I have chronic neck/shoulder pain, and most drs. I know suggest that heat is better, but if you are in some fairly acute pain, you might need ice first.
Also, try some gentle stretches - but not while you've numbed it! - could be helpful. Slowly turning your head from one side to the other, and holding the stretch, and also trying to press your ear to your shoulder. Remember to move slowly and stop if the pain is too bad. I hope you feel better soon.
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"Good taste shouldn't have to cost anything extra." - Mickey Drexler
i suggest making an appointment to see your doctor, only because i'm dealing with something similar right now. i woke up about a week and a half ago with the right side of my neck/shoulder sore and stiff. after taking tons of ibuprofin over the next week, i finally went and saw my dr. on tuesday. he thinks that i'm having muscle spasms that are pinching a nerve. i've been on an anti-inflammatory and muscle relaxers since tuesday, and it's finally starting to get better. well, the pain is actually a bit sharper now, but there's less of it, if that makes sense. it probably doesn't help much that these are the wimpiest muscle relaxers ever - i could take two and not feel the slightest bit loopy - but i'm hoping that it's going away. constant pain for two weeks is no fun. it even wakes me up at night. hourly.
so i'd call and see if you can get an appt today before the holiday weekend, because if you wait and it ends up not going away or getting worse, you'll wish you had.
oh - and heat, not cold. at least that's what my dr. said for me.
hth!
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freedom's just another word for nothing left to lose - janis