Neck Arthritis

DrLarry
DrLarry Member Posts: 16
edited 9. Apr 2013, 14:58 in Living with Arthritis archive
I have been diagnosed with neck arthritis it is pinching nerves leading to my arms but at the very same time I suddenly lost my gag reflex and at night I seem to have stopped producing saliva to the extent that i wake up and almost choke trying to swallow. Is it possible that the nerves are also being affected? Pain is persistent even on morphine

Thanks everyone if you can help

Larry

Comments

  • dreamdaisy
    dreamdaisy Member Posts: 31,520
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hello, that's tough on you, isn't it? We're not doctors and therefore cannot advise about what is going on. You need to see your GP and discuss this with him - or maybe discuss it with yourself if you're that sort of 'Dr'. :wink: Do you breathe through your mouth when asleep? This dries things out - I easily sip my way through a pint of water overnight to ease my dry mouth (I cannot break the habit from my severe asthmatic years of mouth breathing at night).

    Pain relief of any sort we are allowed via the GP or over-the-counter is limited in what it achieves - the stronger the med the more you are removed from the pain, not vice versa. My all-time favourite pain relief is general anaesthetic but, alas, that renders me unable to appreciate its benefits. DD
    Have you got the despatches? No, I always walk like this. Eddie Braben
  • Catie
    Catie Member Posts: 362
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hello Larry,

    So sorry to hear you're suffering in this way. I have OA in my neck and spine and although suffering with pinched nerves, have never had problems with my gag reflex etc. Like DD said, perhaps your GP would be able to advise you.
    Please let us know how you get on :).

    Catie
  • frogmella
    frogmella Member Posts: 1,111
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi! Normal painkillers don't work on nerve pain. I asked for gabapentin and that did work. Seems we have to ask - I haven't met anybody who got it suggested!
  • DrLarry
    DrLarry Member Posts: 16
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Thanks yes I have been on Gaberpentine for a long time the Pain clinic put me on it some time ago in order to try stop pain in my sinuses the cartilage has collapsed and my last ENT "specialist" did not really deal with it too well.That does not work really either even when i was 3600 mg per day its strange thing really i can deal with pain pretty well chemotherapy, kidney stones and gall stones have helped me learn how to cope. I am surprised that Morphine does not work perhaps I don't have the enzyme receptor. Perhaps I am just not used to this particular pain yet of the trapped nerves. I just find it strange to have things happen ( to my knowledge so fast).

    I really appreciate your help (I am a Dr of Science by the way) understand you cannot give medical information other than experiences which in my book is good enough to help some. I think you may be right re: the saliva I cannot get my neck into the right position I am so fearful of snoring I think it makes me breath through my mouth more than i normally do. It is strange how from one imbalance a vast array of things can go wrong ...I wonder at the complexity of the body I have a calcium problem right now it is going up and down like crazy. Could well be related to that too

    Larry
  • dreamdaisy
    dreamdaisy Member Posts: 31,520
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    It's breathing through the mouth that causes snoring - according to my husband he shares his bed with a warthog/walrus cross but I don't believe him for one moment. :lol:

    Strewth mate, you have been through a number of medical mills, haven't you? Some have far more than thair 'fair' share of health crud and you would appear to be in that number. I am so sorry. So, a doctor of science - in a particular area? Science and me were not cosy companions when I was at school but I did enjoy physics. I'll go and have a look at your other thread now. DD
    Have you got the despatches? No, I always walk like this. Eddie Braben
  • Frustrated
    Frustrated Member Posts: 13
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I have had a whiplash injury so I do understand the pain when you've got a vertebra sitting on a nerve - and it really is indescribably bad. Physio was useless for that - osteopathy exceedingly good though not sure it would work with arthritis induced problems but maybe worth consulting a good osteopath to find out? Other than that, intense almost unbearable heat from hot water bottles and overheated wheat bags was the best relief I could find. I hope you find some relief soon.
  • barbara12
    barbara12 Member Posts: 21,281
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hello Larry
    I have OA in my neck , and back and hips..it always surprises me that different pain killers work on different areas...I am on the fentalis patches...and they dont touch some of the pain....I do take antiinflams but try to do without because of the blood clot scare...
    Has for the pin and needles I get them if I have over done the laptop..ie posture we never learn do we....
    I dont get the gag reflex...am also on gabapentin but I am sure this messes with my brain...or is that just my age :lol:
    Sorry forgot to say welcome... :D
    Love
    Barbara
  • wynnie
    wynnie Member Posts: 117
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    what about sjorgens larry ,that dries up your mouth and that sounds like what you are experiencing it chokes you through the night with dry mouth and gagging ,it also dries up tear ducts sometimes as well ,hope this gives you some answers
  • frogmella
    frogmella Member Posts: 1,111
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I have always thought that nerve pain is different from normal pain. I think the reason that the normal painkillers don't work is because the pain is being transmitted in a different way, like the nerves are being short-circuited. There are alternatives to gabapentin - pregablin is supposed to be better, have you tried that? Also there are surgical interventions. I had facet joint injections before opting for fusion. Have you been referred to a pain clinic and/or surgeon?
  • DrLarry
    DrLarry Member Posts: 16
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I will have a look at that suggestion about the syndrome but my eyes are ok (wet) so not too sure its that. I am with the pain clinic I do wish however the different Drs and practitioners would follow the same line or approach using hte body map as a way of assessing changes in pain levels,. otherwise it becomes a strange thing.....I tend to develop a complex when discussing pain or when i have multiple area medical issues. I have been dealing with things for may years but still as a reasonably intelligent patient still find it hard to not feel like I am winging whereas if i have the body map to locate the areas and pain levels at least that can be handed in and does not require me to verbalize things in quite the same way.

    I will ask about pregabalin I presume that must be the pre drug to gabapentine and maybe somehow cuts out one part of the metabolism chain. I think they only put me on morphine because I cannot metabolize codiene. Still still alive ....just not kicking as hard as I once did LOL.

    sorry i do not know how to respond to each individual helpful comment
  • DebbieT
    DebbieT Member Posts: 1,033
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Larry,

    I have cervical spondulosis caused by Psoriatic Arthritis, I also have Fibromyalgia & just to make things fun severe psoriasis & OA.Lol

    Pregabalin is a newer tho dearer med. I've recently stopped it due to a 4st weight gain in 18mths!! It worked very well for my Neuropathic pain but I couldn't tolerate more weight!! I'm on SR Buprenorphine patches now & have lost 7lb in 2 weeks. So mind the weight gain possibility :?

    My neck causes really bad migraines & nausea so I take Imigran & an anti-sickness med to help. My Rheumatologist tried a steroid injection, she thought it was caused by fm not PsA, as it wouldn't have helped at all with the pain & mobility probs if it was fm it seemed the easiest way to prove wot it was. She injected it near my spine but to the right at around hip height (I want to say lumbar region but im not sure) & within 3 days I could turn my head to both sides slightly & by day 5 I could look over both shoulders & the migraines stopped!! Its been blissful. Has something similar been offered to you? She was pleased she tried it, I was over the moon.Lol

    I don't suffer pins & needles or numbness with mine. I did suffer those sensations wen I had a ruptured disk tho. It caused sciatica in both legs, pins & needles in my arms & numbness, like id had a dental injection in the lower part of my face!!

    I doubt my waffle has been of any use but I wish you all the best. Take care.x

    Debbie.x
    Healing Hugs
    Debbie.x
  • DrLarry
    DrLarry Member Posts: 16
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    hi there debbie

    no it was really useful happy to hear you have a consultant who is willing to try things when i start seeing mine after having seen the musculo skeletal specialist and i will use all the suggestions that everyone has so helpfully offered . So thank you

    I had a lot of fibromyalgia during chemo it may well have been masking some of the arthritis pain .....i am learning a lot about pain it is a complicated thing aye. I would like to invent a machine that you attach to a Dr or a less than understanding other such individual and set it to a pain level and turn it on it might make people do more research ....anyone fancy working wiith me on this idea LOL ?
  • DebbieT
    DebbieT Member Posts: 1,033
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Phew, I do worry about waffling on.Lol

    I think its a great idea ... May I suggest a few people

    1. IDS
    2. DC
    3. GO (How DARE he use a disabled bay, disgusting man!!)
    4. CEO ATOS
    5. CFO ATOS
    6. ATOS Examiners that have sold their souls
    7. The entire UNELECTED Government
    8. EM Incase he's the next PM, he needs to understand pain fully :)
    Lastly ...
    9. Members of my family :(:cry:

    I'm hopeful you'll get the help you need. Regarding pillows, I couldn't cope with my neck & shoulders without a V pillow ;)

    Best of luck.x
    Healing Hugs
    Debbie.x
  • frogmorton
    frogmorton Member Posts: 29,881
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    DrLarry wrote:
    Thanks yes I have been on Gaberpentine for a long time the Pain clinic put me on it some time ago in order to try stop pain in my sinuses the cartilage has collapsed and my last ENT "specialist" did not really deal with it too well.That does not work really either even when i was 3600 mg per day
    Larry


    Hi DRLarry - I got up to 3600mg too and you are the first other person I know who did - it did nothing for me either, but was the only drug I could take with no side effects which is also unusual!!!

    I think I would try to take some advice about this one, but not worry about snoring - safety first eh? No-one would want you choking and choking must put great pressure on the neck.

    I have had trouble with my choking too (I can do it on saliva....breathing some in), but have recently managed to get it under some control by shouting in my head to myself BREATHE!!! Because I was so busy choking out out out that I was seeing black circles due to lack of oxygen I think :oops:

    Oh and please dont feel you have to respond to each comment I just put each person's name and reply on one reply - takes up less space that way (and is easier for others to scan through) :wink: If you look at the top (under subject area)while you are typing you can see you can 'bolden' their names by highlighting them and then clicking on the darker B

    Hope at least some of this made sense!!

    Love

    Toni xxx
  • DrLarry
    DrLarry Member Posts: 16
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Debbie your post made me laugh thanks needed that today

    Larry x
  • DrLarry
    DrLarry Member Posts: 16
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    hi Toni

    Yeah it does not seem to do much in fact no painkiller seems to do much Gabapentine does not seem to do any harm though LOL The morphine is a low dose only 15mg now twice a day tablets. Spondylosis I have heard today seeing the pain people tomorrow maybe try a bit of acupuncture. I tell you my heart and respect go out to you all that have dealt with this a long time its not that the pain is much more than a 3 or 4 (my 8 is kidney stones LOL) but its the discomfort and the vertigo and headaches adding all up aye..... You are Brave people

    Larry