Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group cervical fusion

Hi, everyone. I am new to your group and I come with a question. I am having extreme pain in my cervical/thoracic area along with my right shoulder. I am on my 2nd week of PT with cervical traction. The traction can be painful and I leave with such a headache that I can't imagine it is helping. I am not one to have headaches, but this is day 3 or so of a really bad one. Is this part of AS or is it something else? My head feels as though it is pushed out in front of my body and I have a hump at the start of my shoulders. I have asked for a MRI, but my doctor thinks PT will be enough. What do you all think?

By the way I am a newby to this group and was just recently diagnosed. I have apparently had this since I was about 17, so about 11 years now. I have had the Irisitis back when I was 17 and just now got the DX of AS. I have no fusions yet, but alot of density in my SI joints. My heel is a very tender spot as well. Anyways this just gives you an idea of my complaints!!!

Thanks for your help

Paula

Hi Paula,

For me traction worked wonders for a period of time. I was extremely sore during the beginning and it eased off a bit in the latter. What I found was that my neck had begun to fuse and when they did the traction it would break the small fusions causing more inflamation. After a period of time by keeping the neck moving it took longer for it to fuse. I am 100% fused now after a little over 20 years after being diagnosed.
There came a time when the traction no longer did any good and I stopped. The best advice that I can give is KEEP MOVING. This is something that I did not do for a few years before being dx'd. Everything I did hurt so I stopped doing everything. I pretty much held up in a recliner and fused pretty quickly in the back. Eventually I got extremely upset at what I was not being told by the doctors and decided if just sitting around didnt help then moving would. I joined a health club and started lifting weights (light weight) and within a month I could bend over and touch the floor. I picked up playing golf and that did wonders also. Although it hurt everytime I played I was moving. I truly believe if I did not start the weights and golfing I would be more of wreck than I am today LOL!!!!!

If I can answer anything for you I would be glad to try. Good luck and keep moving!!
Bob

You can lead a horse to water, but a pencil has to be lead.

Welcome to the site Paula, you will find lots of answers to your questions here.
For me personally I did not find the PT helped and sometimes made me feel worse. You do have to do some range of motion excercises but I found that heat worked the best for releiving the pain along with some appropiate medication.
The bottom line is that it is your body and only you can make the final decission on what is best for you. By visiting here and asking questions you will become informed enough to help with these decissions. Don't be afraid to try different things because what will work for one person won't work for another.
Hope that was helpful.
Dan.


Who knows what the drugs will do to us?

Hi Paula

I've had surgery in my neck to correct herniated disks...I had terrible right shoulder/neck/arm pain. My advise to you would be this....insist on the MRI...before having any traction done...I would not let anyone touch my neck until finding out more through the MRI....It is possible that along with fusing from AS..you could have disks pushing into your spinal cord causing you the pain...if this doctor refuses...then go to another one...I complained to my chiropractor about my right arm pain....and he ordered an MRI right away...and his suspicions were correct....

this way...at least you can rest your mind once you find out what the MRI has to say...

best of luck to you....

hugs....Debbie....http://www.geocities.com/debb92688

You are all great to respond. I have had another treatment today which was something other than traction, more of a ROM session. I think my job as a transcriptionist aggravates this pain. I got a shot of Toradol today and that eased it slightly. I am going to insist on the MRI and change doctors if necessary. I work for a doctor who keeps telling me it is just Gout that AS is a male disease. I switched doctors when I was pregnant because he is just not up to date on everything, at least I don't think so. I like who I am seeing, but her nurses but up a wall and run interference for her to the point you can never get in. It is at least a 2week wait, and I don't know about you all, but there are some days I won't wait. Well anyways thanks for the helpful tips.

Paula

Hiya Paula!

I am not officially diagnosed with anything at all (even after showing extensive damage on X-rays, which was termed "unimpressive"!!! ) but I do use cervical traction occasionally. I was NOT about to pay $90 to sit in a traction unit for 15 minutes 3x a week so I bought my own

I have fusion at skull-C1-C2 which I have been told is typical of Juvenile AS by MORE than one rheumy. I have found cervical traction very helpful, and I think it has been one of the main things to improve the neck pain I had been having for over a year.

I noticed I get headaches when I use too much weight. Can you ask your PT person to NOT use so much weight for your traction?

What also causes my headaches I think now primarily is my TMJ. I hardly ever use the traction kit anymore because my TMJ joints are now so terrible, instead of my neck pain, I have jaw pain after I use it! Did you have your TMJ checked? Could the stress of the traction on the TMJ be causing your headaches??? it's worth looking into I think.

P.S. I was also told that AS was a "male oriented disease" and never went back to that doctor. Obviously they've never heard of KickAS and all the ladies on it.

Rox
http://www.geocities.com/artisan1998.geo/index.html

I was really jolted when I saw how many women were affected by AS. Back in the early 80's I heard it was VERY rare. As far as Paula's doctor saying its gout and not AS just because he/she seems to think it is an all male disease, needs all the KickAS ladies to write him/her a letter stating differently...wouldnt that just make his/her day????? LOLOLOL.
I went through 60 doctors before I was dx'd stating it was all in my head...i would be fine when my settlement came through and things of that nature....really gave me a POOR impression of the medical industry.
Since that time when changing doctors I dont tell them what my problem is until I am sitting in front of them face to face and ask them if they know what AS is. If they do not or try to bull their way through an explanation I walk out. Its like taking your car in to have brakes put on and they only do tune-ups.
Anyway....everyone have a great rest of the day!!!!!

Bob

You can lead a horse to water, but a pencil has to be lead.

Rox, Where did you get your traction unit?

Betty (The Energizer Bunny)

ROTFALMAO!!!! SO I HAVE A MAN'S DISEASE PAULA???? AND YOU HAVE A MAN'S DISEASE ............IS PREGNANCY A MAN'S DISEASE!!!???? These doctors are in the dark ages! Still laughing!!!!!!!!

Hi, Paula!



Yes, it is difficult for those who don't have Ankylosing Spondylitis to understand! Believe me, you brought your complaints to the right department!

Best regards,

jcwinnie


Pictured here a local Physical Therapy office