carver]

you dropped a supplement, and got symptoms, and wonder if the lack of supplement has anything to do with it. Seems a good idea to replace the supplement and see what happens.

Although I'd also vote for glasses, or glare, or a shift in your screen, or somebody messed with your chair. I get supplement-lack cramps in my legs first, and upper body problems are almost always due to posture or movement of some kind.

Good luck.

[LiveWell]

Thanks for the info and suggestions. I never really thought of posture. I work Sat and Sun 16 hours straight both days so it may have finally just taken a toll on me for the weekend. :wave:

[deb34]

my aunt had neck pain for 5 days....turns out she had a heart attack and didn't know it...my point is, if it is out of the ordinary pain for you, you should always see your doctor before trying to self diagnose.... at least call a doctors office and ask to speak to a nurse or somebody who could give you guidance about whether you should go in for a check up....