Short history. I am convinced this stems back to a car crash I had a year ago when I suffered whiplash. An x-ray was taken but they never examined me and I didn't have an MRI. Took a good month for the pain to subside and I have been getting problems ever since. To me my neck has never felt right since the accident. The pain is always in the same place and can be triggered by silly things like turning my head too quickly or bumping my head on something. As well as the periodic pain I get pins and needles in my hand radiating from the thumb area.
Anyway, my neck went again a week ago and so I went to an osteopath and having seen her a couple of times last week she thinks I need an MRI as she thinks I potentially have disc damage in the region of C3 C4. Apparently my neck should have a nice curve but instead has more a kink and she is unable unable and unwilling to manipulate my neck as it is rock solid there. Although I do have movement of my neck it is painful. I also have some reduced reflexes in my right arm, though she's not sure if that is related.
Now she has said no neck exercises until the hospital assess me but I can't even get into see the Musculoskeletal Team until the end of the month, let alone get a scan. So my question is based on what I've said what general exercise do you think I can do?
No cycling obviously. And nothing where I would pull on my neck muscles. Would gentle jogging be ok or should I stick to walking? Swimming? (crawl not breast stroke). Cross trainer in the gym? I am in a lot of pain at the moment and so I'm not expecting to do big stuff just want to know what I can do to keep myself active without causing further damage to my neck.
Any advice very gratefully received.