Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group neck movement question

I have ankylosing spondylitis. My neck is not completely frozen, but I have limited range of motion. Lately I've noticed that when I hold my head in one position for a few minutes and then try to move it, it catches and then there is a popping sound. I'm concerned that one of these times it won't pop, it just won't move at all. Am I making too much out of this? Or, is it a precurser to my neck freezing in one position?

Hiya,

I experience the same issues you describe, fusion maybe occuring or the fibrous muscle changes. The small joints often get affected as well and these can pop crack etc.

I try and keep the inflammation down and the stretching up, but too much ot too forced gives me neuro stuff so I try and keep it steady.

What meds are you on, and when was the last time you were reviewed by your specialist?

I would n;t mind the going stiff bit but the pain that comes with it....

Oh, nearly forgot, a big welcome to kickas!

David

David

Hi there and welcome to KA!

Really, with this disease it's just as easy to make too big a thing out of something, as it is to discount it. I can't tell you if this is a precursor to fusing in your neck, but if it's any comfort, my neck's been popping, losing and regaining mobility, getting extremely stiff and stuck feeling for years. Since I started watching what I eat (no wheat and very little cow dairy here) and (unfortunately for my tummy) taking NSAIDS, my neck mobility has improved and I have managed through exercise and stretching to keep it fairly good.

Don't get me wrong, I believe that NSAIDS are the worst thing to take in the long term, but taken in the short term, they can be very helpful. Are you on any meds? Has your rheumatologist discussed the possibility of the Disease Modifying drugs or TNF inhibitors with you? Have you been to physio for a good exercise regimen geared to your capabilities?

Sorry to innundate you with questions, but I don't know you, so I don't know how far you've got in your treatment plan.

I'm sure you'll find alot of answers, information, support and (believe it or not) laughter here. These are some of the best folk I've ever met.

Hugs,

Hello... to Kickas...I have RA do you have pain with the frozen neck?...I sometime have to sleep with a cevical pillow and also wear cevical neck collar which helps to relieve the pain and give me comfort....I take Glucosamine and Chondroitin and both help me some..hopefully... you will get it check-out...take care Pat

Hi-

I have had this happen to me for a month or so and then it went away. Don't worry it takes years and years for fusion to happen. Sounds like you need to get the inflammation under better control. Have you mentioned to your doc that you still have severe inflammation and pain? What meds are you taking?

You may want to try 15 minutes of heat or 15 minutes of ice- or alternate between the two, whatever makes you feel better.

Try very very gentle stretches in all ranges of motion on a daily basis, but don't stretch if you feel pain- you know the saying, if you don't use it, you loose it.

Massaging the area with Tiger balm may help loosen everything up and decrease pain.

I hope this helps!

Shari

A big welcome to you, too! You will find excellent support and ideas here, from folks who have been there. I have the same type of neck issues-sometimes cracking, popping or sticking. Can't underscore the previous posters' suggestions about stretching enough-it is what allows me to be able to back out of my driveway while turning and looking, something a lot of AS/Psoriatic Arthritis sufferers can't do.
One thing I learned from an orthopedist, sometimes with these conditions the natural curve in the neck straightens out-not a good thing! So sleeping with a cervical pillow, towel roll, etc. under your neck can help stretch the muscles and restore the curve. Good luck, and keep us posted on how you are.

Thank you for your welcome. I do range of motion exercises every morning in the shower. Some times though, like now, it hurts more, so I don't do as many rotations. I can't turn my head enough to back my car up, I have to use the mirrors. I have found that massages help me to have more movement and less pain. I get them every three to four weeks.

One of the best things I did for my neck in the early years of my bout with neck fusion was invest in a portable traction kit. I t was essentially a pulley system and a water bag. There was a harness with chin straps to support your head ad you set it up over a door. It stretched my neck gently while sitting and reading a book. Any medical supply store would have them and I suspect they're still $20.00- $30.00 and relieved immensely for quite a while the popping and stiffness.

WELCOME

Hi, and thanks for your reply to my question. I take ibuproffen in the morning and evening, and have for years. When it gets bad, I used to switch to vioxx for a week or two and it would help, but of course can't do that anymore. My family doc gave me Relafen, and took it for a month, and it didn't seem to help, so I'm back to the ibuproffen. I use my heat pad or hot watter bottle every night, and it does feel good, but doesn't seem to make the pain better. I've tried ice too. I don't know if it's a common problem with AS, but I carry all of my stress in my neck and shoulders, and that seems to make it worse.

You say it takes a long time for the fusion to happen. I've had a loss of movement for several years, and it doesn't seem to have gotten worse in the past couple of years, so I guess I'm lucky.

Thanks again for your post.

Hi Pat,
I have OA and osteo as well as the AS. Yes, I do have pain, but I'm not positive if it's because of the AS. I carry all of my stress in my neck and shoulders, and this gives me a lot of problems. I try to get massages every three to four weeks, and that helps some. Of course, some times are worse than others, and this is one of the more painfull times. I do wear a cervical collar sometimes when it gets realy bad.