Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group Neck issue and Question folks...

Hello everyone...
Fightin off a neck flare up. Errrr!!
Just wondering...Of those that have had neck issues/flare ups...or frozen neck like i call it...Any of you all had problems with swallowing from it? I've noticed the last few weeks since it started my neck is so darn stiff and sore. Of course thats not enough..the right shoulder has to jump in for its on twisted reasons. And hear lately its a bit more difficult to swallow. I dont know what changes if any on my neck lately. I do have cervical spondylosis.

I am frustrated as I cant find a proper position to sleep. Tried propping pillows. Layin on the left side, then the right side. On my back. Felt like a rotissirie chicken.

Art ran over to get my Norco refill and doc is giving me some zoltaren gel or something like that to try out.

Any thoughts or info would b much appreciated..
your pal...aka turtlebug.

Hi Ang (AKA Ladybug, Turtlebug)

I've had neck and should pain for so long, I can't tell you when I haven't had pain.

I've had bones jumping in and out of place(in front of neck not sure what they are called). I've had the pain as you describe it, up to the base of skull. I've had swallowing problems, frozen neck and somewhere along the line I have lost 3/4 of an inch in height.

Hope your medicine works, I am thinking of you.

Hugs

Gerri

I don't have much of use to say, honey. Just lots of hugs for you. I wish you were feeling better.

Love and hugs,

I just finished a recent cycle of physical therapy on my neck. As of now, I don't have any fusion but I do get "frozen neck" and problems swallowing and sleeping. I have found that sleeping with one of those orthopedic pillows works best for me. The memory foam one. Feel well soon!
- Angie

hi, good to see you again,

i'm sure the solutions for the neck probably differ according to what is causing the neck pain.

for me it is muscle spasms.

when my upper back's trigger points kick in, all the surrounding muscles spasm including the neck. and then the muscles all weaken due to all the spasming (at least that's the way it was explained to me by the PT and physiatrist). when it all first began, it went unabated for 1.5 years before i found someone who could help me, so the neck muscles were very very weak by then, so every little thing sent them into spasm. its been awhile but some of the things my PT did that helped the neck was light massage, gentle traction, ultrasound of the upper back. i found i had to swim to get the neck strong again. now, it doesn't get nearly as bad.

for me, sleeping on the thinnest of feather pillows flat on my back is the only way i can sleep. any pillow that pushes my neck up even a little sends it into spasm. i find that i have the best results if i scrunch the feather pillow around my neck so its gently supporting it

i have to make sure i never turn my head to one side for very long, i need to have conversations, watch tv, etc looking straight ahead.

i take muscle relaxants (zanaflex) each night before bed; they are really miracle pills for me. i tried other muscle relaxants but they made me way too drowsy for too many hours. zanaflex clears the body in 6 hours.

when my upper back trigger points are active, the neck is more of a problem, so for me, keeping my upper back happy, helps keep my neck happy.

to keep my back happy, i have to be careful of sitting.

if things are spasming, ice and heat back and forth (ice pack til its no longer cold, microwavable hot pack til its no longer hot, repeat, repeat...) seem to help the most with both the neck and upper back / shoulder area. and then i'll go get ultrasound for my trigger points and maybe trigger point injections if its a really bad case.

as for the swallowing. no trouble with that for me, but most of my problem is on the left in the back and along the side. often some numbness along the jaw and at the temple. if i can keep that numbness at bay, i know i'm doing well.

i did have laryngitis when the PT massaged my neck too exuberantly, but not swallowing problems.

if you can't manage it on your own, i've found that PT really helped me a lot when i needed it. now, i use what i've learned there and can do everything myself except for the ultrasound and tp injections. but usually i don't need to resort to that.

hope your neck feels better soon,

sue

Buggie,

While it is not a big problem all the time there are times when I can not swallow anything except liquid then it feels like it is stuck half way down and trying to come back up before bending me over double in pain. The doctor used to say it was from reflux or GERD but I think I have proven them partly wrong by now and they are not sure what it is. One medication that did help stop it for a long period of time was Protonix and since stopping it I have noticed it a few times a month.

Brent

hello gerri!
so good to hear from you!
still sore on my neck. difficulty swallowing. i keep thinking this time it's something different and not the LPR/gerd. just feels strange. getting terrible spasms in my shoulder blade. miss gianna rubbed my shoulders last night. ahhhh..blissful!

like you i lost some height. last time it was about 2 inches.

hope you are hanging in there...too much humidity over here..praying for rain! turtlebug

Thanks Kat..it's appreciated..hugs are welcome!
I've had a rough patch with it. Neck flares are right up there with thoracic pain...ugh!

Hope this post finds you well! Luv turtlebug

My GP suggested I sleep with a cervical collar on. You might want to give it a try. Hope you get some relief soon.

Cindy

cindy's post made me think of something else; when my neck is bothering me, i use a neck pillow when i watch tv; it seems to help.

sue