<s>[INST] Out of nowhere my neck on the side and towards the back of it hurts. Also the top of my shoulder hurts. I workout everyday for football workouts but that never effected it. I felt fine until I was driving to a restaurant today. The entire time, I was miserable with neck pain and part of the symptoms are pain in my neck when I breath heavy or sniff and im on ibuprofen but it still hurts when I lay down. Im not sure whether its a spasm or pinched nerve or pulled muscle but its been hurting for the past 2-3 hours [/INST] Hi there, Thanks for your question at HCM. It is most likely muscle spasm. Ice pack application and gel application( analgesic gels) with rest can help relieve the spasm over initial 24 to 48 hours. If your neck hurts when you bend forwards, you should not use a pillow while sleeping. However you should consider and get evaluated for a pinched nerve if: 1.You have numbness of tingling sensation in your arms or fingers. 3. Any pain which is radiating along your arm downwards.( like sciatica pain in the legs) 3. Any muscle in your limb feels weak. 4. The pain does not subside in first 5 to 7 days after medicines and rest.Hope this helps. All the best. Regards.Dr.SBK </s>