Tension headache

marie48

Recently I have been diagnosed with arthritis in the neck. So far I have managed without any prescribed medication as they did not help anyway. I decided I will take them only when the pain becomes unbearable. Since mid January, I am not taking any except glucosamine and super juices. My problem started with very painful lt shoulder, it is better now, but I keep getting tingling sensation in my left arm several times during the day. This I can cope with but recently I have been getting a lot of tension headache, and stiff neck, every thing cracks in my neck, jaw, mouth and I get a sensation of heaviness in my head and sometimes feel light headed. I have suffered from dizzy spells before. This crackling noise is very frightening, it seems that my neck needs oiling.

My GP has referred me to an orthopaedic consultant and physio and have not heard anything from either of them yet. That's was in January. I wonder whether I should go and see my GP again. I am functional and do not need any medication but I know myself this is not right and I should have a scan to see what's going on. I had an X-Ray of neck and shoulder in Dec. My arthritis is more or less generalized, I have got it in my knees, back ache as well but not as bad as some of you. I can exercise and walk quite well. I feel I am making a fuss for nothing, I look fine and look young for my age 60. I was telling a friend about the tingling sensation and she told me "are you sure it is not your heart", I was surprised at what she said, I can do without any more worries. She thinks since I have retired and with no financial problems, I am bored and then focus too much time on little things.

I refer to it as aches all over my body as I can cope without medication but they are real. I just wonder how do other members cope with neck pain? any members on this forum not taking any medication. I keep active and exercise everyday and do a bit of gardening when weather permits and then moan about the ache and pain. I cannot sit down doing nothing, it is either I am on the computer, watching tv and or doing something round the house. Sorry for being such a whimp as a lot of you are really suffering. Thanks.

joanlawson

marie48 wrote:

Recently I have been diagnosed with arthritis in the neck. So far I have managed without any prescribed medication as they did not help anyway. I decided I will take them only when the pain becomes unbearable. Since mid January, I am not taking any except glucosamine and super juices. My problem started with very painful lt shoulder, it is better now, but I keep getting tingling sensation in my left arm several times during the day. This I can cope with but recently I have been getting a lot of tension headache, and stiff neck, every thing cracks in my neck, jaw, mouth and I get a sensation of heaviness in my head and sometimes feel light headed. I have suffered from dizzy spells before. This crackling noise is very frightening, it seems that my neck needs oiling.

My GP has referred me to an orthopaedic consultant and physio and have not heard anything from either of them yet. That's was in January. I wonder whether I should go and see my GP again. I am functional and do not need any medication but I know myself this is not right and I should have a scan to see what's going on. I had an X-Ray of neck and shoulder in Dec. My arthritis is more or less generalized, I have got it in my knees, back ache as well but not as bad as some of you. I can exercise and walk quite well. I feel I am making a fuss for nothing, I look fine and look young for my age 60. I was telling a friend about the tingling sensation and she told me "are you sure it is not your heart", I was surprised at what she said, I can do without any more worries. She thinks since I have retired and with no financial problems, I am bored and then focus too much time on little things.

I refer to it as aches all over my body as I can cope without medication but they are real. I just wonder how do other members cope with neck pain? any members on this forum not taking any medication. I keep active and exercise everyday and do a bit of gardening when weather permits and then moan about the ache and pain. I cannot sit down doing nothing, it is either I am on the computer, watching tv and or doing something round the house. Sorry for being such a whimp as a lot of you are really suffering. Thanks.

Hi Marie
Sorry to hear of your painful neck and other aches and pains.I think you should go back to your GP and tell him/her about the tingling sensation, headaches etc. If you are having dizzy spells it is dangerous in case you fall. Do you drive? If so, that could be dangerous too.It might be related to your arthritis, but you should check it out.

You can ring and ask to speak to your consultant's secretary to find out what has happened to your referral.It seems a long time if you were referred in January. I was referred for physio and only had to wait a couple of weeks.
You are not a wimp as aches and pains are debilitating when persistent. Your friend is a bit unsympathetic She is lucky if she doesn't get any pain, and it doesn't sound as though you are bored to me.I am retired too, and there aren't enough hours in the day!

By the way, have you had your blood pressure checked recently? It is worth checking on it because dizziness could indicate high or low blood pressure.

All the best
Joan

petmad

Marie, get back to your GP. Your symptoms are very like the ones I had over the last 15 months, I have just had a disc and bone spurs removed from the cervical vertebra.
Your GP will be able to contact the consultants secretary and advise of the increasing symptoms.
If I was you I would look at how you manage the pain and take medication rather than allowing yourself to be uncomfortable. Linda

colinone

Hi Marie
I would pay another visit to the GP.

On Wednesday 8th April we are going to try and set a new record for most people being online at the same time on this site. I think the time is set for 6pm if you can join us please let BADGER know. If you can’t locate him have a look on CHIT CHAT FORUM under “are we going to break the record”. We need your help to do this so please join us.
Colin

marie48

colinone wrote:

Hi Marie
I would pay another visit to the GP.

On Wednesday 8th April we are going to try and set a new record for most people being online at the same time on this site. I think the time is set for 6pm if you can join us please let BADGER know. If you can’t locate him have a look on CHIT CHAT FORUM under “are we going to break the record”. We need your help to do this so please join us.
Colin

I will do that and make a note in my calendar.

marie48

petmad wrote:

Marie, get back to your GP. Your symptoms are very like the ones I had over the last 15 months, I have just had a disc and bone spurs removed from the cervical vertebra.
Your GP will be able to contact the consultants secretary and advise of the increasing symptoms.
If I was you I would look at how you manage the pain and take medication rather than allowing yourself to be uncomfortable. Linda

Hi Linda

I think, I will go and see my GP again, hubby thinks I should wait a bit longer. I am not in a lot of pain, it is more of a dull ache, you can put up with. I do not feel any pain in the neck itself, but on my left shoulder and my rt elbow (the fleshy part). I think it is referred pain. My ongoing problem is chronic backache, funny enough when I had an x-ray 10 yrs ago, it showed wear and tear but up till now nobody has been able to give me a reason for my backache. I did attended pain management clinic for it and had loads of alternative private therapies and nothing did help and had to put up with it. Arthritis in the neck is something new to me and quite alarming as the neck is so delicate. I was wondering what treatment there is!!

Please tell me a bit more about the removal of your disc and bone spurs. How long did the op lasted and is it a dangerous procedure? Were you bad for a long time? With my symptons I know something is pressing on the nerve and will need some test to find out what it is? Thanks

woodbon

Hi,
I have arthritis in my neck and an a bone spure touching a nerve. This causes a lot of the symptoms you have, but you really need to see your GP, s/he will be able to check with the hospital. But it is only a doctor who can tell you more what is going on in your body and with your symptoms, it would be sensible to see him. Hope they quickly sort you out. Love Sue

marie48

Thanks Sue, will do that, it's just hubby is making me feel I am wasting people time and there are loads worse off than me and these things take time and I should be patient. How do you cope with yours? The neck is so fragile and it is a worry when it is that part of the body that is affected. I have just learned how to cope with my chronic backache and now the neck, I am finding it more difficult to take. Hubby says at our age, 60 & 67, these things are to be expectedthe aches and pains.