I am NOT looking for sympathy or me toos,,,but looking for ANY relief people can suggest for my crunchy neck that went south this week.
I take pain pills and tylenol and plenty of it,,,it doesnt touch it.
It seems my head is TOO heavy.
Or I slept on my right shoulder too heavy,,,it feels alot like it is trying to fall off right now. (and I guess that couldnt hurt any more than it does this way)
I have a tight,very tight knot just right of where it joins the neck. Going to a duck isnt an option,,,they would have ZERO idea how badly it HURTS right now.
It is testing the limits of my endurance the last few days, It makes my arm almost numb and muscles hurt like blue blazes all the way down to the fingers,,,right side only.
Having NO insurance I am NOT anxious to rack up any med bills right now. If I get time tommorrow I may stop at the chiro's office to see if there is something he can 'pop' back into place,,,something is big time 'wrong',,,bigtime,,have I said big time yet??
He told me once I had broke my neck once upon a time,,,I dont remember that,,but probably did... IF this pain level is any indication its triple broke today. Cant lay down to sleep,,,been trying to get comfy,,,impossible but trying,,,in a recliner chair.
The knot is so tight it is pulling my neck all the way up to the top of my scalp and making the back of my head throb.
NO position is comfortable but anything not looking straight ahead is worse. I just cant figure out what caused all this,,,either that or I vote for successful amputation between the chin and shoulders.
And I have things I HAVE to do for the next several days,,,no choice,period!! I used to be able to snap my neck ,years ago and pop it back to place,not now,too tight.
You guys are better docs than a hundred ducks I could go see,,,they dont understand,,now fix me ,,,please???
If I had one of those neck collars I would be wearing it 'RIGHT NOW'.darn--just don--
Posted by Geneal (Member # 10375) on :
Dear Don,
Ouch!!!!!! I am sure you've tried this, but maybe some moist heat?
Would it hurt too much to try to have someone gently massage the area?
Did you try two aleve? Sometimes that is the only non-narcotic med that actually touches some of my pain.
I am so sorry you are suffering this way.
As I really don't have really good answers for you I am doubling up on prayers for you and for some relief.
Hugs,
Geneal
Posted by just don (Member # 1129) on :
Moist heat,,,never thought of that,,,now I dont know if I have anything to do that. My shelves were picked bare a few years ago when a certain someone moved out. OH, I guess that was '99, darn I forgot it was that long ago.
Still,have to look for such items.
ONLY massage I get around here is rubbing my back against the wall,,,casper,my roomate(one and only) wont do anything of the sort.
And four footed girlfreinds are worthless in THAT department also. BUT one did put footprints across my middle section when it ran OVER me yesterday when my feet were stuck in the muck and it decided over me was the shortest route to where it wanted to go. Good news is it didnt step on me TOO many places
Thanks, I shall go 'seek' now since I am still--just don--
Posted by Geneal (Member # 10375) on :
Don,
Try this...
Moisten a towel and put it in the dryer for a few minutes to heat it up.
Or, maybe you can heat it in the microwave. (Never tried this, but it may work).
Don't burn yourself!
You've got to stop those four footed girls from walking all over you!
Sheesh! What a pushover!!!
Just kidding. My kids would love to have a cow. (and a horse, and some chickens, and some ducks)
I just have this visual of stepping into some "patties" and having my dogs make chicken and duck pies out of the rest.
As if I don't have my hands full already.
Maybe we can build a barn AFTER we build a house.
Let me know if this works.
Hugs,
Geneal
Posted by Karenelee (Member # 11044) on :
Don,
It sounds like you have one helluva muscle spasm.
I hope you make time to see the chiropractor, and use moist heat.
I think you can get moist heat packs at the pharmacy and also a neck collar. I would also pick up some "tiger balm" in the first aid section which is a topical heating ointment. There are other types but that's my favorite -- be sure to get the non-staining variety!
There are other things -- finger tip pressure until you feel the muscles twitch and release -- but I think you really ought to have some one look at it to make sure what it is.
Hope it improves.
K
Posted by just don (Member # 1129) on :
I found a heating pad right off,first look,,,forgot I had one. It was so heavenly sitting in my chair this morning I fell asleep finnally after turning this on.
I will try some moisture tonight, geesh its getting tight again,,,and how good it felt while HOT.
MAYBE I will live thru the day NOW,had my doubts before. You are all blessings to be sure!!!
Posted by Cobweb (Member # 10053) on :
Get a new pillow!
Got any chickens around? You could make your own. And maybe you'd forget about your neck trying to catch them. Then again-maybe you'd really break your neck.
I'll keep thinking-or maybe something will come to me while I take my nap.
Cobweb Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Try the chiro. Do you think you could have broken something or chipped a bone with your encounter with the beefygal??
glad the heat helped!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by Lioness (Member # 10655) on :
See a chiropractor. I have had the same thing. Then the nerves in the area get all balled up with it.
I could barely hold my head up!
A massage therepist can help too to keep the area from getting too tight and keeping the spine from moving properly.
My Chiro usually can fix it.
I usually prefer ice over heat. It seems to calm the nerves more.
My step mother (non Lyme) had a similar issue a few months back. The dr said she had broker her neck at one point too, although she is not sure when.
She could not use one of her arms at all and was in miserable pain. A chiropractor fixed her and she if fine now.
Sitting at a computer too long usually makes mine worse.
Posted by sizzled (Member # 1357) on :
OW!
Your description of pain made ME hurt!!
Hmmm, I use a pillow stuffed with some sort of seeds and it gives me support under my neck.
Can you stuff a pillow case (maybe find one with a zipper) with raw rice or buckwheat hulls?
If you make a rice one, you can heat it in the microwave and use it for heat therapy??
Hope this helps!
Posted by lymemomtooo (Member # 5396) on :
Don, so sorry you are in such a fix.
I have some arthritis in my neck from a hand spring gone wrong when I was a fool and teaching my gymnastic club how to do one. The mat slipped and no one was able to spot the coach.
Back then a couple of aspirins and later some good wine and I was ok, but have suffered since. I would recommend a better treatment for you. It didn't work for me.
Ok, now you must visualize..You need to slowly stretch it out. If not too unbearable, shift neck from front to side as you alternately raise and lower shoulders. YOu should hear some cracking and popping. Go slowly.
Once loosened up a bit, slowly drop chin to touch chest and lift it backwards. Once all is loosened up, you can rotate and reverse all, but do it slowly.
Also if you can stretch hands forward and clasp fingers together with palms facing away and gently stretch away in an attempt to crack them, sometimes it can relieve some of the nerve pain in the arm and or neck.
Aleve has been one of the best things to use. Good luck..lmt
Posted by lymednva (Member # 9098) on :
Don, I can really relate. Today I saw my massage therapist and I didn't know I was as bad off as I was until she began working on me. I don't know what I would do without her.
I've used rice in tube socks. Tie the end, heat in microwave. It works great. Drape it around your neck.
Hope you're feeling better soon.
Posted by Robin123 (Member # 9197) on :
Hi -- I recommend seeing a chiro who's a really good neck adjuster who also does soft tissue modalities, and between the two -- adjustments and soft tissue work -- could help you sort out what is causing the pain.
When you describe numb arm/symptoms down to the fingers, they can check the nerve pathways that go there. For instance, modified pisoform adjustments can get C7/C8 nerve roots that go down the arm to the fingers. Etc.
I go to chiros 3x/week(sigh) to figure out now what's being pinched and by what. Lyme affects all tissues involved.
Posted by MagicAcorn (Member # 8786) on :
Don,
I hope you feel JUST BETTER soon.
Posted by bettyg (Member # 6147) on :
don, my neck problems are similar to yours; LMT mentioned the excercises i'd try too.
also pretend you are ROWING A BOAT, keep your arms straight as you bring them back ... feel the release at the base of your neck/back THE HUMP AREA. do up to 20; repeat later in day.
when i'm on pc, i keep frozen ice packs on my upper neck/hump area, lower back, and my left hip femur where my 24/7 pain is.
good luck don for relief; the microwave sock sounds good; i haven't made my own but felt them before. Posted by Cobweb (Member # 10053) on :
Laughed out loud, Magic Acorn, good way to start the day!
Thanks for helping to mend my broken funny bone. Carol
Posted by hurtingramma (Member # 7770) on :
When using moist heat, you should not use it for more than 20 minutes at a time, as it makes the muscles "forget" their job.
I go to a chiro about every 3 weeks and also have PT on my neck every week. It really helps. Some of the stuff you can do yourself, like pressing the spot and doing neck stretches.
When I'm feeling really flush, I go have a Watsu, which is underwater massage. HEAVEN! (insurance doesn't cover it)
Posted by Tincup (Member # 5829) on :
Hello ding dong..
Did ya get it fixed or did your head just go ahead... and fall off?
Since I am the queen of scrunched necks.. try this little trick.. AFTER the chiro.. or when you can't get to them right away and you feel scrunchy.
Take a big towel and kind of roll it and place the center of it at the base of your head.. like you are going to use it to pull your head off your shoulders. Ok.. not making sense... let me explain it this way...
Pretend you need to put a leather strap around your girls belly so you can pull her up from being stuck in a muddy ditch.
NOW... pretend that girlfriends belly is your head... and put the (leather) towel strap at the base of your skull.. with the ends up over your head. Traction!!! That was the word I couldn't remember!!!
Gently pull the head UP and away from the shoulders with the towel. Hold it in postion to get a good neck stretch... and maybe GENTLY move head to left and right just slightly while it is stretched upward.
When I do this the muscles loosen up and the bones slip gently back into place and stop pinching nerves.
Are you drinking enough milk? Calcium!!!!
Hope you feel better soon!!!
BIG baboon!!!
Posted by Karenelee (Member # 11044) on :
I have a technique for quick neck release that I enjoy.
Interlace your fingers behind your neck, cradling the curve of your neck. Point your elbows foward.
Now, isometrically, press you neck into your hands and your hands into your neck so that both exert but neither move anywhere. Keep breathing, Press for a minute or two. And then release.
When I do that it feels like my head is floating like a helium baloon on a string.
I dont' really know if this would work with a muscle spasm, so with caution if that lump is still big.
did you see the chiro?
K
Posted by trueblue (Member # 7348) on :
Don, Have you gone to the chiro? has anything helped?
Ice helps me a little. As does something similar to what TC was describing...
A tube sock with 2 tennis balls inside and a knot tied at the end.
You lay down with it under the base of your head/neck. it hurts like heck but helps loosen those muscles slightly. you can move it around to where it's needed most.
I like TC's suggestion better(I haven;t actually tried it yet ). And Karenelee's feels good.
I just had this recently, again (as it's one of those things I'm really good at), and the chiro helped stop the numbness and tingling down my arms. But it took a long time for the spasms everywhere to let up. Mostly moved to another part of my body.
I hope you've gotten some relief.
Got any muscle relaxers laying around?
Posted by trueblue (Member # 7348) on :
Has anyone heard from Don since he posted this? worried... TBF
Posted by Cobweb (Member # 10053) on :
Well- on the 15th he thought I smelled "puuuurty"
Now for some shameless self promotion-that's from the thread "From Waaah to Wahoooo" in General, started by Yours Truly, Cobweb
I think it's time for me to attend another NA meeting-Narcissitics Anonymous
Posted by bettyg (Member # 6147) on :
don, i hope you can get to your pc and report in; we're worried about you big guy! Posted by lymemomtooo (Member # 5396) on :
Not sure if I have him confused with someone else but wasn't he currently on some modern day cattle drive? Maybe he still is herding them off to market.
Posted by HaplyCarlessdave (Member # 413) on :
As others have suggested, figiring out a way to get heat to it might be a good idea.
It's possible the could be the result of a herx. I had considerable neck pain, too.
Surprisingly, I found that supplement capsule called 'nutrijoint" (with an "i", not an "a") helped with this, too. 'nutrajoint' (WITH an"a"- usually comes in a green, orange and white paper-board-with-metal-ends can) may be good to try, too. Ibuprofen didn't help me much, but is probably worth a try. I think it's better for that sort of pain than 'tylenol'.
'celebrex' was a nightmare- it was great for the original pain, but it ate holes in my intestines and I came very close to ending up in the hospital!-- (so it caused much more pain than it alleviated.)
An electric blanket might be good, but you might not want to use it too long if you have concerns about the electromagnet oscillating field.
Hope you feel better soon! DaveS
Posted by Geneal (Member # 10375) on :
Yes,
Don mentioned that he was going on a modern day "cattle" drive.
Hope to hear from him soon.
Hugs,
Geneal
Posted by bejoy (Member # 11129) on :
I also had a serious neck injury years ago that lyme has enjoyed hanging around with.
The best thing for me has been craniosacral therapy. It is a very gentle form of energy work usually from a licensed massage therapist.
I credit CST with keeping me walking.
bejoy
Posted by just don (Member # 1129) on :
I have been locked off THIS site all week,,,was it down so long??
I finnaly got to the chiro on Saturday. She straightened me out and I felt fine,,,,for minutes and then it was right back. Since then I have slept only in my recliner. It has seemed to get better each day tho.
I am to go back this afternoon for another go round of adjustment. It has helped to NOT spend any time online cause it puts the hurt into my neck again. My head is just too heavy lately.
My memory improved to 'memeber that I had a sever bout of this a few years ago too,,,then with abx it slowly went away,,,now without it has slowly come back!! Never was enough change to KNOW what was doing what!!
Nice to be back again, I clicked on here and walla, it lets me on TODAY,,,first time in eons!!usually got the cannot find message.being --just don--
Posted by trueblue (Member # 7348) on :
I'm happy to see you and good to know the neck's getting better.
Don, my email to you bounced back? Do you have a new address? Posted by bettyg (Member # 6147) on :
don, i was going to ask someone to call you since we knew you were selling of all your cattle/cows!
so glad you replied; we were really worried about you my friend! Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
don...you're selling your cattle?? AWWWW, I bet you'll miss them!!! I'm so sorry!
Lymenet was bugged. Hope your computer is OK. Some folks got viruses from trying to get online to Lymenet.
Glad the neck is a tad better! Sorry to hear that it's because of the lack of abx. Get back on your Rife!
Posted by Tincup (Member # 5829) on :
Chiropractor... Good!
Glad to know you are getting a bit better.
Posted by Yashin (Member # 11159) on :
don-i hope you are feeling better. i am a very good masseuse just in case it happens again. good luck- take it easy.
Yashin
Posted by HEATHERKISS (Member # 6789) on :
Those are my babesia relapse symptoms.
Soon I'll be on mepron again. Oh noooooooooo!
Will you join me as a mepron buddy?
Posted by HEATHERKISS (Member # 6789) on :
A hot shower as hot as you can stand on the back of your neck gives a couple hours of relief.
Hope you are feeling better?
Posted by Cobweb (Member # 10053) on :
At the risk of seeming like a lyme brain I have a few questions about making my own rice in tube sock neck warmer.
Like: Is long grain white rice okay?(say yes because I already bought some) how many ounces cooked or uncooked? how long in microwave and what heat level (pizza, popcorn,entree,liquids?)
Now be nice, cause I not only want it for my neck, but Nurse K wanted me to get a heating pad to put on the IV site while infusing.
Carol
Posted by kam (Member # 3410) on :
jUST DON...GLAD YOU WERE ABLE TO GO TO THE CHIRO. HOPE YOU ARE FEELING LIGHT HEADED SOON...WELL NOT TOO LIGHT HEADED...JUST ENOUGH YOUR NECK FEELS NORMAL.
HOW ARE THINGS IN YOUR NECK OF THE WOODS?
HA! PUN UNINTENTIONALLY INTENDED.
ARE WE HAVING FUN YET?
I KEEP TRYING TO COME FROM A PLACE OF FAITH INSTEAD OF FEAR. I HAVE GOT TO KNOCK THAT FEAR ANGEL OFF MY SHOULDER.
AT LEAST THAT IS THIS MOMENTS THOUGHT.
I HAD FORGOTTEN ABOUT THOSE MANY DAYS OF NOT BEING ABLE TO HOLD MY HEAD UP AND IT FEELING LIKE IT WAS TOO MUCH FOR MY NECK.
![[sleepy]](graemlins/sleepy.gif)
![[hi]](graemlins/hi.gif)
![[group hug]](graemlins/grouphug.gif)
![[kiss]](graemlins/kissing.gif)
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
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I'm happy to see you and good to know the neck's getting better.![[Smile]](smile.gif)