Pain in the neck

http://forums.sv650.org/showthread.php?t=167666

Originally Posted by mister c

Dont know what sort of age you are, but I'm 48. A couple of years ago I suffered from severe neck pains. I put it down to the way I was sitting whilst using the PC for long periods. It got to the point where I couldn't stand the pain anymore, so went to the doctors. I was diagnosed as having Cervical Spondylosis. You can read about it HERE. The Doctor put it down to my age as well.
The pain has gone now, but I have been left with constant pins & needles in my left hand, but I'm used to it now.

I too am 48 (which I don't consider to be that old!) and I too spend a lot of time at a PC at work, which I am considering as a possible cause

After a bad break on my ankle from an off many years ago I started a couple years ago with bad pain and swelling in the ankle, went for X-Ray and found the bone had grown into the joint slightly, they said they couldn't do anything with it, but when it gets to the point I can't walk with it they can fuse it together I was told to try Glucosomine Sulphate tablets and since taking those haven't had a bad flair up since

[Sir Trev]

Originally Posted by Longway

I too am 48 (which I don't consider to be that old!) and I too spend a lot of time at a PC at work, which I am considering as a possible cause

Sounds like your desk needs a Health and Safety assessment. Seriously. If your employer is not providing adequate desking and/or inadequate I/T equipment to fit your form they can be up for negligence. If you're looking down at a laptop screen all day you WILL get neck ache - you need a dock station and proper screen/keyboard if you're mainly desk bound. Height of your chair to the desk, leg length and so on - all affect posture and can cause pain. Working for a large paranoid US company helps here as I get checked every year. Was based on a customer site for nine months and argued for a docking set up as I was getting neck ache - finding the site H&S rep was the best thing I did as he had the kit installed within 48 hours and the pain stopped.

Seriously, try glucosamine. Preferably the one with added chondroitin. It's great stuff I've got disc stenosis in neck and ride a naked bike and have been so much better since taking it.

[Fallout]

I used to suffer from mild neck pain when riding, and I put it down to posture and PC use too. I'm only just 30, so needed to nip it in the bud. One thing to try is your sleeping habits. You can mess your neck up at night time, but not feel the effects until you ride. I found swapping to a flat pillow, rather than the big fat fluffy thing I had before, has worked. My neck can be straight when I'm kipping on my back. Has worked wonders for me.

Also, doctors can be useless numpties. If you're not happy, get a second opinion. I know so many people who get crap advice, go somewhere else, then get something done. Good luck from the newbie.

Originally Posted by rictus01

Obviously after you have ruled out any medical cause and if you can defiantly trace it back to the bike, here are a few things you may like to concider.

There are a few known causes of neck pain to watch out for, not really anything to do with it being naked or faired, make sure you actually sit straight on the bike and not slightly to one side (often found with people who are shorter in the leg as they have a preferred side to slide off when stopping), another is rounded tensed shoulders as well as gripping too hard on the bars.

on a naked bike it's a common mistake to "hold on" to the bars more as speed builds, try to avoid this and take the added strain through your lower back maintaining a good posture by gripping with the knees (perhaps stomp grip or alike could help).

at very high speeds you can try "pushing" your chin back (not down) and tensing the neck muscles, but that's only required a three figured speeds really.

I've done well over a million miles on naked bikes throughout the years and those things have served me well.

cheers mark.

+1 I have a street triple r and did a 5.5hr m1 journey just before crimbo and I had no pains at all, simply because I don't strain, I relax and grip with my legs yes you get a little muscle ache in your legs afterwards but it's better than neck ache, get yourself an x-ray, I have osteoarthritis in my lower back and this was diagnosed with an x-ray, and it doesn't bother me at all.