Pain in the neck?!

November 28, 2004

Hi everyone -- happy post-turkey day!

I am also newly diagnosed with RA, although I have been through the gamut of

symptoms and testing for the past three years. In a strange way, finally

having a diagnosis is comforting.

I was wondering a couple of things -- does anyone else have a lot of trouble

with their neck? I am having pain that goes up into the back of my skull

and is more on my right side than left. The rheumatologist checked it and said

it is not glandular problem or anything, just the RA in the cervical disks.

My other question is about medication. I was one sulphsalizine for a while

and then went on plaquenil which did help me to feel better. I had to get

off of it when my white blood cell count went low and my liver enzymes got out

of whack. That was about 2 months ago and we are still having trouble with

this so I am not currently taking anything for the RA (other than stuff to

sleep at night and a baby asperin each day). I am feeling OK, but not great --

fatigue more than anything. So, I feel a bit vulnerable being newly

diagnosed (even though RF is negative), but not taking anything to aggressively

attack this stuff at this time. I am wondering if anyone else has had a

similar

experience and how it affected the RA.

Thanks for being an encouraging community -- I think this is a very

important tool in feeling the best we can!

Love and Prayers,

Beth

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Philippians 4:8 (The Message):

Friends, I'd say you'll do best by filling your minds and meditating on

things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious -- the best, not

the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

November 29, 2004

Jane:

Thank you so much for your comments and for sharing some coping techniques

that work for you! I have one of those neck things -- I just need to get it

out more often. I do work, but I am very lucky to work from my hone so I am

able to take frequent breaks from the computer. It's something different each

day, but the thing that helps is really being in touch with what

does/doesn't work and being open to new ideas. I love to incorporate yoga,

visualization, etc. into my daily routine.

BTW, an EXCELLENT resource is the DVD called Yoga for Inflexible People.

It's available through _www.bodywisdommedia.com_

(http://www.bodywisdommedia.com) or and Noble carries it too. It helps

a tremendous amount.

Love and Prayers,

Beth

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Philippians 4:8 (The Message):

Friends, I'd say you'll do best by filling your minds and meditating on

things that are true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious -- the

best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things

to curse.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

November 29, 2004

Beth,

Welcome to the group. I also have neck probs due to RA & psor. a. I

had a 3 level cervical fusion 6 or 7 yrs ago from a ruptured disc.

Rheumie sent me to an orthopod las week due to neck probs. He said it

was just the other discs/vertebrae overcompensating for the fused

area. He suggested the following: a roll-type neck pillow, and it's

helped, also one of those squishy neck massager things that heats up.

I do stretching exercises for my neck, also moist heat and REALLY hot

showers help. IF you work, remember to take breaks from the puter.

Re: meds- I also had to be taken off azulfa- " whatever " (spelling?),

plaquenill, and MTX due to low RBC and consistently high LFT's. I am

on remicade every 6 weeks, mobic, flexeril, trazodone, zanaflex, and

vicodin to keep me going. I am a single mom of 4, grandmother of 5,

work full time and do as much for my church as my body allows. Wish

it was more. One topical thing I've found is Tiger Balm Arthritis,

also Batherapy mineral bath, it's the green kind. I also burn

lavender candles, and have lavender flowers & essential oil. It's

calming for some reason. my main defense is a BUNCH of dedicated

prayer warriors, especially my precious daughters. I love your verse,

and am praying right now for you. Sorry to ramble, but hope some of

this helps.

Peace

Jane

>

> Hi everyone -- happy post-turkey day!

>

> I am also newly diagnosed with RA, although I have been through the

gamut of

> symptoms and testing for the past three years. In a strange way,

finally

> having a diagnosis is comforting.

>

> I was wondering a couple of things -- does anyone else have a lot

of trouble

> with their neck? I am having pain that goes up into the back of

my skull

> and is more on my right side than left. The rheumatologist

checked it and said

> it is not glandular problem or anything, just the RA in the

cervical disks.

>

> My other question is about medication. I was one sulphsalizine

for a while

> and then went on plaquenil which did help me to feel better. I

had to get

> off of it when my white blood cell count went low and my liver

enzymes got out

> of whack. That was about 2 months ago and we are still having

trouble with

> this so I am not currently taking anything for the RA (other than

stuff to

> sleep at night and a baby asperin each day). I am feeling OK, but

not great --

> fatigue more than anything. So, I feel a bit vulnerable being

newly

> diagnosed (even though RF is negative), but not taking anything to

aggressively

> attack this stuff at this time. I am wondering if anyone else has

had a similar

> experience and how it affected the RA.

>

> Thanks for being an encouraging community -- I think this is a

very

> important tool in feeling the best we can!

>

> Love and Prayers,

> Beth

> ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

>

> Philippians 4:8 (The Message):

>

> Friends, I'd say you'll do best by filling your minds and

meditating on

> things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious --

the best, not

> the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not

things to curse.

>

> ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

>

November 29, 2004