Kickas.org Forums Rheumatoid Arthritis General Discussion #1 RA Web Support Group STIFFNESS IN NECK

I have got a stiff neck due to AS. Doctors say there is no fusion of vertebra however spurs are developing. As per doctors stiffness is owing to muscle spasms and not bone fusion. I am presently doing physio exercises for past 02 months under guidance and not much improvement has been witnessed. Can anybody guide me if continuation of exercises are going to help or not and is it really due to muscle spasm or fusion

kp15 - I have both, fusion (from C2 to C7) and also suffer muscle spasms and, the osteophytes catch whatever is there to catch...

I attend physio for manual traction and for balance, propiaception.

Physio helps me all round.

Blasted AS -

I basically have the same thing going on.

For me chiro or physio (but everyone here says be careful of chiro but for me, he's excellent) do help.

The exercises do help.

Ice and heat help.

Ultrasound helps.

Triggerpoint injections help my upper back.

Antiinflammatory meds like Humira and prednisone when I flare help it the most.

It all helps.

And for me it is the muscle spasms that are a response to the inflammation in the joints.

No fusion here, some bone spurs, but not enough to be the cause of the symptoms.

For me its inflammation leading to muscle spasms.

thanks sue, mine is similar case of neck, bony spurs are from c1 to c7 (nothing left) but very mild, i also think the restriction in movement is due to muscle spasm instead of fusion. when i take normal OTC NASID (once or twice a month) the rotation becomes normal. but i avoid temptation of taking pain killers and kicking it out without medicine. my physio says slight kyphosis is setting in but being age on my side it will improve. keeping my hopes high. BUT HOW DO YOU REDUCE INFLAMMATION

How do you reduce inflammation?

Thus far, the only way I've managed to really do it is with NSAIDs a little (Aleve is the best one for me, but it causes edema and gastritis after just a few days), prednisone (wonderful short-term but know that it leads to bone loss, even with the occasional short term use), and now with Humira.

Ice will also do it in a pinch, but one can't ice one's whole body 24/7, well, unless one lies naked in a snow drift all day

lol, never used ice for pain, yes I generally use heating pad prior going to sleep. still hit and trial. reduced 04 kgs in last month. it really helped lower back but the neck remains same. physio will start strengthening exercises next week onwards. will keep posted. NSAID are really painful. even if I take one it takes a week to flush out the aftereffects like gastritis and bloating

Only thing ice ever helperd me with was feet, knees and shoulder - inflammation. Does nothing for my neck as icing osteophytes is a total waste of time...osteophytes 'catch' and the 'catching' (of whatever it is) is blasted painful, painful spasms. Dang AS.

i have read on net only that homeopathy has some medications to reduce oestophytes, i will check again and get back on that. reduction of oestophytes or stopping further formation may help further damage. anyway what is the harm in trying

Sue, sue sue,
lets not be doing the naked snow thing!!

after 1/2 hour in a not tub and I can sink into snow, and I will probably fall in snow after next week- but the picture you pain is much prettier than the one I make.

Love you guys!
Lon

I am on low dose Prednisone for inflammation daily. My neck is a mess, with fusion, rips, tears, spurs, the whole gamut.