Over the last week, my daughter has been having severe head and neck pain. I feel so helpless!!
She has had neck pain in the past, but this is so much worse. I take her to the chiropractor every two weeks normally, but I have taken her more lately.
It helps for a little bit, and then she is back to hurting.
I feel like I need to try something, anything, to help ease her pain.
Maybe accupuncture?
Is this a herx? She has been on a more aggressive treatment since seeing Dr. J. in Ct. in Sept.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Someone reminded me about Bio-Freeze today. I'm going to buy some when I see my chiro on Tuesday. Maybe that would help her!!
I think a herx CAN cause the pain to be worse. Acupuncture might provide some relief.
(My issues are structural.)
Posted by LymeGoAway (Member # 25041) on :
How about some magnesium oil? I find it works great for relieving all kinds of aches and pains.
Posted by sixgoofykids (Member # 11141) on :
Body Heat Pain Relief Vanilla Rub ..... works great for pain. Similar to Bio-Freeze but all natural.
Maybe also turmeric?
Posted by Dekrator48 (Member # 18239) on :
My neck pain has been helped the most by doxy.
After that, it helps to lie down with a squishy down alternative pillow under my neck and head.
Heat can help, like warm showers and something lightweight that can be heated in microwave and put around neck.
So many heating pads and neck massagers I've tried were too bulky and heavy and felt like a ton of lead around my neck and shoulders.
I think there are gel-like wraps that fit around the neck that can be warmed in the micro.
I also got a TENS unit that is a massager. I haven't used it enough yet to know if it really helps long term.
Posted by Sammi (Member # 110) on :
I have had terrible neck pain from Babesiosis. Herxing can definitely make it worse. Is your daughter treating this?
One thing that helps me is called a Bed Buddy. This is a long sock-like wrap with a handle on each end that you can either put in the microwave to heat or in the freezer to chill. I put it in the microwave and then wrap it around my neck. It gives me some relief.
I was going to physical therapy for some time and that was beneficial also. I could not do most exercises though because it made the pain worse. The physical therapist I had understood this. He worked on my neck and applied heat after the session.
I hope she gets some relief soon.
Posted by Jennifer70 (Member # 30280) on :
What antibiotic is she on. I just started minocycline recently and my neck / head pain is off the charts! almost unbearable.
Posted by hshmb (Member # 27884) on :
Castor oil pack has helped me
Posted by CountryMouse (Member # 32073) on :
I agree with the magnesium although I take oral magnesium. Took a few days to start helping then within a week or ten days the pain in my neck and back were gone completely.
Posted by Lymedin2010 (Member # 34322) on :
Decorator, funny you should mention Doxy. I have had grand neck pain, pressure/burning. I did not realize it until you posted, but I think Doxy is what made mine better.
iV Rocephin also made it better, bit it was short lived. Thereafter it progressively got worst.
I am mixing herbs with Doxy and I am starting to feel much better and more energy. I thought the herbs dwindled the neck pain, but it just might be the doxy.
Posted by jackie51 (Member # 14233) on :
Bad head pain with mino is a side effect that you should tell your doctor about. I was warned about this when I put my daughter on it.
Once when I had bad neck pain, my dad's wife rubbed castor oil on it. I was amazed at the pain relief. Worked for days.
Also doxy has worked for me. I did not know that Babs caused neck pain.
Posted by kidsgotlyme (Member # 23691) on :
She is not on treatment for Babs. She takes IV Rocephin, Bactrim, Zithromax, and Tindamax two days per week.
She has always had a little neck pain, but since starting some new meds it has gotten so much worse.
I will definitely get some Bio-Freeze and try the heat wraps.
I never thought about castor oil. We will try that too. Also, she has been forgetting her magnesium oil so I will get her back on that.
Thanks everybody!! I don't know what I would do without this site. God bless!
Posted by MannaMe (Member # 33330) on :
We get Sombra from our chiropractor instead of Bio Freeze. Sombra is a natural version of Bio-Freeze & doesn't smell so 'medicine-y'.
Has anyone tried oregano oil (mixed with another oil to dilute it)to rub on for pain? I've of this but never used it.
My husband uses the gel pack from the chiropractor and heats it in a kettle of hot water to use as his heat pack. He reuses the same one as the pack swells over time.
Posted by kidsgotlyme (Member # 23691) on :
I went today and bought castor oil and DMSO. I am going to mix mag oil, castor oil, and the DMSO all together and rub it in her neck.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Don't forget that with DMSO .. EVERYTHING she has on her skin will be pushed into her body. You don't want anything impure on the skin.
and .. DMSO can be very irritating to the skin
Posted by Catgirl (Member # 31149) on :
Run, don't walk to the acupuncturist. IT REALLY WORKS!
Posted by mom2kids (Member # 31972) on :
I love accupuncture! I am sore for a couple days after, but the pain is relieved. My PCP/MD also studied Eastern Medicine so I feel comfortable with him jamming needles in all over my body. I'm not sure I would go to just anybody that does it, but that's just me.
Posted by 17hens (Member # 23747) on :
From a friend of mine who wants to help...
"Meant to tell you arnica gel has been used with relief by some folks with Lyme.
Also, Bio-freeze as noted, fresh lemon juice over the affected area, and a compound pharmacy that will create topical creams with a Dr.'s script.
http://www.optimalpaincontrol.com . As example, my spine specialist called in a script that includes: Neurotin, Ketam, Tetracaine, Bacl, Cyclo, Diclo.
It works better than anything I have used to lessen pain and "take the edge."
Feel free to share the site.
Probably the medication components would not be indicated for a child."
Posted by kidsgotlyme (Member # 23691) on :
Thank you everybody. I am still considering the accupuncture treatments.
I think the neck pain is a herx reaction because she is starting to come out of it and feel a little better.
Posted by willbeatthis (Member # 31111) on :
Try Oregano pills... my doc just sent me them for yeast and go figure... I woke up today with no neck pain... and that is a first in 6 months. I am wondering if it gets to the lyme pretty well... I am thinking it does. I feel like I don't know anything any more... with all of this ... but I wanted to share my experience.
Posted by sparkle7 (Member # 10397) on :
Optimal Pain Control link didn't work - I think this is it -
Interesting idea... I've had neck & shoulder pain for years. I wish it would stop. I think it may be due to some kind of parasite or maybe heavy metal. I'm not really sure.
It seems very common & people with fibromyalgia & Lyme get it. It's not just a Lyme related thing. After I did 6 months of Parastroy it went away for a couple of months but it came back when I stopped. I also had neck pain when I had CFS about 20 or 30 years ago.
I wonder what causes it...? If we knew the exact cause - we could find a way to treat it.
Standing in the shower with hot (not scalding) water running on my neck & shoulders seems to help. Excedrin & pain meds help, too. I didn't find accupuncture helped me. Massage has to be light for me - otherwise, it's too much & makes me worse.
Posted by hopeful4 (Member # 8486) on :
My neck pain became a constant thing. I was disappointed in chiropractic results, and massage didn't last.
So, I've been going for physical therapy. It seems to be more of a long-term solution for me. I have many more days of feeling good, and fewer and fewer days of pain.
For flare-ups, Arnica gel isn't enough for me. There is a topical prescription medication called Voltaran. It's a gel in a tube. It's been very helpful.
Another thing that might help is magnesium. There is also a muscle relaxation formula I just started called MyoCalm by Metagenics.
If my pain is at a "tolerable" level, I find that my gentle yoga class is very helpful, and reduces the tight, painful muscles, and relaxes me overall.
I also helpful at times and not other times, can be heat packs, hot shower, hot epsom salts bath, hand-held massager, TENS unit, acupuncture.