neck problem

[emma_26]

I have had a bad neck since i was 15, back then my gp told me it was general wear and tear i had physio, acupuncture many types of medications anti inflamitories etc, but in the end grew to just live with it! now i am 26 and over the past 6 months its been agony getting worse by the day, if i turn my head to look round sharply i get a splitting pain from where my back meets my neck and it travells up and round the whole of the back of my head its a nightmare also i am starting to wake several times each night in pain and being unable to move my head, also when i wake i find that one of my arms will be comletely dead, (i have to pick it up and move it with my other arm and its completely freezing cold to touch) although its numb its incredibly painful too. do you think the dead arm is linked to my neck problem? and can anyone reccomend anything i could do to ease this i dont want more phsio as it hurts too much, painkillers dont touch it and cant have any profen based medications, (ibuprofen, calprofen or nurofen etc

[mccfluff]

well for starters you need to go back to your gp and demand attention, this does not sound good, and there is no way you should have to live with this, i have no idea what the problem could be, but i am certain you need to get this looked at by a qualified doc

[mccfluff]

oh and general wear and tear, WHAT that is b0lloks

[hammerman]

I'm afraid that it is general "wear and tear". I have the same thing....but nowhere near as bad as you and i was told (by my GP) that your neck (which is one of the most complicated areas in the body) starts to "wear out" as you get older. I was told that it usually starts at 40....which i am, but can start much earlier.

Do a search for cervical spondylosis. It will give some ideas of physio, stretching excercise and other options....including surgery.

I used to lie awake at night with the mother of headaches caused by this.....and then it just vanished. I get the odd flare up that lasts a few days but that's it. The GP said it will probably come back in the future.....it's one of those ilnessess that comes and goes.

Good luck

[eyeshade]

Emma have you ever had an X-Ray done? If not by the hospital, some Chiropractors will do this for a sum of �40, not much to pay when you consider the consequences. It may be worth having a more closer look. My Chiro did this and pinpointed the problem instantly. It certainly won't hurt to try it. ?

[jno]

try a chiropractor or osteopath; they specialise in necks and backs. (Osteopaths are usually gentler.) You have to pay, unfortunately. But I think 'wear and tear' is doctorspeak for 'I don't know' - everyone gets wear and tear, but not everyone has your problems, and that's what your GP should have been looking into.

[Pisceangirl]

Not a doctor so not gonna speculate BUT...my dad's had back problems for ages and had numb limbs etc...anyway eventually after much investigation they found that his vertebrae had crushed a nerve in his spine, so he had an operation to remove it (the vertabrae, not his spine...eeekK!!!). Anyway- he seems a lot better than he was and has actually started going in the gym again. I think it's good advice to try and get an xray...it sounds very painful and at 26 you'd think the GP would try a bit harder to sort out the problem as you seem too young to be going through this kind of medical problem!!! Good luck! I'll send some good vibes to you! :)

[WendyS]

Like eyeshade I was going to recommend a chiropractor because a registered chiropractor will take x-rays before any treatment and these might show that your neck is slightly out of alignment with the rest of your spine, which can cause all kinds of other problems. The xrays will cost about �40, and a follow up session costs about �30. It may well be that some simple neck manipulations (which are quick and painless - I've had several) could sort you out. This is much better than dosing yourself with painkillers which are just temporarily masking the pain, rather than dealing with the root cause of it.
You sound as if you're too young to be developing any chronic condition but I shouldn't just accept painkillers and the fact that you'll have to live with it.

[Englishbird]

Hi Emma

I've had the same problems all my life, mine started when I was about 14 and I'm now 31 (btw, my name is also Emma!)

The source of my pain travels up and down, ironically (again!) it is currently in my neck. I kept a collar on yesterday as it helps the muscles relax, did look like a bit of a knob! but trust me, I really do understand how painful it is.

Chiropractic works for me, but you have to be very careful which type you go to, I went to the wrong one once and I ended up in Casulty as he made my neck lock entirely!

I live in Surrey and would be happy to recommend my Chiropractors if you're anywhere near me, alternatively if you let me know what area you're in, I can ring them and ask them if they will recommend someone.

They will probably work on most of your back, not just your neck, I know my problems start in the middle of my back.

EB x

[mullein3]

Emma, Sorry to hear about your health problems but what I would suggest to you is find out if there are any Spiritual healers in your area or failing that there is a wonderful psychic surgeon called Ray Brown who has surgeries in various places in England. I believe that the problems you are experiencing are more than physical ones that is why i am suggesting that you try Spiritual healing. You can find Ray Browns number by looking him up on a Google search. Hope this info helps.

[joko]

i have the same problem - including the numb arm.

i have found that if you are using any machinery or items during the day that vibrates or buzzes, your arm will be numb in the morning.

i stopped using them and my arm is mostly ok now.

for the neck thing, check out 'hypermobility'

[emma_26]

Thankyou all for your advice i am goin off to the doctors today to give them one more try to find out whats wrong If they dont help or tey to fob me off again i will look around for a chiropractor. thanks all.

[Englishbird]

Look for a Chiropractor who incorporates the Sacro-Occipital Technique (SOT). This works on the pelvis, as problems affecting your pelvis (quite common) have a strong effect in your neck.

Good luck.