Neck pain out of control

[Carolina]

Dear angels,

I'm lying here on the bed in my neck traction device, which does help a little, but hurts my head when i use it.

Friday I had the first full blown pinched nerve in my neck (which is in terrible shape from osteo arthritis).

My left shoulder hurt so badly and I couldn't and still can't use my left arm.  It hurt down to my elbow and up the side of my neck, and into my side.  And the right shoulder hurts too, but i barely notice it.

I cannot take any RX pain meds.  Now it is Sunday, and the pain eased a bit over night because I spent most of Saturday lying in bed with the traction thingy.

it hurts where is presses on my head behind my ears.  And I have a terrible headache too,

I've had neck problems for 25 years, but this is the first disabling pain like this,

I'll call the neurologist tomorrow, the one I told not to bother with an MRI because I don't want surgery

HA!   I'm ready to do anything right now.

I'll call my GP for an RX for Flexeril, something to relax me through this pain.

Ack, I'm just whining.  Sorry..

I want this gone now.

sigh

hugs

well no real hugs of course

Elaine

[Joe S.]

Elaine, A week of chiropractic adjustments would help from the pain you describe. 1 or 2 sessions of cranial-sacral work. The exercises that I use may do you more harm than good. Meditation may be a good option while you are in traction.

[ohiolady]

Elaine,

So sorry to hear you are suffering so much.  When I read posts like yours, I always realize how much worse it could be.

Keep us posted and I hope there are some answers for you.

Anna

[anita]

Sorry to ear you're in pain.  I remember you can't take narcotics.  Have you tried lidoderm patches?  It might be worth a try.

[jazzlover]

UGH.. I feel your pain! I have a bulging disc in my neck and lower back. I have a traction device too.. hate using it for similar reasons as you posted. I can't take pain pills either.

let us know how you are doing tomorrow !!

hugs!

[Ark mom]

I'm so sorry that you are experiencing such pain.  I have been where you are now.  I, too, have had excruciating neck pain, pain down into my arm, too.  I thought my life was over, that I was going to be stuck in bed.  An MRI showed severe disc disease.  The neurologist offered pain meds but I requested physical therapy.  After a few months I was so much better.  It has been over a year since I last had serious neck pain, only minor episodes now, never enough to even take a Tylenol over.  I try to do my exercises at home.  I have a traction unit and IFC unit for pain that just sit idle in a drawer!  I hope this encourages you that you can get better!  Gentle pats! 

[gold55]

I'm sorry you are in such pain Elaine.  I have begun the osteoarthritis ride since last summer.  I knew my spine was in bad shape for years but now all things seem to be osteoarthritis!  It makes me wonder if this is the result of the Sjogrens (it seems like everyone with Sjogrens has osteo OR RA) or if we would have suffered from osteo regardless of the Sjogrens?  About 10 years ago I suffered from right ocipital neuralgia.....it was severe nerve pain from the right back of my neck up through my skull.......the right side of my tongue almost felt numb.  It took forever to get diagnosed and with the right treatment, the chiropractor made it worse......I couldn't sleep and the pain never let up.  Your severe pain reminds me of that episode and I'm truly sorry......don't wish neck and head nerve pain on anyone!!!  Hope you feel better soon.  I'm getting an MRI of my spine on Tuesday to see how it's progressed in 5 years (OA).  Hope you find relief real soon.  hugs for you and prayers for less pain.  Jill   

[sissyjane]

I'm so sorry that you are in such pain!

I have degenerative disc disease in my cervical spine as well as Sjogren's, so I literally feel your pain. I had a cervical epidural injection a month ago, and for the first time in years I'm not on medication.

I hope something can be done to make you feel better!

[Luna]

Dear Elaine, I am so sorry you are goinng through this. That sounds extremely painful. I hope you can get some releif soon.

Luna

[soycoffee]

Elaine, this is a WAG -- a wild-bum guess -- one that doctors would deplore. I know you are pretty familiar with the pain your body can put you through, and cannot take narcotics or a pain killer like Tramadol.

It would be tough to convince a doctor, schooled in "first do no harm," to try giving you a corticosteroid like Prednisone for the pain -- in short spurts, low doses. I'm thinking of Ark Mom's new post on her response to Prednisone, as working for her, as it has for me, as an amazing pain killer for musculoskeletal pain.

The risk with Prednisone is osteoporosis, which would not help your neck and spine get stronger. On the other hand, Prednisone might give you the freedom from pain, and the energy, to do some intensive physical therapy.

I didn't wait for a doctor to put me in PT, but started in the middle of January, with my back and left hip. I am now walking with some spring in my hip, and going back to PT for my right shoulder. After that it's my neck, that's just acting up. I am on 6 mg of Prednisone a day, and had to fight with my rheumy to get it.

OK, it's a one mg win in my favor, but a win is a win!  ;-D

Hang in there, Elaine. Write anything you can to let us know how it goes.

{{HUGS}}
Soycoffee

[smallfry]

Hi Elaine

I am so very sorry that you are having such a bad time of it at the moment there is nothing worse than being confined to your bed in severe pain my thoughts are with you ((((Hugs))))

Cheryl

[Jenny]

I feel so bad for you. I too have a messed up spine, both lumbar and cervical. Stenosis, bone spurs, arthritis, etc in my neck. A couple of weeks ago my pain management doc gave me an epidural under Floroscopy. It has helped tremendously. I would give it a try. Gentle hugs.

[Carebear]

Hi Elaine,

I hope that this morning you are finally feeling some relief.  Please do let us know how things are going.

I can relate to the neck pain myself, with both degenerative disk disease and RA, I have been pretty debilitated for the last ten years.

A few months ago I found a physio therapist who specializes in inflammatory arthritis.  It hasn't been easy, but I've persevered with the twice daily stretching and 4 times weekly strengthening exercises.  And today I feel less pain and stiffness than I have in a decade.   And I'm able to use less pain meds as a result. 

As Joe suggested, I have monthly cranial sacral therapy to help manage the neck pain and headaches as well.

Take care of yourself. 

[Madison Granny]

I so sorry you are in such pain. I hope you feel better real soon.  I enjoy reading your post so very much.

[Carolina]

Bless you all angels!

I am hoping for maybe an epidural.

Soycoffee:  I KNOW a course of prednisone would help, one of those pacs that starts big and reduces every day.

I have done neck exercises, earlier on.  I'll see what the doctor says for this go round.

It's sad and some how comforting to know that others suffer this same way, isn't that weird?

I think the FIRST time for everything is the scariest, and if it abates, I won't be so worried next time, maybe.

The neurologist's nurse is figuring out who I can see when.  The neurologist himself isn't available until May, of course.

May I should call my Rheumatologist, too?  Whaddya think?  I mean it is arthritis?

I just wish I could go back to my exercising and stuff.

Hugs

Elaine