This is topic Stiff aching neck pain in forum Medical Questions at LymeNet Flash.


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Posted by sick (Member # 9143) on :
 
Does any one have a stiff neck? Mine has been so stiff for years. Also my shoulders are stiff and very tight. Does anyone have any suggestions?
sick
 

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Posted by bettyg (Member # 6147) on :
 
howdy d!

sorry to read this, and welcome to MY club of same symptoms for 30-36 years.

i use frozen ice packs and/OR moist heating pad for those areas.

HOT EPSON SALT BATHS ARE GOOD FOR ACHING but not to burn you.

if you have a spa/similar, use that ... hits just the spots hurting the worst.


ibuprofen is my only other helper...

my young niece buys these hot packs that attach tothe body! they get warm when in touch with body; she really likes them! good luck.
 

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Posted by luvs2ride (Member # 8090) on :
 
Yah, Yah! My original symptom and one that keeps flaring up even today.

Two things that are VERY HELPFUL.
1- Chiropractic treatment (especially a little electrode type machine that places electrical impulses on the muscles to loosen them up)
2-Massage Therapy.

For me, the muscles around the neck and shoulders become so tight and they are causing the pain. I have been told this happens for two reasons. First the spine gets out of alignment and the muscles are working overtime trying to hold the spine in place. So chiropractors put the spine back in place and then work on relaxing the muscles. Second, pockets of lactic acid build up (and I believe toxins) in the muscles. A good massage therapist will break those pockets loose. I get up from the table pain free everytime. I then drink lots of water all day to help flush the loosed toxins out of my system.

Lyme is notorious for causing this issue in the neck joints.

Luvs
 

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Posted by klutzo (Member # 5701) on :
 
I agree about massage, but please go slow (only 10 mins. to start out). I had too much massage the first time, and so many toxins were liberated from my tissues that my neck turned as hard as concrete, and I threw up from the pain.

I also have a semicircular shaped pillow, made of polar tech to hold heat, and stuffed with flax seeds. You heat it in the microwave and wear it around your neck. The shape makes it stay on your neck while you go about your day. It holds the heat for about 45 mins. I'm sure you can find these in many places on the Internet.

Klutzo
 

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Posted by tdtid (Member # 10276) on :
 
I too suffered with this from my beginning days and would do massage regularly for what was my "fibromyalgia".

I haven't tried massage since my diagnosis, but appreciate your warning, Klutzo. Scarey stuff.

In the past, I would find a temporary relief and was also doing chiropractic and accupuncture. Also as Betty said, heat and cold.

I think we all have to experiment since what works one time, may not the next so it's good to have many options that you can run through.

But as you can tell, we all know what you are discussing and can sympathize with you. Good luck.

Cathy
 

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Posted by char (Member # 8315) on :
 
This was one of my daughter's prominent symptom when she first got infected. Also, it got worse when she took dioxy.

We really cranked the tylenol and ibuprophen- the dr. can advise how much is ok. My kids were ok taking more than I imagined they could.

My son had bad stiffness all over and he took prescription meds that helped.

Some of my relatives were alarmed about the pain meds; but it is important to be as comfortable as possible to rest and recover.

It is possible that your your bad stiffness will subside; especially with lyme treatment.

But you can push for the dr.s to help with pain if needed.

Best Wishes,

Char

[ 07. January 2007, 09:51 PM: Message edited by: char ]
 

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Posted by Aniek (Member # 5374) on :
 
If you want a medicine to help the symptom, I had great success with Flexeril. It's a muscle relaxer.

It works best when you take it every day, rather then just "as needed." You also want to start at a low dose and work up. The max dose is 30mg.

I started at 5mg a night, and didn't notice a difference until I hit 20mg. But the real benefit came at 30mg for me. I increased by 5mg each week. It definitely causes fatigue, but it gave me my life back.

Once I was on the flexeril, I had benefits from myofascial trigger point release. It's a type of massage, I had mine done by an excellent physical therapist. It hurts really bad, but does relax the muscles. Without the Flexeril, it only made things stiffer.
 

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Posted by KENNEDY (Member # 9628) on :
 
This problem comes up alot. Here's what I replied to a post on dec.28th.

I hope one of these suggestions brings you relief.

When I had complained to my LLMD about my neck pain he prescribed Naprosyn, and that was to be taken with Prevacid,

apparently Naprosyn is very hard on your stomach. I had no trouble with it and I only used it for 30 days.
I finished that up Oct.28th and I still don't have any problems. So that along with heat applied to my neck is what worked for me. Hope you feel better soon.
 

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Posted by MarsyNY (Member # 7766) on :
 
MSM - I really think that is helping the stiff
neck that I've had for years. Too soon to be sure
but it's worth a shot if you want to try it.
 

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Posted by NatalieA (Member # 7714) on :
 
Hi- yes stiff neck and shoulders almost every day for last year. It gives me headaches too when real bad. It seems worse in morning and night of course. I use lidocaine patches and muscle rub stuff..Would be nice to go get a massage one day!
Natalie
 

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Posted by gwenb (Member # 7217) on :
 
Try magnesium citrate - easily digestable. Lack of magnesium causes muscle problems. I had tons of problems with my back and neck etc, after supplementing for several months with magnesium (to bowel tolerance) my neck and back pain reduced by 90%.

Lyme depletes magnesium big time.

Gwen
 

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Posted by sick (Member # 9143) on :
 
Thanks for all the suggestions.
I do go to a chirpractor and I have had massage a couple times.
I also took flexeril but it just wiped me out. I slept for hours and was so groggy. I have to take meds to keep me awake or I would sleep 20 hours out of 24.That is everyday too.
I will ask about the naprosyn. I take nexuim already so it shouldn't brother my stomach. How strong was it?
Where do yo get the magnesium citrate. Do you take it with food and other meds. How strong is it.
sick
 

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Posted by gwenb (Member # 7217) on :
 
Hi Sick

You can get it at any health food store. I use SISU brand - capsule 250mg about 4x times a day. The only unpleasant side effect I have had from magnesium are loose stools. It will likely take you several months to replenish your levels so be patient.

Also, and I can not recommend this highly enough, stay away from refined carbohydrates and high glycemic-index foods. Sugar feeds the bacteria. Incorporating dietary changes along with magnesium supplemenation made a world of difference to how I felt. There were times before when my back was so bad I would have to bring out crutches - that doesn't happen any more.

Gwen
 

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Posted by sick (Member # 9143) on :
 
Hi Gwen,
I will get some today when I am in town.I sure don't need loose stool. I have that problem every day since I got on antibiotics.The last two days my stomach has just been churning. I don't get from from the bathroom. I suppose it is from the medicne because that is when it started.
sick
 

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Posted by hurtingramma (Member # 7770) on :
 
You may also want to try myofascial release from a physical therapist. My neck and shoulders have hurt for years, and I get much relief from the pain with this therapy. I also see a chiropractor who uses the stimulator, as well as hands-on stuff.
 

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Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by sick:

I also took flexeril but it just wiped me out. I slept for hours and was so groggy. I have to take meds to keep me awake or I would sleep 20 hours out of 24.

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quote:

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Originally posted by Lymetoo:

quote:

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Originally posted by sick:

I also took flexeril but it just wiped me out. I slept for hours and was so groggy. I have to take meds to keep me awake or I would sleep 20 hours out of 24.

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Take 1/2 tablet...AT NIGHT

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