Serious pain in neck, need advice

[loves to skate]

I had a CT/Myelogram on November 9th and about 10 days later, I started have severe pain in my neck radiating down my neck toward my shoulder. I have been icing it later in the day as the pain begins to get worse as the day progresses. I was wondering if the CT/Myelogram could have precipitated this since I was required to lay on my stomach for a long period of time. I never lay on my stomach because it hurts my neck when I do. I know I have arthritis in my neck but have been able to keep pain under control and have been able to maintain a fairly good range of motion for the last 10 years by doing physical therapy exercises at home. Now the pain is worse than it has ever been. I plan on calling Dr. Rand on Monday. I have delayed calling him because I was hoping it would get better on its own and because of the holiday. Any thoughts or advice about this?

Thanks, Sally

[jrnyc]

Dear Sally
i had a myleogram a few years ago to check on my scoli, etc...got no headache or neck pain, as i lay flat for 3 or 4 hours after, whatever the instructions were...i have a chronic stiff neck left over from lyme disease(arthritis) (it is a classic lyme symptom that often stays beyond the treatment) & my neck "cracks" often when i bend it...turning head to side & laying on stomach causes me alot of pain & discomfort....

did you follow all the directions after the myleogram...i mean, did you get the dreaded headache? have you tried tylenol..just the basic non prescription pain meds?? i think you kicked up the arthritis by laying in that position...i know it happens to me if i turn over in my sleep & wake up on my stomach...

if you followed the directions, i would go ahead & not hesitate to call your doctor..until then..does heat or cold work better for it??? i usually go with heat, but i think it is just an individual thing...

hope you feel better soon...
jess

[SIsForSarah]

I definitely get back neck pain whenever I have to do anything that requires me to lie on my stomach (always for medical procedures - seems you can't fix one thing without hurting something else)

I've actually found warm showers help me more than ice while I'm waiting for whatever caused the pain to stop. I have some really simple exercises with very light weights help me as well.

I'd definitely still call the doctor about it (especially since it's been so long for you - my pain doesn't usually last for 10 days, for me it's more like 4 or 5), but just wanted you to know I've also noticed a connection between lying on my stomach and neck pain.

[JenniferG]

So sorry to hear this Sally. I always used to get neck pain when I was stressed.

I hope this resolves itself quickly. Please let us know.

[loves to skate]

Dear Sally

did you follow all the directions after the myleogram...i mean, did you get the dreaded headache? have you tried tylenol..just the basic non prescription pain meds?? i think you kicked up the arthritis by laying in that position...i know it happens to me if i turn over in my sleep & wake up on my stomach...

if you followed the directions, i would go ahead & not hesitate to call your doctor..until then..does heat or cold work better for it??? i usually go with heat, but i think it is just an individual thing...

hope you feel better soon...
jess

Thanks Jess, Yes, I followed the directions to the letter. I did not get the dreaded headache. I was on my stomach for the procedure and was in the corridor quite a while waiting for the Ct scan after the myelogram on my stomach the whole time. I didn't try tyelonol because the pain was too strong. I had a few oxycodone pills left over from my surgery, so I have been taking one of those later in the day when the pain gets really bad. So far today, the pain isn't too bad and a friend suggested taking anti-inflammatories for a few days and see what happens. Cold seems to work better than heat so far.

Thanks also SisforSarah and JenniferG I used to get neck pain when stressed also, but I am retired now and don't get stressed too often unless we have to drive into Boston in the traffic. I also have exercises I can do, but the pain has been too strong to do them. Hopefully this thing will settle down soon and I can do the exercises again.

I will keep you posted and thanks again for your replies.

Sally

[loves to skate]

Hi,

Dr. Rand called me about my CT/Myelogram this evening so I told him about the pain in my neck. He looked at my cervical MRI report from 2 1/2 years ago and said I have arthritis in the facet joint at C4-C5, so since he will be scheduling a nerve block for my lumbar at L4-L5, he will have them give me a facet injection at C4-C5 at the same appointment. I hope it works.

Sally

[jrnyc]

Hi Sally
i am so glad you spoke to your doctor...i hope the shots help, too....& that you feel better fast!
arthritis is a pain in the neck...

jess

[JenniferG]

I hope you get the relief you need and you don't have long to wait, Sally. Let us know how it goes. Best of luck.