Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group I have terrible neck pain

John,
I just watned to say, I hope you get some relief.
We care about you. For me, anything, hot cold, without taking oral meds is better. It seems no matter what, it ran its course.
How is the pup?

Thanks Steve.All you people are a great help to me.I am sooooo glad i found this place.Your neck problems are described exactly the same as mine are.I guess we can have flare ups no matter what drug we are taking.

I am going to try and get a little rest this afternoon.The pain is more intense at night.just like a sunburn is.lol
Thanks again
John

Hey, John:

As my neck was fusing, I also had excruciating neck pains. Eventually, I found SAM, a very rude machine developed by the late Dr. Arden Zimmerman and now operated by Dr. Luigi Canepa in Santa Clara, CA. It was the only thing that helped, long-term.

I was once offered drugs to counteract the unintended consequences of other drugs. Although that is not Your situation now, I do know that drugs did not help my neck pain at all or even cover it up enough to function.

Good Luck with it,
John

Ditto Sue22. Feather pillow. Muscle relaxer at night. And I find that a heating pad really helps a lot.

Hi John,
I know what this feels like too, it's a terrible nagging pain to have to put up with. People who personally know me have seen me running around with a rolled up towel draped around my neck or using a fuzzy warm scarf. I don't like the air blowing around on my neck... it always sets off my neck. Scarves do look good with robes by the way. I often use a heating pad too. So far my favorite over the counter pain patches are made by Salonpas.

My neck is one of the reasons I like to have a little prescription of narcotic pain killers on hand (currently vicodin). They typically don't help with the inflammation much, but they do help dull the pain for me until I am able to get the inflammation back under control.

Have you tried any over the counter arthritis/muscle creams or patches? I like hot muscle rub better than most arthritis creams because they seem more effective for me.

Many times I can find some relief in my neck by gently lifting my head upwards with my hands. It seems to release some pressure on the joints in there.

For some unknown reason while I was taking different biologics, they took care of the pain for me really well, except for the pains in my neck still lingered.

Hope you can find the relief you need soon,
Take care,
James

Hi John, hope you're feeling a little better today. I'm partly fused and still do my stretches, though limited, daily. I use heat, and home ultra sound unit, masage, whatever I can. If I don't the headaches are intense and nerve symptoms down my arms get worse.
Cindy

Hi Cindy and James.Well i did get a few hrs to-day i think due to exhaustion.The pain is the most intense right at that little bump we all have on the back of our head.Also the collar bones and sides of neck hurt a lot.Its funny how we take sleeping for granted.I took my elderly mother grocery shopping to-day and every bump in the road sent pain through the roof.My mom seen me cringing in pain and askes whats wrong>i just told her it hurt a little........i dont want to worry her.I think mabe all this cold weather isnt helping.I tryed gently lifting my head upwards with my hands James and it definetly helps a lot.I hear a lot of cracking,and snapping,but a lot of the pain went away.thanks.

John

that's what the manual traction i was trying to explain is, but moreso. when things started, my neck was at its worst when i didn't know all the things i know now, and the manual traction the PT did, like that, was the only thing that was giving me relief. then i learned the other things to try to keep it that way. they have devices that one can use to do the manual traction oneself.

John,

I am actually going thru the same thing right now and have been for months....here is my thinking on this.

we have tendons, muscles, nerves ect...and they can get inflammed just like anything else.

I know it helps when my head and neck are level which is hard for me since I am suppose to be elevated on 3 pillows at night, try that if you can. Next I would suggest either ice pack or heating pad, if that doesnt work you said you have muscle relaxers but I actually found that Flexerill does nothing for me but Zanaflex knocks me out AND when used for a period of time it HAS helped. I also beleive if you can take pred it would help.

I got mad one night and thought ok I am just going to lay here and massage the crud out of my neck until it feels better or it hurts to the point I cant take it, guess which one #2 won, the next morning it hurt so bad I cried...Soooo I decided it was probly inflammation and all the massaging in the world wont help that.

If it doesnt get better please go to the Doc, let him know that THOSE muscle relaxers dont work and ask for another kind and some pred if they dont work then you will know it wasnt inflammation or the muscle if it does work then you will know it was.

Keep us update,

Lisa

I have neck pain as well. I find my TENS machine very helpful, they are fairly inexpensive and most come with a belt clip so you can wear it around. I also see a Chiro regularly and do daily strengthening exercises. Take care!