Can a neck strain last longer than ten months? i've had it since june of 2013 with some trouble swallowing, twitching and cramping. is this normal? wanted an emg which came back negative. please help.

Nerve impingement: Is a very common problem, affecting about 10-12% percent of the adult population in the us. Nerve impingement can be caused by being sandwiched between two spinal bones, pressed by a bulging disc or encroached upon by bony overgrowth. Rec.: see an interventional pain management specialist for further investigation.

Concerned!: Swallowing dysfunction is not normally encountered in typical cervical strain! a potential central neurologic cause must be excluded, especially if twitching is present with a normal emg/ncs, which should be repeated! a brain MRI should be done to exclude potential ms or other CNS conditions. If negative, then the possibility of a neuromuscular or a separate UGI disease could be considered.

Not normal: These symptoms would not be typical for a neck strain/ muscle injury. You need a complete neurological examination to help localize the injury