posted
I'm afraid this is something serious developing, not sure (don't think it is) lyme related. But basically for the last two or three weeks there's this radiating nerve pain in the back of my neck. Are there lymph nodes back there? When I turn my head side to side, it feels like it's hurting in there. Is it encephalopathy? Anyone had this? Is it lymphoma?
Dekrator48
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 18239
posted
My neck and head pain is from lyme, and hopefully it's not babesia too.
-------------------- The fibromyalgia I've had for 32 years was an undiagnosed Lyme symptom.
"For I know the plans I have for you", declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future". -Jeremiah 29:11 Posts: 6076 | From Pennsylvania, USA | Registered: Nov 2008
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posted
There are some small lymph nodes in the back of the neck that colect lymph from muscles.But i think you are dealing with lyme and co.
Posts: 482 | From Nebraska | Registered: Feb 2010
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posted
Yes, there are lymph nodes in the back of the neck. I have had a chain of swollen lymph nodes only on the left side for the past 1.5 years. In addition, I had severe nerve head/neck pain, burning spine...followed immediately by right arm/right leg weakness/numbness. This was one of my first symptoms that caused me to take notice that something was really wrong and landed me in the ER b/c I thought I was having a stroke.
Posts: 618 | From NC | Registered: Oct 2009
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lymeinhell
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 4622
posted
The back of your head is covered with muscles. Frequently you can develop muscle spazms from low magnesium (caused by Lyme). You get a spazm that feels like a painful knot. Typically the knot may not hurt (unless you apply pressure), but you will often feel the pain radiating around it.
I had them all over my shoulders and the back of my skull, but would typically only feel like the top of my skull had been bashed in with a hammer. Or at other times it would radiate (aka referred pain) down through my ear and jaw. Or over the top of my head into my eye.
Poke around the back of your skull with your knuckle and see if you find one of these spots.
They do NOT go away on their own. Antibiotics will not fix them. The spazm must be broken up, and your magnesium levels need to be brought back to normal using IV, IM or topical magnesium.
-------------------- Julie _ _ ___ _ _ lymeinhell
Blessed are those who expect nothing, for they shall not be disappointed. Posts: 2258 | From a better place than I was 11 yrs ago | Registered: Sep 2003
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posted
I've been experiencing serious back of the neck pain and very tender to touch. Along with it headaches constantly and since letting a PT mess with it my shoulders and arms are much worse. EXtremely shakely most of the time in my arms.
Posts: 9 | From st louis missouri | Registered: Aug 2010
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posted
If you have no trouble bending forward with your neck, then I wouldn't worry too much about encephalopathy. ( put your chin down to your chest )
One of my first herxes with Lyme treatment was severe spasms in my neck. It was horrible.
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96220 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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posted
I think with lymphoma you'd have to have really low WBC levels, but I'm not sure?? At least this is what my neighbor said who is having a bone marrow biopsy for suspected lymphoma. I have low a WBC AND enlarged lymph nodes, but my LLMD said this is due to lyme.
Posts: 618 | From NC | Registered: Oct 2009
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posted
I always have neck pain and the base/back of my neck.
Seems like that's where I'll herx with the pain is in my head and those areas. I will feel like I have mennigitis or encephalitis. I had a lot of MRI's done when feeling like this years ago. Found nothing. Now I know it's the lyme & co.
Try dry brushing and lymph drainage things. If you go to the DETOX thread you can learn a lot.
-------------------- Lyme, Babs, Fry Bug..... Whatever it is, may a treatment be discovered to make us all whole again! Posts: 941 | From AZ-MT | Registered: Oct 2004
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posted
I can put my chin down to the chest but its extremely painful in the c7 area... As far as lymphoma, different things in blood work can appear abnormal, such as sed rates and c-reative protein levels. Years ago I had a really good primary doc. He always told me, its better to just bring your concerns to me, we can check a few things out, because the stress from worrying about it and not asking is sometimes worse for you than the disease itself. He was a wise MD. Lymphoma normally produces very hard fixed nodules, infections feel a little different, not so fixed and more tender to the touch. My husband had surgery about 3 years ago. MD thought it was lyphoma for sure. Removed 7 nodes from under his arm the size of walnuts...DX came back from pathology as bartonella...HMMM...that was a whole lot of fun for him.
Posts: 9 | From st louis missouri | Registered: Aug 2010
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Tricky Tickey
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 26546
posted
I would seek out good chiropractic care....it's been helping my whole body heal.
-------------------- Early Disseminated LD- 2010. Currently doing acupuncture and yoga. Negative Igenex (IND & Pos Bands) ISSUES AFTER: Tendonitis, letter reversal, Low immune system. PREVENTION:SaltC,Iodine,Humaworm, Chiropractic. Posts: 1013 | From In a van down by the river. | Registered: Jun 2010
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posted
GP told me it was just muscle spasms, not lymph nodes; as there are not lymph nodes directly in the back of the neck where I'm having the spasms. It holds water b/c the pain seems to shoot/wax and wane like a spasm.
posted
I have also a prolonged Epstein Barr virus infection that I'm told has been for several years. I suppose this could be a non-lymphoma cause of my nodes to be swollen.... I guess I'm jumping to conclusions thinking it is cancer causing these things when it really could be a number of things (infection, lyme, EBV, etc.) causing the symptoms. I'm just scared. Haven't taken the medication yet, got it filled but didn't pick it up.
posted
Hope all goes well with you. I think the big C is a fear everyone has at times. As for me, I dont have a clue if I have bartonella. Just taking one day at a time till my llmd appt. My doc gave me flexeril 10mg for my neck, but have had no improvement...I at least hoped it would help me sleep better...Also gave me neurotonin, but havent started it yet..maybe it will help.
Angels are everywhere, all we need to do is look.
Posts: 9 | From st louis missouri | Registered: Aug 2010
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nenet
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 13174
posted
I'm surprised no one else mentioned Lyme (aseptic) meningitis.
Lyme can cause aseptic meningitis, in all levels of involvement. I have had this symptom for years, off and on.
Spine (part or all), neck, base of skull, and the weird bumps/protuberances on either side of where the spine enters the skull - I can get a burning terrible radiating nerve pain in any or all of these areas. Sometimes there is stiffness or a headache as well.
Sometimes I can also get a low-grade fever along with it. I also sometimes get confusion, trouble thinking, irritability, blurry vision, or dizziness. It all depends how severe the meningitis is at the time. Sometimes it goes away completely for days, weeks, or months.
When the meningitis acts up, it sometimes tends to make the muscles around my spine and neck spasm or tighten and inflame as well, so it can be a lot of fun.
With aseptic meningitis you can basically have one or more, or all of the symptoms of meningitis, minus the really high fever/acute run-to-the-ER stuff (as a general rule).
Also unlike septic meningitis (usually), with aseptic meningitis you don't necessarily have to have difficulty bending your head forward, etc.
If you are wanting to get a good idea of possible Lyme symptoms and a better understanding of them, I highly recommend you check out the book "Everything you Need to Know About Lyme Disease and Other Tick-Borne Disorders" by Karen Vanderhoof-Forschner
This topic is covered over a few pages, along with encephalopathy (one symptom of which is usually called "brain fog" by patients), and other CNS/Brain symptoms.
It goes into good detail about the different symptoms you can have with Lyme and other tick-borne diseases - it is very clear, easy to understand, and gives references. It also goes over treatments.
posted
Not gonna lie, I think the doctor was flat out wrong last night.
I remember in the past I was sure I had ALS. This feels a little bit like that but I'm having more symptoms or more real symptoms in that my lymph nodes are actually a bit tender and inflamed. Maybe it's not lymphoma and something is causing the glands to be swollen like an infection or not being totally over infection but my glands are throbbing and having feelings in them like they've never had before.
lymeinhell
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 4622
posted
My vote is on muscle spazms, which do throb because they're cutting off blood supply. Again, they do not go away on their own.
Look into Prolotherapy or Trigger Point Injections of lidocaine - the needle point breaks up the spazm and literally numbs the area for a bit. I had up to 7 shots in one sitting. Took several series, but once they went away and I stuck to IM Magnesium, they don't return.
This was one of my most debilitating symptoms.
-------------------- Julie _ _ ___ _ _ lymeinhell
Blessed are those who expect nothing, for they shall not be disappointed. Posts: 2258 | From a better place than I was 11 yrs ago | Registered: Sep 2003
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Everyone with Lyme tests positive for Epstein Barr.
And... if you really don't trust what your dr. is saying. Then... get to a LLMD that you do trust.
Worrying and Stress is making it all worse.
There is the lyme mennigitis as mentioned by a few of us... it feels like one is dying with the neck and head. But you do live.. at least I'm still alive I think.
Lyme and Company screws up the whole body.
You will hurt all over and then it moves around from that even. My Lymph nodes are always swollen in each area. Get a massage and do detox things.
Get to a dr. that you trust. Your peace of mind is important for any 'healing' we can do. Again, Stress makes everything worse.
-------------------- Lyme, Babs, Fry Bug..... Whatever it is, may a treatment be discovered to make us all whole again! Posts: 941 | From AZ-MT | Registered: Oct 2004
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Pinelady
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 18524
posted
Try rubbing some lemon on it...It really helped me. I had the hot burning neck for months.
-------------------- Suspected Lyme 07 Test neg One band migrating in IgG region unable to identify.Igenex Jan.09IFA titer 1:40 IND IgM neg pos 31 +++ 34 IND 39 IND 41 IND 83-93 + DX:Neuroborreliosis Posts: 5850 | From Kentucky | Registered: Dec 2008
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