My son is 7 and has started stretching his neck back every 2 to 3 minutes and I am not sure why. At first I thought it was a nervous twitch that he would do with his eyes because it looked involuntary but then he started complaining about neck pain . We just got back from vacation and I remember he fell out of the hammock onto his neck and landed on his neck on to the sand underneath him. I have a Dr appointment July 7th but until then I will just continue to give him Advil for children and alternate cold and heat. the thing that is bothering me the most is that he arches his neck backwards. He tells me it helps the pain but he can not tell me if he is doing it or if it is an involuntary movement. Any suggestions would be welcomed until I can get him to the Dr.
Hello Chris;welcome to Chat Doctor If your son had a fall landing on his neck he may get pain due to a possible internal injury and to get relief it may be that he is stretching his neck because keeping it in a particular position may be helping him so to avoid the pain he is doing it. Normally it happens that when any person tries to take a particular position to avoid pain or excess pain he may land up doing it involuntarily as a reflex to the pain. Please do not worry and keep giving him painkiller when required and by the time 7th July appointment comes you can get an X-ray of the cervical spine (neck) done, and you will get the report and also come to know whether there is any injury or fracture which is bothering him. With the X-ray you may consult the doctor. Thanks