Blasted neck

GraceB
GraceB Member Posts: 1,595
edited 23. Sep 2017, 02:52 in Living with Arthritis archive
Well, it's been a while since I had issues with my neck. It's back well and truly now. :roll: Oddly though, whilst it's usually the right side, this time it's my left side that's worst.

Suspect I've over-done it. I had all my double glazing replaced last week which meant I had to get 4 pairs of curtains down, washed, and put back up. Although I have a small wooden box to stand on (it's safer than steps), I suspect I must have looked up for too long. I'm not meant to tip my head back due to my cervical impingement. Guilty as charged M'Lud!

I've rung my physio and organised to see him privately Friday morning. If he feels I need a sequence of sessions, I'll ask my GP to send me for some on the NHS. He did say it'd been a few months since I'd seen him so I'd done quite well! (Felt like I should ask for a sticker, but I'll probably only get a bill to pay on Friday!).

I've also recently been to see my friends in Cambridgeshire - that was over the August Bank Holiday weekend (2.5 hours drive each way). Two day stay. Then 6th Sept I toddled off to see my sister who lives in Rotherham. That was a 4.5 hour trip each way with breaks. I had 3 nights in a hotel then. A friend went with me; we get on well but we agreed we'd need our own rooms as otherwise we'd have driven each other batty!

So, I suspect my neck is in "payback mode"!

GraceB
Turn a negative into a positive!

Comments

  • frogmorton
    frogmorton Member Posts: 29,332
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Grace without doubt this is serious payback :?

    I am sure all the visiting was well-worth it though :) You do get around and look after your friends and family :D

    The windows will make for a warmer winter, but my neck HATES me looking up for more than a couple of minutes so yours must have been very cross :(

    Do let us know how you get on with your physio.

    Love and ((()))

    Toni xx
  • hileena111
    hileena111 Member Posts: 7,099
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Grace
    Its bound to be payback from all the visiting etc
    The main thing is......Did you enjoy yourself? :D

    Love
    Hileena
  • barbara12
    barbara12 Member Posts: 21,280
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Grace
    Has you will know necks are so blinking painful , so I feel for you..glad all your windows are done and dusted..and you got to see your friends...I use heat and gentle exercise on mine..the heat via a wheat cushion is a must before exercising..I do hope the Physio can help..x
    Love
    Barbara
  • stickywicket
    stickywicket Member Posts: 27,697
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    You sound to have had a very busy, demanding time, Grace, and I'm sure you're right in your assessment of payback. Let's hope the physio helps.
    If at first you don't succeed, then skydiving definitely isn't for you.
    Steven Wright
  • GraceB
    GraceB Member Posts: 1,595
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Thanks for the replies.

    Hileena - yes I did enjoy both trips. I hadn't seen my sister for best part of 3 years so it was good to catch up.

    Sticky - yes it's payback all right. Never mind, we all live and learn!

    Barbara - I'm using heat wheat bags but, mixing those with hot flushes can be rather challenging at times!

    It's not improved; if anything it's worse. I intend to try and get a GP appointment tomorrow and ask for some NHS sessions with the physio. Doing Friday's session privately will get the crisis appointment out of the way, and my neck is crunching more by the hour, so roll on Friday!

    GraceB
    Turn a negative into a positive!
  • Sue
    Sue Member Posts: 40
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Grace,
    I have severe OA in my neck so I understand exactly how you feel.
    When I travel and have to stay overnight, I tie a scarf around the middle of the pillow so it forms a sort of bow. It's then flatter in the middle and higher each side. I find this helps.
    Are you not on any medication? I take Gabapentin and amitrypiline.They help.
    I would be interested to know what your Physio does to help you. It never worked for me.
    I hope you are feeling a bit better this morning, though if you are like me, the mornings are awful.
  • GraceB
    GraceB Member Posts: 1,595
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi, I'm on pain meds (tramadol and paracetamol) for my osteo arthritis and have gabapentin for when the neck generated nerve pain gets really bad. I've had to take gabapentin the last couple of nights, but I'm trying to resist having more than that in a day.

    I saw my GP yesterday. She has done the NHS physio referral so after tomorrow I'll see my physio on the NHS. My GP said that if the physio either doesn't work this time, or the effects don't last for any length of time, I'll be facing neck injections. Bearing in mind my physio told me last year (after my MRI was done which showed all the damage) that neck injections were dangerous for me, I don't fancy having them done. However, if my GP refers me to a neck specialist I'll naturally be guided by the specialist. Having had lumbar spinal jabs (and also jabs into my knee and ankle) in the past which didn't work, I'm not confident that injections will work anyway. I suspect it'll be regular physio myself.

    The whole of my back is now aching which I know is as a result of the neck issues. Roll on tomorrow - even though I know it'll hurt. But - no pain:no gain!

    GraceB
    Turn a negative into a positive!
  • GraceB
    GraceB Member Posts: 1,595
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Just thought I'd update you. Physio went to town earlier on my neck. Turns out both sides are affected and there are a lot of issues at the moment with my neck - far more than I'd realised. :o So, it was a good job I organised the appointment and that I've got the NHS referral in the pipeline.

    I've got to see him again next week. If the NHS referral is with them by then, I'll be switched to NHS sessions. if not, it'll be another private session. I can afford a session next week, but after that things will get a bit tight financially as I only work part-time and £38 a time soon mounts up!

    I'm now really sore after the treatment as I expected. Tomorrow I'll be sorer as I'm having a subcutaneous lump removed from my shoulder. My GP doesn't think this is anything bad but we have a skin cancer history in the family so it's better off coming out. And just before that I have my flu jab. So, it'll be sore neck, sore arm (from the jab) and stitched up (or glued) shoulder. :roll:

    GraceB
    Turn a negative into a positive!
  • dibdab
    dibdab Member Posts: 1,498
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Ouch I think is the only possible response :o . Hope that you have some decent pain relief to hand, maybe a couple of days of being gentle with yourself is in order now.

    Deb x
  • frogmorton
    frogmorton Member Posts: 29,332
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Ouch ouch ouch is exactly what I was going to say too!

    It sounds like a painful time Grace I hope all goes well well with the lump removal ((())).

    You poor neck :( I am so glad you saw the private physio and very much hope that the NHS one comes through soon so you don't have to spend money.

    Thinking of you

    Toni xx