Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group First a pain in the AS, now a pain in da neck!!!!!

Hi Guys!

For the last year I have had the worse pain in the neck. I have had AS for 20 odd years and the neck pain is one of the more recent PAINS! Is it a natural progression of AS to work it"s way up? I started really awful chest pain about 4 years ago, but now it's all become one big pain in da neck.

Hope you're all feeling good.

Cheers

Irene

There is always someone worse off than me!

Irene,

My rheumy told me a long time ago when I started with the neck pain, that women tend to have more neck involvement sooner than men do. Or was it more often than men? Something like that. But who knows what they really know! I have no fusion lower than my cervical spine but many problems with my cervical spine. Lordosis, bulging disc, pinched nerve due to that...etc. I hope you can find some relief. My Mom has the same problem as I do and she went to PT and learned alot of good exercises for the neck that really helped with her pain. Now I am getting her to teach them to me since the pain has become unbearable and I can't affors another bill!

Good luck!
Cristina

I used to have pain in the neck flares, made driving a real challenge, especially for anyone unlucky enough to be behind me Arava so far is keeping that under control, good thing, it HURT!!!! No fusion there though, at least not yet, AS seems to have concentrated more in chewing up my lumbar spine.

Cheryl

Dogs never question how you spend your money

Actually, my neck starting hurting in my early 20's and my back didn't start until years later.

My pain (which still, in fact, may or may *NOT* be AS) in fact *started* in my neck and went down from there.

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

Hi Irene,

I have had AS for 28 yrs and I was always told that AS works it's way up the spine (for me, yes) but it's obvious from reading others AS patient's stories that its different for all. Doctors just love it when we are text book Ha! My neck wasn't affected until about 10yrs ago but has gradually gotten worse. It has been a very painful 10yrs for me as NSAIDS either do not work or have given me side effects I could not live with. In all the years previous to the neck becoming involved I was able to deal with a lot of pain, swelling, surgeries etc. but when it hit the neck Wow! suddenly I felt like I was losing the battle. A neurosurgeon who was trying Botox injections on me (no improvement just more pain) once told me that the neck area is the most painful. I found it difficult to concentrate at times due to headaches and just the pulling and stiffness. In the beginning I tried massage therapy and that really did help, but of course insurance only pays so long. I am currently having accupunture for my neck and back, it helps for a day or two but I'm not sure it has the long term benefits. I have found some relief with major pain medications (my last resort). My neck is almost completely fused now and yet I still have pain (always going against that textbook scenerio Haha!). Also the chest pain is familiar to me, it comes and goes. I hope you get some help for your neck. Good luck!

peace
Kathy

PS: I agree with your statement , there's ALWAYS someone worse off than me. I have said those words so many times in my life, and now just gettting to know people on this site has shown me first hand just how lucky I have been. As long as I can keep moving and laughing I know I can fight the enemy :)

My neck pains were quite bad 4 years ago as the bending of the upper body to the right was putting quite a strain on the left side neck muscles. I, similar to Kathy, had regular deep muscle needling of the sore muscles with acupuncture needles and it worked well to get rid of the pain.

Now, for times when I over exert these muscles or sleep in a bad position, I use a microwaveable heat bag and that seems to get rid of any pains in an hour or so. I prefer this method to taking any pills.

Give it a try, it may work for you
George

Breb Assyl

Hi, Irene:

Yes this is the natural progression of things and my neck is my worst enemy. The kyphosis must be causing a nerve bundle to be pinched almost all the time, but any force against my neck--especially trying to lay down onto a pillow--results in a severe sharp nerve jolt.

I have had AS for 30 years, and during most of that time the neck was pain free until it began fusing (after I began using NSAIDs). Then, I had a special 'adjustment' which kept me pain-free for about 9 years until a couple of years ago when the same treatment was only temporary relief. I'm checking into prolotherapy now--DARN!--something I can't do myself (until I see how they do it...).

Hope that you find relief from this misery; I know that I have to...

John

That low to high kinda pain map is how it worked for me. My neck pain was unbearable about 5 years ago. I tried all I could think of finally acombination of acupuncture and weekly shoulder and neck massage seemed to keep things bearably functional. THese muscles are always tight but if I stick to my regimen it is bearable.

 
stevec-they also serve who stand and wait