How do you know if your neck is swollen?

It sounds like a simple question. Wouldn't an injured neck feel puffy and, well.... swollen? It depends. It will, if you have a superficial injury or condition. If, however, you have been in a recent auto collision or sports injury or fall that involved your head being rapidly impacted, pulled or pushed, accelerated or decelerated, then no. It may not feel 'feel' swollen at all, rather, it will feel very, very tight. But the swelling is there!

I have the belief based on years of clinical practice that identifying a swollen neck is difficult. It has little to do with the practitioners' or patients' ability to detect what most of us perceive as a 'swollen' area on the body and everything to do with the anatomy of the neck.

The cervical anatomy is relatively complicated and intricate. It is downright astounding! There are a multitude of muscles that play a host of roles for us: help hold our head up, allow us to nod, look up, turn and flex from side to side. There are postural muscles, there are some that play a role in eye movement, proprioception and balance (subocciptals). Two connect to the tough dura mater tissue surrounding our spinal cord (RCPMi). Many muscles on the front side of our neck take the role of chewing, swallowing and speech (hyoids). Some assist with breathing (SCM, Scalenes), and others support us in the functions of talking, coughing, and sneezing (prevertebral group). One study done in 2009 looks at the significance of the deep muscles at the base of our skull (suboccipitals) in playing a role in effecting hamstring tension!

As fascinating as the multitude of neck muscle functions are, it is the connective tissue, or fascia that covers these muscles that is more significant in our conversation of swelling in the neck. One definition of fascia is a 'sheet or band of fibrous connective tissue enveloping, separating, or binding together muscles, organs, and other soft structures of the body.' If we were to remove all our organs, muscles, tendons, blood vessels and nerves, we would be left with a detailed framework for all those missing structures. It's everywhere. It can be very strong. It helps separate, compartmentalize and support many functions of the body. In the neck, there are many layers of fascia running superficial and deep to support the vast array of cervical musculature and structure.

When the neck is introduced to some form of trauma by getting tossed about, muscles or ligaments, for example, can get torn. Swelling will develop and progressively push against the closest layer of fascia. The greater the injury, the more swelling we find and so the greater the pressure that is exerted against these multiple layers of fascia. It is common for a recently 'whiplashed' neck to feel very 'tight' upon feel. It is a unique kind of tightness, however. Usually in a muscularly tight neck one can readily discern the multiple layers of tight muscles. With an edematous neck, and by this I mean a swollen one, that tightness disallows clear discernment of the muscle layers. The neck almost feels pressurized from the inside. Symptoms that go along with this tend to be pain, lack of movement, and 'guarding,' often with a head pressure or headache.

My working theory seems to be supported by the application of lymphatic techniques to such cervical calamity. The application of these specific techniques by a skilled technician can considerably improve the natural flow of the lymphatic system. By the end of a session, the guarding has decreased. It is easier to feel and identify individual muscles, especially the deeper ones. Range of motion improves as well as ease of movement. Pain decreases, sometimes to a surprising degree for the patient. Once this fluid draining system of the body has been elevated to a higher flow rate, it takes hours for it to return to a resting rate, all the time continuing to support the injured area by moving out excess swelling that promotes the next stage of the recovery process.

If you have the misfortune to be the recipient of a neck injury followed with noticeable tightness, you may be an excellent candidate for 'acute injury care'. Issaquah, Washington offers a tremendous network of health care providers that can support your recovery, from primary care physicians to quality acupuncturists, massage therapists and more. I invite you to 'optimize your early care', manage your swelling early on and progress so you can return to your full potential ASAP.