Arther: pain in the neck!

dorcas

I'm having increasing probs with arther in my neck, pain on tilting and turning and now stiff and sore in the mornings.

I wondered what other peeps do that helps and whether anyone has used a neck brace. Does it help? does anything help?

thanks,

Iris x

skezier

Oh Iris I am so sorry cus out of all the pain I got the neck is the worst. A ((( ))) and now the advice.....

Mine is totally shot, too far gone for surgery its got dehydrated and bulging disc and is chucking out bone all over the place.

I was put on pregabalin and that helped but the referral to the pain clinic was a god send this time. I had that with my lumber and it wasn't so good but either times have changed or I have bumped into an incredible good doc (and actually I have!)

Neck braces...... yep they do help mine but I don't have one now as the rumo said the muscles will be a better friend and he brace would make them weak....

I have worked for long time building up the muscles both in my back ands neck and rally thing that's helped so much.

I also have tempery de-nerveing and have had a lot of top up trigger points as my shoulder just wont relax, it does with them though!

I kinda wonder if you could see a pain clinic? Luv and another ((( ))) Cris xx

dorcas

Hi Cris,

thanks so much...you've given me a lot to think about. I've never been referred to a pain clinic and wasn't sure if it would help / what they could do more than rheummy?
I've not been on pregabalin either so will look that up...

May be a change in pain meds would help but my 'new' doc has already refused to prescribe some of my regular meds, despite them being listed by ortho and rheummy and my previous doc; so just what he would say or do if I turn up in his surgery I can't imagine. :roll: I 'm not seeing Rheummy until July which is after my op, so I feel a bit stuck!

The balance between physical support and muscle wasting is interesting and I definitely don't want to lose more than I have by using a brace. if there's a chance of doing that. :!:

I've swallowed all the pain meds I can this morning but can hardly move my head; feels it's up under the back/ base of the skull and giving me whopping headache to boot. arther is such a bloomin pain. :x

thanks for the (((hugs)) Cris...amazing how they help.

Iris x

skezier

Hi Iris,

Pain clinics specialise in stopping pain and they understand it so much better than the consultants who actually understand it so much better then gp's who are woefully bad at knowing what pain is and what it does! I really can recommend the medrone into the mylin sheath and also the trigger points so think that would be your way forward.

Its not helping for today.... Try a scarf round you neck, it gives a bit of support but I honestly think a collar will weaken your muscles and for me its the muscles that hole both my back and neck together... the bones don't

Pregabalin is a nerve blocker. Its up there with the morphine and opium tablets but its better for me cus it doesn't make you sleepy or sick. The gp may put you on gabapentin first, my rumo jumped them cus he said I needed something heavy.

Good luck Iris and I honestly know how bad neck pain is.... mine used to get me to the point of just wanting to cut it off and a feeling of total paralyzation actually. I used to walk around sobbing cus it hurt so much but the pain clinic and the pregabalin have knocked that sideways

Oh my loons have just paid you a visit They are not as nice as your though.... (((( )))) Cris xx

valval

hi have trouble in neck find ice helps but do not put it on till things get bad as hate doing it will try anything else first lol wrap in towle keep in place 20-30 min takes swelling out and blocks pain for me good luck hope you get some help soon

sharmaine

Hi Iris

Sorry to hear that you're not well. Have you seen your GP about this? Do you think physiotherapy would help?

I hope someone comes up with some good advice for you soon.

What type of pillow do you sleep on?

Sharmaine

dorcas wrote:

I'm having increasing probs with arther in my neck, pain on tilting and turning and now stiff and sore in the mornings.

I wondered what other peeps do that helps and whether anyone has used a neck brace. Does it help? does anything help?

thanks,

Iris x

dorcas

skezier wrote:

I honestly know how bad neck pain is.... mine used to get me to the point of just wanting to cut it off and a feeling of total paralyzation actually. I used to walk around sobbing cus it hurt so much but the pain clinic and the pregabalin have knocked that sideways

Oh my loons have just paid you a visit They are not as nice as your though.... (((( )))) Cris xx

Hi Cris, thanks again for the advice.
I'm sorry, you've had arther neck probs for such a long time and here I am whingeing away! :oops:
I have had a scarf around my neck all day and throwing the pain meds over like sweeties (exaggerating but you know what I mean). It's like having your neck in a crusher and I feel as though my head could fall off. :shock: holding my head up with my hand helps a bit

If it doesn't ease I'll phone and speak to the rheummy ward tomorrow.

(saw the loons...how grreat are they. Ruby thinks Slipper boy is ace; she has no shame...and her a 'married' lady too! )

Irisx

dorcas

valval wrote:

hi have trouble in neck find ice helps

Hiya val,

I hate cold..brrrr but if nothing else works I will try an ice pack!
thanks for the support...I know you're having a painful time of it too so I appreciate the advice.

(((HUGS))) and hope you get some ease too.

Iris x

woodbon

Hello I have neck pain, quite badly sometimes. The physio gave me some advice about the heigt of my pillows. She said that they should be no higher than the width of your shoulder to the head, if you know what I mean, I had only one at the time as I'd thought being flat might help, I have a memory foam pillow, with a soft foam one thats not very thick under it, but the memory foam has to be on top, or I wake up with an awful neck pain and headache, like today! :roll: also I put either something hot or something cold on my neck.

Love Sue

dorcas

sharmaine wrote:

. Have you seen your GP about this? Do you think physiotherapy would help? I hope someone comes up with some good advice for you soon. What type of pillow do you sleep on?
Sharmaine

Thanks Sharmaine
I haven't phoned my 'new' doc as it's not an emergency and am reluctant to make an appointment (I know it's stupid) as I have only seen him once and already crossed swords with him; he refused to prescribe the combination of meds I'm on as he says they're dangerous.... even though I had given him 2 reports from rheummy and ortho saying I have to have them and a copy of the repeat prescription from my previous doc.

Today I haven't the willpower or energy for another argument.

I don't know if physio would help but anything' worth considering, thanks :!: I can't sleep on a pillow that's anything thicker than about 3 inches.

I've had the neck arther for a wee while but today it's moved into another dimension of pain that I can't shift. :?

many thanks Sharmaine for the support

hope you're still doing OK post op...your thread and posting the progress you've made has been very interesting to follow.

Iris x

dorcas

Hi Sue,

I've not tried a memory foam pillow and have been sleeping almost flat because of my neck for years now thinking that was best; my daughter thought it was funny when we were away recently and I had to remove all the pillows from the hotel bed and sleep with my head on a folded towel!.

That's very interesting advice from your physio, thanks. definitely worth following up

sorry you've been having neck pain today too. hope it gets better soon for you too.
I'll try applying heat to see if that helps...then cold (brrr..) if all else fails!

Iris x

ironic

Hi Iris, neck pain is truly the pits I know. My Mother in law had it badly and she always wore a gossamer scarf as the thicker ones were too heavy for her. In those days (20 odd years ago) the dr would give her a large bottle of pain killers. Those where the days when we were responsible adults and could be trusted with medicine!! She also had a neck brace which she was supposed to wear 24/7 but like Cris said she thought it would weaken her neck muscles but she always wore it at night. So that might be an alternative for you. Mind you, she was also a great believer in Comfrey and Wintergreen, erm…There was an interesting aroma when we walked in I can tell you. Ix

dorcas

thanks Ironic!
I loved the comfrey and wintergreen suggestion! made me laugh
....but who knows..sometimes 'old' remedies work best so if i get really desperate then it'll be another case of ' smell me before you see me' too.

maybe night brace would help? good idea...thanks,


Iris x

mellman01

The only thing I have found that helps me with my knackered neck is Nortryptaline but it has side effects so it's not a panacea.

dorcas

mellman01 wrote:

The only thing I have found that helps me with my knackered neck is Nortryptaline but it has side effects so it's not a panacea.

Thanks mellman

every little bit helps...(oh my gawd! I sound like a tesco ad )

Iris x

skezier

Hi Iris,

You whinge away girl it does us good!

I think mine is 10 years now and its shot to bits but I have found it gets easier....... Its interesting cus when mine is bad I find holding my chin up helps.... Ben known to hold my head either side and take the weight :roll: Pregabalin flower, see if they will let you try it and get it checked out cus my uselesses wouldn't and by the time I asked the rumo it was too late to remove the discs cus the whole thing is unstable.... Wonder what that means...... can it collapse :shock: Best get some RSJ in eh? Sorry iris I shall go away and find a sensible head in a min.....

hey tell Ruby he would love to play with her but he is neutered hey can't you see what he is? (((( )))) Cris xx

Oh Iris personally I think talking to your rumo would be better than talking to a gp........

marion1952

Dear Iris

So sorry to hear about your neck pain.. I can't give any advice I'm afraid, only to say that my Mum, who had OA, used to find a collar very helpful..

Hope you have a better night..

Marion x

cheshirefay

Hello Iris,
Neck pain is awful , I really feel for you!
I have had a bad neck for twenty + years so can give you a few ideas on what helps me.
The thin but supportive pillow is a must , also try a rolled up hand towel under your neck whilst lying on your side when you go to bed.
A hot water bottle or heat pack will relax your shoulder muscles , they are probably in spasm . A rub on anti inflammatory cream is great too .
I was told not to wear a brace because it will weaken my neck muscles and eventually make the problem worse.
I saw a really good pain specialist who prescribed Fentanyl , cocdamol for breakthrough pain and the occasional clonazepam. Ask your Gp to refer you to a pain clinic , they really know what they are doing regards pain.
If you can get someone to give you a bit of a massage , ask them to concentrate on rubbing the spine gently about 3/4 inches below your neck it will really help.
Hope you feel better soon . Fay x

Hope

dorcas

thank you Cris and Marion so much.x

thanks to you too Fay for all that information and advice on how to manage this awful neck pain

it is so helpful and I will follow up much of your advice....I'm just so sorry you've been suffering with neck arther for such a long time

I have been so well supported today by the great peeps on the forum. A big thank you to all from me.......




Iris x

mummyb

Hi Iris, so sorry to hear that you are having awful pain in your neck. I had this too, thankfully its calmed down a bit now. It's horrible and I hope you feel better soon. Just wanted to send you some hugs and best wishes. You are such a good support to others so its nice to be able to send you some good wishes

speedalong

Hi Iris, do you think you are suffering more with neck pain either because of the sorting out you have been doing with the floor being done or because you are not on all the meds you should be because of the new GP?

Cris (I think it was you Cris?) mentioned trigger points - I had a lot of pain due to tension problems and problems secondary to my OA (my body being wonky) causing problems in my neck and the whole heat and ice treatment plus treating my trigger points as a combination treatment really helped.

Iris - will your rhumy not contact the GP in the meantime re meds, it is a shame to have to wait for your next appointment.

Speedalong

dorcas

Thank you so much Brenda!

it's lovely to have you with us on the forum and I hope you now feel part of our happy gang!
you are very kind and I am just so glad to be supported by such great peeps.....


Iris x

mummyb

dorcas wrote:

Thank you so much Brenda!

it's lovely to have you with us on the forum and I hope you now feel part of our happy gang!
you are very kind and I am just so glad to be supported by such great peeps.....


Iris x

I'm beginning to feel quite at home here thanks. I have found it to be such a great support and comfort to keep up with whats going on for everyone. Its really helping me to come to terms with my own situation and is good to know I'm no longer on my own with this. Thanks so much for welcoming me and I really do hope you are feeling much better soon

dorcas

Hi speedalong

I was beginning to think that the upheaval of the past couple of days, lifting things I shouldn't and lack of sleep have probably caused this pain and yes not having my meds has had an impact too!

it's a bit of a dilemma as I could phone rheummy and get him to pull rank but it's early days in my 'relationship' with the new GP and I was hoping that once he gets to know me he will realise I'm really not at risk of poisoning myself and reinstate my meds!

you're right, Cris did mention 'trigger points'.do you know I have to admit to ignorance because I don't know anything about trigger points or how they are treated. :?: when I think about it my treatment options have been a bit limited.

I've had lots of great advice today from everyone here and will try some of the techniques mentioned. maybe things will settle down over night. :? I do tend to respond well to applied heat so am preparing a heat pack to take to bed; that plus a scarf plus rolled up towel plus tramadol and a hot drink. (no massage Fay cause got nobody to do it)

thanks speedalong. Iris x

dorcas

mummyb wrote:

I'm beginning to feel quite at home here thanks. I have found it to be such a great support and comfort to keep up with whats going on for everyone. /quote]

Glad you feel that way Brenda!
it's true, it does help us to come to terms with arther. The more you join in the posts on the forum the quicker you feel part of the family so don't be shy about posting as everyone will just be so pleased that you do .....but it is highly addictive so don't say I didn't warn you!

you need never be alone again!

Iris xxx

skezier

Hi Iris,

Hope its a bit easier tonight?

Hey trigger points are the bits that make the muscle relax but cus mine just wont the pain clinic doc injects a bit of steroid and local into it and it makes them relax. Somethings they can't argue with They don't last long and well ask your gp for a) referral to the pain clinic and b) try you on the pregabalins.... they do work and they help all of my bones Be honest when I was put on them my rumo and I had just had the quality of life discussion...... see that's how good they were for me cus now I don't need that discussion ((( )))Cris xx

Hi Brenda,

I am glad you feel that way too and well you ain't alone with this lot xx