Am i injured?

Today during football practice i went helmet to helmet with a guy and felt an instant sharp pain in my neck. i didn't want to look like a wuss, so i toiughed it out and finished practice continui...

Today during football practice i went helmet to helmet with a guy and felt an instant sharp pain in my neck. i didn't want to look like a wuss, so i toiughed it out and finished practice continuing to get the crap beat out of it. and now it's about 4 hours later and i cant move my neck what so ever, i have to turn my entire body to look around...

serious enough to see a doctor?

pop a few more IB's and tough it out?
Additional Details
i'll see if mom can get an appointment tomorow morning thanks for all the help.

and just incase its any big deal, the neck pain extends down my back but only to my shoulder blades, and my lower back has been cramping up all night... i've had alot of cramps in alot of weird places, but never my lower back

Wildcat92	Go see your Doctor in the AM.

hope v	i dont know why you wear a helmet you obviously have no brain to protect, see a doctor stupid

Da Q	no dude what you need to do ishave is massages very well and tka eit easy use pillows not one or two try three and make sure your back and spine stay alligned to support your neck it is probably just hurting cause of the muscles . don't worry. it will feel better i n a few days ..

R W	Go to the ER now

Smilingcheek	When I was in highschool, a very popular guy got hurt at football practice and toughed it out. A couple of days later, after pain, headaches, vision problems, he had a seizure during a game. He had a severe trauma when he first got hurt and because he waited it got worse, his brain was slowly bleeding and he ended up in the hospital for weeks. He was very smart before, and after he lost quite a bit of brain function and has never been the same. Was so sad! You might have popped a vertebre that could end up swelling and causing major problems- IT IS NOT WORTH THE CHANCE! Go tell your parents, and have them take you to the Dr.! Take care- give us an update!

Lindsey	I agree with Liz S. See a doctor.

sassy	your hurt.. tell someone. Have it looked at.. now.

qbcoffey	I would think you should try to be seen by a doctor as soon as possible, and before football practice again. You may make matters worse by waiting.

Liz S	c a doctor...maybe cracked a bone,..but probably a strain.Good Luck!!...Be careful next time!!...lol!

Lily	Buddy, If ever in doubt go see your doctor! If you cannot move your neck at all that is serious stuff. You may have also injured your back which is causing the pain in your neck. NO you are not a wuss if you go see about it... you would be called smart for doing so. Good luck!

Kelli	Go see the doctor, what if you knocked something out of joint? You could make it worse with your next tackle.

Claire	what most likely happened is that you have pinched a couple nerves in your neck. what the doctor will give you is a few muscle relaxers and some pain medication, such as hydrocodone. but you must see a doctor.

bewareofgirl411	It really depends on what kind of pain you're in. If it feels like your muscles, You're probably fine. It will hurt in the morning and be sore. I wouldn't do any hitting in football tomorrow though. You have to let it heal. Icing it and taking some kind of ibprofen will help make you feel better and be more comfortable. If you have an athletic trainer at your school, I strongly suggest going in and telling her/him what happened. (s)he can give you some better advice and help you massage it out. Don't worry about looking like a wimp, your coach and team mates DON'T want to see you more seriously hurt, I promise. If its a sharp pain that seems to come more from your spine, go to the ER. Spines really aren't something to mess around with. They can leave you paralyzed if you injure your spinal chord. That means no walking, not to mention football, ever again.

bigrob	A friend of mine had a similar experience, many years ago, his father didn't think it was anything to worry about and did not take him to the doctor. Today, he cannot function as a normal person does. He has to take massive amounts of pain killers just to get through the day--everyday. It turned out that he had actually broken something in his neck. If they had gotten to it early on he would have been OK. GO SEE A DOCTOR RIGHT AWAY!!!!

bulukang	get well soon

cyanne2ak	Yes that is serious enough to see a doctor! You could have only strained your neck. You could also have pinched a nerve, slipped a disc, or even cracked a vertebrae. I strongly, STRONGLY, suggest that you go to the emergency room. It IS that serious. You could indeed wake up paralyzed if you sleep on it tonight.

pete1at	just ice it and heat it later, i would tell coach if its in da neck, i had da same problem im all good now, i didnt go c a doctor so. just dont b practicin 2marow.

jennifer c	You should go to the doctor. It sounds like whiplash, and if it is, you will loose all muscles in your neck. Really the only thing the doctor can do is give you a note to get out of football practice. Unless you keep messing it up... You have to let your body heal. Go to the doctor and take the IB.

Angy FFRTFC	No, never take a chance with your neck and back. You could have done many different things some worse than others. On the simple side, you could have caused a subluxation of the vertebrae. You could have just temp. traumatized the muscles of your neck and upper shoulders. The possibility exists that you could have done major damage to your spine, that doesn't always show up right away with physical symptoms. You should be checked out by a regular medical Dr., and also PLEASE do yourself a favor and have a qualified Chiropractor to exam you and treat you. ( Even if it turns out nothings wrong, football players can improve their game by regularly seeing a chiropractor. When you've checked out, make an appointment with a certified or licensed Massage Therapist. They can Loosen up and re balance your muscles that in either case have been traumatized. Also follow the instructions from cdptqt. If you experience any of those symptoms he listed call 911 and get help ASAP, or you can have permanent injury.

Kuji	Go to the doctor. It's probably not a huge deal but you need to have it checked out. Neck injuries are nothing to fool around with. I had a neck injury from a car accident and didn't get it treated until about 10 days later when it didn't get better on its own. I ended up needing months of PT that could have beeen avoided if I had treated it properly in the beginning.

Kim Carter	Pop those ib's but definitely go to the doctor like the emergency room now could have done something to your spinal column

bigmac	See a doctor, have it checked properly. You may not have quadriplegia or quadriparesis now but if there is a serious injury and it progressed you may develop some sort of permanent paralysis. Don't have it massaged, never ! until it's thoroughly checked. Follow the majority's advice, see a doctor!

mistify	If this is a musculoskeletal injury, there is about a 90% chance that you will feel rapidly better over the next few days. Pain and inflammation from the injury may be causing muscle spasms which may inhibit your movement. First aid for musculoskeletal injuries is to rest and ice for the first 24-48 hours (cold packs NOT directly on the skin for 5-10 minutes at a time, no more frequent than every 2-4 hours). Gentle heat such as a prolonged hot shower may be resumed after this period of time as well as some Gentle stretching. You SHOULD see a physician if you develop any of the following conditions: 1. Progression, rather than regression of pain. 2. Pain, numbness or tingling that radiates into the arm 3. weakness of the arm You should have someone call paramedics to take you to the ER immediately if: 1. You develop numbness and tingling in BOTH upper extremities 2. You develop symptoms in the upper AND lower extremities 3. You experience loss of balance, bowel and bladder function or any other neurologically controlled functions. I would definetely refrain from practice tomorrow.

my_mas0n	it could be anything from a sprain to damaged vertebra.i would go to the hospital.

venuslpn	Try going to see a chiropractor, always helps me, you probably just pulled a muscle or pinched a nerve.

IMNOTOKAY!!!	yehaa!!!go see a doctor or chiropractor asap

fbomonkey	SEE A FREAKIN DR. TONIGHT! YOU CAN BREAK YOUR NECK AND STILL WALK AROUND! Best case is you just pinched a nerve and you will only be out for a week or two.

$tefanie	You should definitely see a doctor, as neck injuries can be very serious.