I can't move my neck!

sugarbuttie

Good morning

I have been suffering with a sore/stiff neck for the last few days. This morning I have woken up to find I can hardly move it & when I try the pain is excrutiating. I can't bend down because of it. I am having to turn at the waist to look to the side.

I have rang the rheum nurse helpline with the hope of leaving a message so she can ring me back when she gets in. There is a recorded message - due to annual leave the helpline is closed - if the matter is urgent, ring your GP.

The upshot is, I am going to either have to try & work from home today or take sick leave (which I don't want to do as was off for 2 days in June due to foot problems). I took one dihydrocodeine & one paracetamol half an hour ago & it has done nothing for the pain. I think I might have to try one more of each to take me up to max dose.

Can anyone offer any help or suggestions? I have never had neck trouble like this before. My inflammatory arthritis tends to affect my hands, wrists, shoulders & knees. Could this neck issue be part of the arthritis? What can I do? It hurts to both sit up or lie down. Any tips? It hurts down the left side the most.

Going to have to ring the in-laws & ask them to pick the kids up. I was going to drop them off on my way to work but I cannot drive like this.
HELP!!

frogmorton

Don't panic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh this is dreadful pain l know because l have had it.

Good news is it will go - bad news it may take some days.
:sad:
First try a whaetie or hot water bottle. If not then ice pack frozen peas in teatowel.

Last time this happened to me l was advised by the hospital to take my pain killers at their max level and in between them take my anti-inflams.

Sort of so you are taking something about every two hours or thereabouts? If that makes sense.

I lost feeling in my skin on neck and chest and shoulders down arm so did see someone. If this happens or pins and needles ten GP is a good idea.

If you are likely to have trouble with work maybe a GPs appt to get a note might be an idea???

FINALLY when you sleep tonight....l tried a rolled up hand towel in between neck and shoulder (no pillow) but have now settled on a shaped memory foam pillow which does the same.

HUGE hugs

This is a vile pain

Toni xx

dreamdaisy

Support your neck with a rolled up hand towel. If you have a wheatie bag then heat that up and put that round too - if not a warm scarf might help, something fluffy like mohair is ideal as that traps a deal of air and warms up quickly. Keep your neck as still as you can, keep up with the dullers etc and as things ease (which I am sure they will) just try very gentle rollling exercises to free things up. If none of the above helps then contact the GP. I wish you well. DD

julie47

Morning suggarbuttie

oooh sorry about your neck...toni has given you good advice there. I was also going to suggest wheat bags and scarves....that is what i use and pain killers as regular as it says on packet.

Hope the nurse gets back to you and that your symptoms get better soon.

Juliepf x

jillyb1

Ouch , all the good advise has been given by other posters ; just looked in to send positive sympathetic vibes ; it may take time but it will ease . Jillyb

sugarbuttie

Thank you for the advice. Grandparents have picked kids up & I can work from home today. Got scarf on & mother-in-law is going to get me a wheatie bag whilst out shopping.

From your replies, it seems neck trouble is par for the course. Do you all get it with inflammatory arthritis? Do you suffer daily or does it flare up from time to time? I know we are all different. I'd just like to hear what your experiences are.

Hope to hear from you soon.

sugarbuttie

PS where can I get a shaped memory foam pillow? What shape are they?

tillytop

Morning Sugarbuttie

So sorry about your neck. I have had this in the past as part of my RA and it is truly dreadful so you have all my sympathy. You ask if it happens regularly - well not to me luckily. My neck is not brilliant generally but the pain you are describing is certainly something which happens to me only very rarely thank goodness. I can't add to anything which has already been said other than to say that, if there is no sign of improvement soon, I would recommend seeing your GP cos it may be that some physio would help if it could be organised fairely quickly.

Memory foam pillows - I think most dept stores sell them these days or, if you google "memory foam pillow" you should be able to find some information. I reckon you can probably get them from Amazon. There are a wide variety available, different shapes and sizes and one of the difficulties is that you may have to try several before you find one which is right for you and they can be expensive. Mine is made by Tempur and has a shaped indentation for my head. It did take a while to get used to but I wouldn't be without it now. Downside - cost when I bought a few years ago was about £70 I think :shock: Mind you there are lots more available now so perhaps not all so expensive.

Thinking of you and hoping your neck improves soon.

Love Tilly xxx

nanarose

Hi, your pain sounds excruciating, and is probably your arthritis, but it might be a good idea to get it checked out all the same.

I used to get muscle spasms in my neck, where the muscle tightened up so badly that every little movement was an agony, and muscle relaxant tablets helped immensely. It probably isn't that, but please get your neck checked, just to be sure.

Wishing you relief from pain as soon as possible. x

frogmorton

Hi Sugarbuttie

you get better at dodging it...heading it off by resting at teh slightest twinge, but it is likely to come back if you are like me about once a year and it is VILE VILE VILE :sad:

My pillow is like Tilly's and it comes everywhere with me...in fact it's just back from France

Take it steady and dont expect and overnight improvement...but it WILL get better.

Love

and hugs

Toni xx

petals

I also have a memory foam pillow, I got mine from IKEA and it was very cheap, I think about £7 they also sell special shaped pillow cases.

When my daughter had a similar neck problem we contacted the GP who recomended using alternate hot and cold compress. Hope you are feeling better.

Petals

julie47

morning sugarbuttie

Hope the neck has eased today.

Juliepf x

frogmorton

Any better at all Sugarbuttie??

Love

Toni xx

dreamdaisy

How are things today sugar? Better, I hope. DD

sugarbuttie

Hello everyone!

Sorry for not getting back sooner - I didn't tick the box to alert me when I received another reply.

I am pleased to tell you that it is getting a little better each day. I worked from home Weds, struggled to work yesterday as I had an appointment that would've been difficult to rearrange, & I was allowed to work from home today.

Grandparents have looked after children. God bless my dad, he is 67 & took them to art & craft at the library this morning & then ten pin bowling this afternoon! I am so lucky that their grandparents not only look after them in the hols but also take them out to fun activities.

After your advice on Weds, when the problem struck, my mother-in-law went out & got me one of those wheatie bags you recommended. I gave out a loud sign of relief after microwaving it & putting it on my poorly neck. It was wonderful - a great tip!!!

I also did the 'rolled up hand towel' behind neck thing you said....again it gave relief.

Found that 2 x 30/500 cocos do more for me than dihydrocedine. Now...I have some slow release tramadol in cupboard from last year whe hands bad (still in date). Do you think I should give them a whirl?

It's Saturday tomorrow so going to look at some memory foam pillows? Where can I try one out? A bed shop? I simply can't think which shop would have them. I don't want to buy online cos I want it tomorrow!!

Thank you for all your tips earlier in the week. They have certainly helped me cope with it & meant I didn't have to take sick leave.

You are all gud'uns!
XX

frogmorton

Hi Sugarbuttie

well done you!!!!!

Take it slowly and don't expect miracles (at some point an xray may be a good idea though).

I got one of my pillows from Dun*lm mill l think...bedshops almost certainly.....where did the others get theirs....????

The tramadol.....not a bad idea if you can tolerate them....me l can't they make me v icky sicky these days :oops: Slow release is good as you can forget them all day at work. and you can also 'add' in your anti-inflams if you need extra help can't you. But if the co-cos are doing the job?????

You take care now

Love and hugs

Toni xx

sugarbuttie

I am seeing the reheumatologist on 22 Aug.

Since I last saw him, I have developed issues with feet & now the neck despite going on sulphasalazine (which seems to have done absolutely zero & I have been on it about 5 months).

Just wondering what he is going to suggest. I will ask for neck xray.

I am also seeing podiatrist on 24 Aug.

I am in a lot worse condition pain & joint wise since my last appointment.

Anyway, I shall make a list!