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Hi there,I have a question about my son. He just turned 7 years old last month. Last night before bed he began complaining that his neck hurt, the side and front area, not the back of his neck. He can touch his chin to his chest with no pain. When he turns his head to his left he feels pain on the right side of his neck. When he turns his neck to the right he says there is no pain. If he lifts his chin up, he feels pain in the front of his neck. He says his throat is not sore when he swallows. I've touched his neck and he said that did not bother him. He has no fever. I'd like to know if I need to have him seen by his pediatrician or if this is merely a muscle sprain that will resolve on its own? Thanks,Leah
Optional Information: Person's Gender: male Person's Age: 7 Already Tried: Rest and a cream, Traumeel.
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Hi! I'm sorry your son is having difficulty. I'll see if I can help.
In the absence of sore throat, headache, fever, stomach ache, rash, and/or nausea/vomiting (in other words, if there's nothing but the neck issue) it sounds like this is a simple muscle strain. He could have slept awkwardly or strained in doing a sport, jumping on a trampoline, etc.
I would recommend ibuprofen every 6-8 hours as needed for the next couple of days.
Great, thank you! I'm here and can give you more information if needed.
If he is no better after that time, I might suggest he be checked out just to be sure it's nothing more. Sometimes kids have trouble distinguishing "throat" from "neck", although if he's not having pain with swallowing and is only having pain with movement it sounds muscular.
The ibuprofen should do the trick.
Okay, what should I be looking for that would require a trip to the doctors office? Any particular symptoms?
The above list that I mentioned (fever, sore throat, headache, body rash, nausea/vomiting). This sounds pretty straight forward, however. If the ibuprofen doesn't resolve it there are prescription medications we sometimes give (like muscle relaxants) but I find those are very rarely needed.
Okay, great! Thank you very much for your time and the valuable information.
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Experience: 14 years in private practice in the U.S.