Spondylitis

[NancyBee]

I have recently been diagnosed with spondylitis which is extremely painful and I seem to have a permanent pain up the back of my neck. The doctor said there is no cure but does anybody out there know of anything that would help as if I have to put up with this for the rest of my life, I feel I shal go mad. Any help much appreciated.

[knobbynonut5]

Nancybee I suffer from that as well and have done for many years now.

It can be agony at times but I suppose I am fairly lucky as most of the time it is not that bad.

Dont know how old you are but I am 54 and have always had neck problems from when I was young.
My doc also said there was no cure but there is one exercise that you can do and that is roll your head around in a clockwise direction 10-15 times and then in an anti clockwise direction 10-15 times, god you can just feel them bones in your neck crunch together cant you.

If you do that every day it does help, also It can help if you try to improve your posture

[knobbynonut5]

Sorry meant to say do the neck exercises at least once a day every day

[Therema]

My mum has this also, she's 83 now she got a collar from physio for it, with this and her painkillers it kinda keeps it at a dull ache most of the time, she cant roll her head as it makes her very dizzy so she just put up most of the time bless her

[NancyBee]

Thank you very much both of you for your answers. I will try the head rolling. I am 70 by the way. I am also trying yoga stretches to try and stay supple. I don't like this business of getting older!

[tamborine]

You must try and keep moving, else you stiffen up. A boarded bed with mattress above may be more comfortable. It's a form of arthritis and more painful in cold weather.

http://www.bigbackpain.com/ankylosing_spondyli tis.html

[sqad617]

Nancy.......degenerative disorder with no cure........cus there is no cure for old age. LOL

In the initial phase, exercises as described above, along with NSAID's is the treatment of choice.

If this fails other treatments are available, but will not be discuused at this stage.

[NancyBee]

Thank you tamborine and sqad617, I have only just got your answers. I will try a firmer bed I think. I know there is no cure for getting older but I am very active and involved in a lot things, I don't sit around by any means. I can stand the creaking and stiffness its the constant pain that gets me down. I suppose I'll get used to it.
Thanks for all your replies and assistance.

[icemaiden]

Hi NancyBee.
I am sorry to hear of your pain. Unfortunately, I had a spinal fusion to correct my Spondylitis. I had two levels fused just over a year ago and I can honestly say that I am now 80% better than I was before the surgery. I will never be pain free or run a marathon but I am more comfortable now and I have less pain. I tried everything I could afford including Chiro, Oesteopaths and acupuncture amongst other things before seeing a surgeon.

I also have the added problem of Degenerative Disc Disorder and I had titanium cages inserted in between two vertebraes.

I to was told by a surgeon that this will not get better on its own and surgery is the only answer. I had nothing to lose as I was in excrutiating pain constantly.

You need to be referred to either a Orthapedic surgeon or a Nuerosurgeon to discuss options. These people know more about back pain than your GP. However, Surgery should not be taken lightly and is a last resort once other options have been exhausted.

Good luck and please let us know how you are.

[NancyBee]

Thank you icemaiden for your kind ,helpful answer. The doctor told me not to have surgery as it was risky, however it obviously helped you.I have been rolling my head gently round and I must say it seems to have helped. I keep telling myself that there a lot of people much worse off than me, but that doesn't take the pain away.
Thank you for being so kind, it helps just to discuss it with fellow sufferers.