Kickas.org Forums Treatments, Drugs and Alternatives NSD and diet-related; Uh oh....

I woke up this morning flaring like mad mostly in my neck. Never has my neck been this bad. Ever.
But I was doing SO well on strict NSD (no dairy either, no caffiene, no citrus, nothing acidic or carbonated - trying to heal my stomch too), and it was really beginning to work. I nearly was able to drop all my meds (besides enbrel, and it's debatable whether it's doing anything for me at this point anyways) and I was walking every day again.
I haven't changed anything in my diet, so I have no idea what caused this sudden disease activity, especially with my neck. This is new for me. Is this common in the first while of NSD? I can't figure out what I did that would punish me this badly!

Hi
I am dealing with the same thing right now with a flare-up and have no idea why.
Hope we both can get some answers.

HI Megan - Sorry to hear you are flaring, but glad to hear you were doing well so far since going NSD.

Are you having any sugar, fruit? This may be the last thing you need to give up. My neck, shoulder, upper back pain comes and goes according to the sugar, usually in dairy or fruit, I consume, not starch.

That leaves me with only meat, oils, veggies and eggs for a while, but hopefully once I heal the gut and get the fungus in control, I can reintroduce foods, but the fungus takes a while to go away, its been more difficult for me to control then the AS inflamation.

Or....it could be from some physical overload. Have you been doing any weight lifting or anything strenous that may have effected your neck? Even a massage too deep can bring on a flare. Did you sleep comfortable, new pillow......? Are you still swimming?

I'm kind of wondering if I can chalk it up to stress actually. I've never seemed to be able to find a distinct correlation between stress and pain levels before, but then again, I've never been so far off pain meds either. Don't think it's overdoing anything physically - all I've been doing is walking, so you'd think if anything would hurt, it would be my feet and SIs which are usually very susceptible to getting worse from exercise, but they seem to be ok in comparison to this neck thing. Haven't been swimming lately, no new pillows, no massage...could use one right about now though. ha! I ate some grapes....but that wouldn't affect me this badly, would it? They tested negative with iodine...

Btw the stress thing is mostly good - Glen and I are stepping things up a bit and are putting in an offer and going halfers on a condo. We'd still have the same living arrangements as we have now - he's here in the city about 2 nights a week, the rest of the time he's an hour away in the mountains. So my little independent soul would still have my "space", thank goodness. We think it's a great compromise for the both of us. We're both very happy with this idea, have talked and thought long and hard about it, but it's still making me a little bit anxious - I just hope this is a wise decision, financial and relationship wise. I really want to get this condo, and it's not quite for sure just yet! And I tend to overthink everything.

I have had flares pop up when I would swear I had not changed anything. But could been simple as new supplement... I would have to sit down and make a list of all the items I was eating.

For me can be stress as well, typically in past for me has been work. Despite doing excellent on the diet and feeling symptom free, too much stress would kick in a full flare (including neck which has not been much of an issue for me).

Tim

I know I feel so much better when I'm on the diet,then wham iritis out of the blue.Can't figure it out.Then it all makes sense.STRESS,so now what yoga,live in a box.So lets toast to a stress free life! any suggestions?

hi megan,
i consider my AS wonderfully under control but waking too much can cause neck pain and spasms. I routinely do arm exercises and stretch my neck while walking, bounce head forward x5, to right x5, to left x5, then tuck chin in, lean head back and grind back and forth at C1 x5 every 1/4 mile or so. Also weave fingers put hands behind head and stretch shoulders back while walking. you might try this?
lindag

I did not think of it... but Linda has a point. I played some tennis for the first time in quite some time and my neck was soar afterwards from "watching the ball to the racket" and hitting it back over the net I am presuming.

For couple of days a bit stiff and I usually do not have neck issues.

Is the neck feeling better?

Tim

Hi Linda,
I find I'm kind of the opposite - the more walking I do, the better my neck is. I think because it forces me to have good posture. But I've been doing the same very gentle neck stretches for many years now, at the advice of a physio...however I was told not to "bounce" the head around, just gently stretch it.