I'm wondering. From severe muscle wasting in '07, I come into my PCS already engaging in strenuous stretching exercises of all my neck muscles--watch out for these obscure names, but to identify, we're talking stuff like scalene, sternocleiodomastoid, longus colli, and others. There are no abrupt movements or shaking; but I'm twisting, turning, bending forward, just about every movement possible with the head and neck, as far as I can go, with all my might (and it usually hurts, but it seems I have to do it to get these damn things back to their original length.)

Is there any chance I could disturb my brainstem? After my injury, I did not detect any new neck issues, but I already had issues of shortened neck muscles, which conceivably could have masked a small new issue.

What can disturb the brain stem is inflammation of the neck muscles and cervical vertebra joints. Personally, I would never do such intense neck exercises. I found that PT's who did such to measure range of motion caused more harm than good. If I had muscle tightening, my PT would use myofacial release to reduce the spasm.

If muscles are in spasms or have triggerpoints , all the stretch " work "will not help..
it will only make muscles react more.

The muscles you mention are often related to thoracic outlet syndrome, what was the cause of your muscle wasting?
our TOS forum link for more info-
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum24.html

You might benefit from some Gaston or gua shua
https://www.google.com/search?q=gua+...ua+sha&tbm=vid
https://www.google.com/search?q=gua+...ston+technique
https://www.google.com/search?q=gua+...+point+therapy
http://www.selfcare4rsi.com/fascia.html

My PT was very helpful at reducing my TOS. It was causing all kinds of problems. But, stretching and range of motion was not her solution.

Thanks, guys.

What is TOS? Thoracic outlet syndrome?

I was laid up for a year in '07--incredible, but true, I was bedridden most of the hours of the day not moving except when up on crutches to eat and little else. I was immobilizing my right hip. This was, of course, way too much; I should've started working my muscles after no more than ten weeks but I didn't really know what I was doing.

Many important muscles wasted. They either shortened, like aforementioned neck muscles, or weakened severely. My right quad and foot were so severe I could not walk until 10 weeks of work just to take one step without the crutches.

I have been doing these stretches on many muscles since '09 or so. As far as I know they aren't inflamed and I don't think the C-vertebrae are inflamed . . It takes a huge effort to get results to my experience: I really see improvement and it will take a lot for the most severely shortened.

But I notice from diagrams that when you flex your neck you might be flexing the brainstem? Here's where I got my stretches, take a look.

http://www.stretching-exercises-guid...stretches.html