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really struggling. Some advice would be so appreciated..

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Rheumatoid Arthritis
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Posted 1/28/2008 12:22 AM (GMT 0)
Hi everyone.

 

Well, I'm feeling a bit helpless and hopeless right now.  The arthritis in my neck (C3, 4, 6, 7) has become almost unbearable.  Nothing helps.  I try heat, but can't tolerate it. Doesn't help the neck.  Tried an ice pack, no relief there either.  The chiro won't touch me, and neither will my physio therapist.  I have a history of stroke so they're totally afraid of causing a problem with my vertibral arteries.  The only thing I haven't tried yet is massage.  But I'm not even sure they'll touch me with my complex history.... I have fibromyalgia, so any kind of massage therapy really hurts bad....Stretching exercises do very little, mostly because I can't stretch!!  I'm that "frozen up". 

 

I'm at a loss as to what to do now.  I can only take extra strength Tylenol for any pain. Stonger pain meds will interact with my lupus meds, and my blood clotting disorder.  I don't want to get into the heavy pain meds anyway.

 

I feel like I'm going to have to live in this kind of discomfort the rest of my life.  I'm only 34.  I feel 84.  Does anyone have any other suggestions for what I can do to relieve this? I just want to cry.  I'm so uncomfortable. 

Thank you so much,

Ginny 

Posted 1/28/2008 1:43 AM (GMT 0)
I suggest this because you have pretty much eliminated most medical treatments and there is a possibility it will help with pain perception. It won't actually cure any of your conditions but you may feel better. Hypnosis by a liscened hypnotherapist who knows what he/she is doing may be able to help you cope with the pain.
Sj
Posted 1/28/2008 3:51 AM (GMT 0)
hi ginny sorry to hear youy are in such pain.  i suffered from a frozen shoulder over the past year and no one would touch it because of the severe inflammation.  finally i got relief from lidoderm patches.  they were heaven sent.  honest they worked for me to make my shoulder neck area bareable again.  i wish you the best of luck and call your doctor and tell him a friend told you about them.  i hope he will rx them.  it is THE ONLY thing that gave me relief.  good luck  yally

Posted 1/29/2008 4:55 PM (GMT 0)
I had really horrible neck pain due to reverse curvature and RA and OA. Ice helped some, but only for a short time. My doc had me in PT, but it only made me have headaches as well. I stopped the stretching, and now, although I've lost a lot of ROM, it doesn't bother me constantly. I think something fused and made it more stable. Maybe your neck will take care of itself like mine did.
Posted 1/30/2008 5:01 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you so much everyone,

 

The Lidocain patches sound interesting.  I'll run that past my rheumy.  Ya, ice seems to be the best thing for me right now.  Takes care of the headaches too.  I had a pretty good treatment with my PT on Monday. The next day I had more range of motion for sure, and the muscles in my neck and across my shoulders were looser.  When I did some light stretching, I had lots of "snap, crackle, and popping" going on!  It felt fantastic.  Like a chiro adjustment.  So I hope my future PT sessions go that well.  Of course, now it's Wednesday and I'm all tightened back up again! 

 

Thank you for your suggestions and encouragement.  Sure means a lot,

 

Ginny

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