Stiff neck buddies?

As usual, I'm wondering if my pains/woes are real or imaginary. (Or perhaps self inflicted!) I have had almost life long anxiety issues, that come and go in waves, and a pretty strong health anxiety now that I'm in my 50's. Most problems these days DO have legitimate pieces, and I can't right everything off as being "young and healthy" like I could in the past.

Long story short, I would say I do NOT feel super stressed at the moment. I'm not feeling outright anxious, which in the past, I often feel. However, I have been having very regular neck pain and stiffness, which is concerning. I also get a chilled feeling in my neck, as if I have an ice pack on it, even though I don't.

My question here is whether others have felt this is an anxiety thing, rather than a true neck thing. Of course I'm worried about pinched nerves, slipped disks, etc. I have had no MRI/CT/etc testing done on my neck or back, but have seen both a chiropractor and a physical therapist, both of whom do not think it's a serious problem. I suppose I do "tense up" a lot, which doesn't help, but since starting PT I've been more self aware and would say I'm relaxing my body more, yet the pain and stiffness seem worse.

Any words of hope?

Thanks Scaredy! I found this lovely list of symptoms on my google search de jour.

www.gateways-to-inner-peace.com/physical-symptoms-of-anxiety.html

Fun times!

But your thoughts make perfect sense. I never used to have neck issues, but now that I'm focused there....of course they plague me. I know you aren't a doctor, but thinking out loud, if the massages from the chiro and PT make the pain go away, even temporarily, it can't be a chronic disc/etc issue, right? Right? LOL! Sorry!

As for your advice in general, this was on my daughter's bucket list, so we are both going for real massages next week, which I know will help greatly. Both the chiro and the PT have noted tense/tight muscles. Go figure. I can live with tense/tight muscles, but I worry about the actual spine/etc. (I'd rather NOT live with them though, and will try stretches and exercises. Thankfully the PT gave me several.)

It's already been a few weeks, but I suppose a few more can't hurt? I actually think things feel worse (than when I first started treatment), but that could be in part my focus on my neck. I have had other issues in the past that magically disappeared when my brain moved on to something else.

Oh Dixi, I hear you on the MRI! Had two head ones done in my lifetime, and would rather not repeat that process! Thanks for the thoughts. Will also try magnesium Gogo, thanks also! It feels good today at the moment. Fingers crossed. Feel better one and all!

I'm so glad you posted this because that's what I'm experiencing today! I've always held tension and stress in my neck and traps which has caused a plethora of anxiety provoking symptoms which is just so frustrating.
Massages held tremendously, as well as light stretching and keeping an eye on your sleeping positions.