Pain In The Neck

[Eve]

Literally :(

I'm not sure what I've done to it but there is a tight/painful spot just to the top left of my next, kind of under the skull which radiates right down the side. I can hardly turn my head to the right without the pain kicking in or put my head down towards my shoulder and it's really stiff too. Been like if for a few weeks now and getting worse.

Am guessing it's some kind of strain or something but is there any kind of gentle exercise I can do to try and get shot of it? Figure/hope it's nothing RA related as there aren't any joints round there???

I'm not allowed anti-inflammatories apparently due to being on methotrexate and having heat round there feels uncomfortable.

[jno]

a few weeks? Personally I'd suggest finding an osteopath (they've sorted my neck out many times) but it isn't always easy finding one who suits.

[Eve]

I used to go to an osteopath years ago (when I had a lot more money coming in), think it might be an idea.

I was hoping to have got back to physio again already as my rhumo nurse was referring me to see if I need my knee braced while I'm waiting for an MRI scan on it but nothing yet. Was going to ask them about it while I was there.

I'm wondering if other defective bits might have contributed, I've been walking funny, even with my walking stick due to my knees (they think meniscal problems) but I've noticed the left one tends to turn inwards while I'm walking which isn't good for good posture and that. I've also got subacromial impingement in both shoulders if that might contribute to something being impinged to cause pain higher up in my neck.

Counting down the days until I get steroid injections in them and my hips in just over a week :)

[Sqad]

\\\ Figure/hope it's nothing RA related as there aren't any joints round there???\\\

Really?..I could name a few....atlanto-occipital joint for starters.

It does sound like a musculoskeletal problem and opinions differ re.NSaids/methotrexate. Discuss this with your GP.

[Eve]

Thanks Sqad. Oh, crap, I was hoping it was a joint/RA free zone, I knew osteoarthritis can affect the neck but thought it was more wear and tear on bones and such.

I'm going to raise the anti-inflammatory thing again. I don't think my GP would prescribe them without rhumo's say so will see if I can pin my rhumo nurse down about it when I have my steroid injections done. My consultant supervised her last time so might get her in again which could work out well.

Could I also ask you? Would the steroid injections in my shoulders be different from the ones in my hips? The latter was for bursitis and the injections weren't really very painful at all though, for the subacromial impingement think, is that a different kettle of fish so to speak? I remember mum saying she had ones in her shoulders which hurt like hell.

[Sqad]

Eve......both injections would be the same ACTH or Cortisone.

[Eve]

Thanks, depo medrone or something like that I think the hips ones were.

I meant more the pain factor. Saying that after my consultant's lead up to the hip ones (said I could shout, swear or scream, just not move!) they were fine.