New here.

pixie40

I did post this elswhere but was advised to come here as well with this one.

I injured my neck at work twice 19 years ago, 2 separate incidents. At the time I was treated for a pulled muscle and trapped nerve. Over the years I have had episodes where I would say "my shoulder has gone again" and it was always treated as the pulled muscle.
I have taken Diclofenac on and off over the years and had physio.
8 years ago occy health at my work referred me to physio for advice for them, I was told light duties, no heavy lifting, no carrying shopping bags, no hoovering, and other things that I cannot remember now, they stick in my mind for some reason.
But they did say my job was a major problem and by carrying on working I was causing more problems, and that once upon a time I may well have pulled the muscle but this had moved on and was now a problem with the actual bones in my neck.
He advised me to give up my career, which I did not do and I also refused to go on light duties. The thing that finally made me finish was maternity leave.
Over the past 6 years, with pregnancies and trying to get pregnant, I have been unable to take the Diclofenac, so took paracetamol as and when, which really did not help at all.
Gradually it has got worse, and I saw my GP 3 weeks ago, who has now told me I have arthritis in my neck and a curvature of the top of the spine.
I am waiting for physio again, but I am wondering what kind of work can I do with the arthritis and the curvature.

I have enquired and been told my previous career is not possible now.
I would like to work as we need the money, but as I am only 40 I do not want to do things that are going to make it worse and find by the time I am 50 I have a bad curvature.

To be honest, I always knew I would get arthritis in my neck, but the curvature has totally thrown me, I was certainly not expecting to be told that.

frogmorton

Hi Pixie

welcome to the forums from me.

Having to take the paracetamol only must have been so hard as the diclos are ant-inflamatory too. Poor you Have they given you new mediacation/treatment regime?

I had my back operated on just short of 40 so I understand what you are feeling.

Can i just ask - as it will help us respond what kind of work you actually do now? Work is obvioulsy really important to you, but so is your health.

Love

toni xx

skezier

Hi Pixie,

Welcome to the forum and sorry you have the arthritis.

I got it in my spine and neck and know the spine was in my 20's and its hard to get your head round flower when your younger. I don't know how much its effecting you but I do know its not going to be as bad as you might be thinking.

I hope the phyio hepls and if they don't suggest it ask for some strengthening exercises for the neck muscles cus muscles really help. I was lucky I had a lot of them... not so many now :roll:

I don't know what kind of work you can do but my neck was bad by your age and the lumber written off but I was still able to work, though was self employed and I think only you know your limits really.

I get completely the bit about not wanting to make it worse.... I don't know if I have knocked mine faster than it would have done. I didn't take it easy and I will never know if that's why it got this bad... bad being a easy word to use but its far more complex eh?

I juts do know categorically muscles are very important and they make it hurt less as well. I so hope you get many years useful service from the neck and like you mine came with an injury.

Hey you need a bit of time to get your head round it all and you also need a better tablet thing..... Have you seen an ortho at all? Sometimes they can help if they get it early enough? Anyway sorry its so long and nice to meet you. Cris x

dreamdaisy

Morning pixie, it's nice to meet you. I am afraid I have no wise words of any sort, my arthritis is totally different and I am still (just) managing to work but will be stopping soon I think (I am self-employed but lacking in stamina thanks to arthritis and meds). I began when I was 37, not as young as some but still early enough. Life is tough sometimes and all we can do is be tougher. I wish you well. DD

marion1952

Hello Pixie and welcome to the forum ..

Sorry to hear about your unexpected bad news about your spine..

I'm not the expert on the spine, but I can see that you have been given some good advice already and I'm sure some other peeps will be along soon to share their experiences with you.

Marion xx

ironic

Hi Pixie,

I just wanted to say welcome to the forum. Sorry I cannot give you much in the way of advice as I have RA. It is a terrible shock when you hear your life will be turned upside down. Do not make any decisions until you have seen the physio. Can you ask your employer if there are any positions where you can contribute to the work you were doing? Give yourself time to think.

In the mean time keep posting even if it’s just to let off some steam.
Lv, Ix

annie_mial

Just wanted to say Hi and Welcome!

I have an inflammatory arthritis so can't really help, but I've been one of the lucky ones, I was in my early fifties when it hit me.

Do keep posting and let us know what happens.

Annie

dorcas

Hi Pixie and welcome to the forum from me too.

you've had a bit of a shock with being told about your neck and having curvature of the spine and maybe need some time to digest what you've been told by your doc. :roll:
did he say what type of arthritis you have? as that can have a big influence on the advice you're given and the treatment you are prescribed.

I hope that physio will help you and that you do get proper pain relief too.

perhaps too.. having another chat with your doc will help you to decide what type of job would be suitable for you... from what you've said it can't involve heavy lifting.. but maybe there are other job opportunities around that wouldn't be so hard on you?

take care and let us know how you are.

Iris xxx

pixie40

Hi, thanks all for replying.

Having read through them all I realise I haven't given all the information.

When I saw my Gp, she put me back on Diclofenac, so I am taking the paracetamol just as back up at the mo.
The paracetamol was the only thing I could have for pregnancies.
I have used the Diclo on and off for the past 19 years and is by far, so far the best I have found to help.
I also use heat, from the microwavable beany type bag things you can get, that helps, and a warm bath most nights so I can soak it. It makes me ultra clean as I shower every morning as well
I have a pillow that keeps my spine and head all in alignment.

I have nursed, and it was while nursing I had the injuries, and as it got worse over the years, and I have had many physio sessions over the years, but occy health referred me again, and it was physio who, 8-9 yrs aago, told me it was not the pulled muscle I was originally treated for, but was not a bone problem, he said nursing was now a no no, and he would inform occy health of this.
He said no hoovering, no carrying shopping bags, no pushing wheelchairs, well no pushing anything!. No putting my arms above my head if I am holding something. So many things, I cant really remember them all.
But I ignored him, carried on, refused to go on light duties, and did what I always did.

It was the pain this year that finally took me back to the GP, as I said before I always suspected it would become arthritic, but the curvature has totally thrown me. No way did I ever expect that.
It isnt as bad as I know it can get, my GP said it will over time deteriorate, and said to heed the physios advice, for damage limitation I guess.
At the moment I do cleaning for the grandparents of a couple of friends, but by the time I have finished its so painful.

I have been on touch with my old work place, and asked around, explaining the situation, but they have said they would not employ me, physio has advised against it, and the report is in my occ health records, which would be needed by another hospital employer.
I am going to discuss it with physio and see what they think/suggest, as i want to be safe and not make it worse by what I do.

I feel a little in limbo at the mo, not sure what to do from here.
Thank you all of you for your answers.
I hope Ive covered it all now, it wasnt til I read your answers I realised Id missed bits out. :roll:

sharmaine

Hi Pixie


Welcome to the forum. It's difficult to suggest what type of work a person with your condition could do. However, I would suggest contacting the careers office for advice. They have a computer programme that asks you hundreds of questions and then lists possible jobs when you're through. It may be that you will need to brush up or even learn a new skill or two.

It is important that you are comfortable and supported in any future employment.

Good luck with everything.

Regards
Sharmaine

pixie40

Thanks for all the advice.

sharmaine wrote:

Hi Pixie


Welcome to the forum. It's difficult to suggest what type of work a person with your condition could do. However, I would suggest contacting the careers office for advice. They have a computer programme that asks you hundreds of questions and then lists possible jobs when you're through. It may be that you will need to brush up or even learn a new skill or two.

It is important that you are comfortable and supported in any future employment.

Good luck with everything.

Regards
Sharmaine

woodbon

Hi, I have similar problems to you with arthritis in my neck. I was a care assistant, working for the council, but they retired me about 6 months or so ago. I know what you mean about the type of work you can do as I know I can't go back to caring, the doc is not very happy about office work, too much sitting, typing and not enough walking etc. I'm also 55, which is older than you.

Why not wait and see for a while until you start physio and you may find that things start to settle for you also you should be entitled to help from the Jobcentre. They have Disability Advisors, who help you work out what you can and want to do. Just ring the local Jobcentre, when you are a lot better!
Love Sue