Why the constant neck pain???? What is causing that and what to do about that?
Posted by needhelp38 (Member # 27665) on :
I would like to know the answer to this to. Sometimes it is hard to hold my neck up it feels so weak and hurts so bad. This is one question I am going to ask my LLMD when I see her next.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
It's just part of having Lyme. Can be really intense pain!!
Massage may provide some relief.
Posted by WhitneyS (Member # 25666) on :
go to a chiropractor, and a good one. I didnt think it would help, but it really helps me alot with neck pain. Also get a special pillow for posture when you sleep, this has helped me a lot too.
Posted by lpkayak (Member # 5230) on :
i got rid of mine for a really long time with tx
now i am experiencing it again and have been told it goes along with the lipitor poisoning i recently experienced
Posted by Beagle (Member # 29698) on :
CAn so relate....neck pain. So weak cannot hold up head for long these days.
Posted by tiredmom21 (Member # 28479) on :
@whitney, please share what pillow you have found helpful. I have spent so much $ on different pillows but none have been truly comfortable.
Thx.
Posted by jbiology (Member # 15839) on :
I agree on finding a good pillow. My chiropractor showed me the one I could get through her office that's basically a tube, then told me that craft stores often sell similar ones for "make your own" pillows. They are MUCH cheaper and mine works great!
For me the trick was not having the rest of my head on anything, just the neck. I also have a small decorative pillow that fits in the crook of my neck that I take with me when I travel. It doesn't work quite as well, but better than the fancy curvy pillows on the market.
I also agree that massage and chiropractic are good options, as is accupressure or accupuncture if you can afford it (most insurance won't cover it).
Posted by pme (Member # 31621) on :
I get neck pain too. I have gone for cranial sacral work but doesn't really help. It get worse with the fatigue for me. After exercising I get really tired and have neck pain. that is how I know I have really overdone it.
I wish insurance would cover massage. The only time I felt noticeably better was after a massage.
You are inspiring me to schedule one!
Great question
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
PME.. I just had my first massage in about 8-10 yrs last week. It was heavenly!
(also had two chiro adjustments which helped... no neck popping either!)
Posted by erikjh1972 (Member # 20964) on :
ah yes the neck pain. anyone get it esp. on the left side??? thats where mine mostly is. although with treatment its getting better.
Posted by gryphon78 (Member # 31930) on :
so I m curious if anyone gets their neck pain at the exact spot where the neck and shoulders meet, almost like that vertebrae is swollen adn the pain radiates from there. Seems like an odd spot, for what its worth mine too has been hurting less with ABX, was almost unberaable for awhile.
Posted by Mindy159 (Member # 31149) on :
Acupuncture helps.
Posted by apljack (Member # 14233) on :
gryphon--that's exactly where I got it. For me, it went away with doxy.
Posted by gryphon78 (Member # 31930) on :
Thanks Apl, I m on zith and ceftin myself, its gone away but noticing a twinge of it returning the couple times I ve taken breaks on the ABX... guess I need to keep it up !
Posted by jbaer (Member # 31938) on :
Hormonal defencies cause neck pain and headaches. You need a full hormone panel. If you are already on T4, get a revearse T3 and make sure that it is getting converted. Low test will def cause this a as well.
Also, try to sleep on your back, not shoulders. You want your chest relaxed and not tight so it does not pull on your trapezious muscles. Strengthen your upper back and stretch your chest.
Posted by Robin123 (Member # 9197) on :
Well, mine is the right side. I'm guessing it's also because of inflamed cranial nerves. My first symptom was neck pain. Chiropractic care relieves it temporarily.
Posted by kd888 (Member # 29652) on :
My neck pain-- which feels like a regular stiff neck from sleeping wrong-- is only on the right side and is concentrated in the 'L' shape/area right where neck meets shoulder-- includes trapezius muscle.
Plus I have an extremely tender and swollen spot in the center of base of neck. I can actually feel a fibrous band there that I can flick with my finger. Inflamed tendon or something. Really painfull !!
I have had this stiffness going on 8 months now! Almost too much to bear at times and I developed a multitude of muscle knots in my upper back and shoulder blades as a result.
I was starting to believe this was not related to Lyme-- even though my LLMD says it absolutely is and that it WILL go away.
In the meantime I tried ice, heat, massage, trigger point work, special pillows, ergonomic desk chair....and on and on with NO RELIEF. In fact massage only made it worse-- bad herxing afterwards.
However....once my LLMD started me on Ceftin along with Mepron and Azith-- (after failures with Doxy and Amox. prescribed by non LLMD's-- stupid me) I now have days or parts of days-- FINALLY !!!-- where the stiff neck does go away completely.
I am hopeful this pattern will continue and that the stiffness will go away permanently.
I think the Ceftin combo made the difference.
At one point I did go see a top rheumatologist about the stiff neck and he was certain I did not have arthritis inflamation or fibro (duh !!) and simply had an on going muscle spasm unrelated to Lyme (pffft !!) He prescribed muscle relaxers. Haven't tried them. Don't want to add any more dopeyness to the brain fog I still get occasionally.
Anyway...I am seeing progress. If it weren't for the stiff neck issues I would feel pretty great!!! ABX and Mepron are working !!
Bottom line: I should have gone to an LLMD right away....but I didn't know any better at the time. Months were wasted on doctors in the opposite camp who either undertreated me for Lyme or refused to treat past 6 weeks with ABX.
We all know that story!
Posted by philly78 (Member # 31069) on :
I was having horrible neck pain! I started seeing a chiropractor around two months before I found out I had lyme. I do get adjustments and it helps but I also found out that I had no curve left in my cervical spine. This is referred to as cervical kyphosis and you will sometimes here people call this military neck.
Our spines have a natural curvature to them but mine was straight. We think it is related to an old MVA that I had. I also found it hard to hold my head up at times and the pain was often unbearable.
I do traction treatments where I lay back in a chair with my neck resting on a bar. It helps to get the natural curve of the spine back. It is a bit pricey but has helped tremendously!
This is what it looks like.
If you were to find out that you had something like what I had, there are other options out there to get the natural curve of the spine back. They sell pillows made for this purpose. You can do a search for cervical traction neck pillow.
Posted by Amanda (Member # 14107) on :
Have you had an MRI? Several people here have reported sudden disc degeneration in their spine.
I wouldn't do any chiropractic work, if the discs are deteriorating, popping and manipulation could make it worse.
Posted by randibear (Member # 11290) on :
i have bulging discs throughout my neck and lower back.
unfortunately a chiro made it much worse. rats...
cause i do have the neck pain.
i have started sleeping with three pillows propped up.
Posted by WhitneyS (Member # 25666) on :
I think you have to obviously resolve the underlying problem. My pillow doesnt prevent pain, but it helps me reduce it and be more comfortable when it does hurt.
Posted by jbaer (Member # 31938) on :
If you have any bulging discs pro-lo therapy will help. Very painful but worth it. Our disease causes bad blood flow and our immune system is deprived of vital nutrients necessary for repair. So, bc of this, the bulges never go back in and start to loose their "cushion". This will cause muscle imbalances and tight muscles because of overcompensation.
Doing cardio will help blood flow. You should stretch and do lite weights. No machines, free weights. Chiro and massage will help as well, but pro-lo could actually fix your problem depending on what it is. It is very important that your dr is very good at it though, I have a great one in AZ.