A few days ago I woke up with a very painful neck. I thought that maybe I had slept in a funny position, however it is still very painful. The pain feels the same as the RA pain, but I didnt think you could get RA in your neck joints. Has anyone else had the same experience. The pain now seems to extend down to my left shoulder. The painkillers dont seem to take any of the pain away.

Regards

Val

Hi Val,
I have RA troubles at times in my neck, during a bad flare - a warm wheat bag can be helpful sometimes,
Not too heavy a one tho' - important to think about this when you buy them, some seem much lighter than others.

Its hard not to keep your neck still & relaxed sometimes - it just seems tricky to do this with your neck but they have to hold our heads up - it's no wonder they get strained and achey sometimes,
I try to, in much the same way as when my hands flare, remember its important to think about maintaining good alignment and avoid over use - i think this is why wheat bag can be good perhaps because it encourages you to sit down a bit and not move around so much,

aLSO if u use computer a lot might be worth looking at equipment available to ease and avoid strain - theres a section on NRAS pages about computer aids and adaptations,

Hope u find something to help but i agree with Debs to mention to rheumy too,
Take care love Liz xxxxx

Hello Val

sending youhug,yes can get RA in neck i got phsyio to help mine along with neck support for sleeping so that helped keep it right postion for sleeping,heat does help light wheaty bag.
but do se gp as soon as can for me it did limit alot movement,had 6 week course phsyio once initail flare ahd subsided had depo also to help calm it down and di affect shoulder.
you take care not to much pc use also agrevates it.
posture etc.
lv melly

Hi Val

RA in the neck, the cervical spine, is common unfortunately and does sometimes get missed as, like you, its easy to think you have slept on it badly!

A visit to the GP is in order; he will probably ask for an X-Ray and refer you to a physiotherapist who will provide you with a set of suitable exercises to strengthen the neck muscles thereby protecting the joints. Warm hot water bottles/wheat bags do help in the interim and are great for warming the neck prior to exercising.

I have some damage in a couple of the joints, C5/C6 I believe, but if I keep up with the exercises I get by. I was advised NEVER to try to roll the neck 360 degrees; in RA, the odontoid peg at the top of the neck can become eroded and subluxate. So whilst it may feel that the neck is being gently mobilised it could be causing unseen damage!

Do let us know how you get on. Take care,

Lyn x

I've had RA in my neck since diagnosis in 1971, age 6. In 2001/2 C3 subluxed onto C4 causing spinal myelopathy and I'm now fused with titanium rods and 8 screws from C3-C6 and "naturally" fused at the odontoid peg. Never underestimate neck pain and/or numbness and tingling in your arms/hands. I don't get any pain in my neck now, but have lost virtually all movement.

Hi, I get neck pain too, when I saw my gp he just said that it will get better with time!! the rheumy just seemed to dismiss it entirely. Since being on pred its not so bad, but previously I couldnt turn neck far to the right, and couldnt sleep on right side, also lifting head off pillow was really hard work. Hope you get some relief x

Hi Everyone

Thanks for all the helpful replies. I have been using the wheat bag and my neck is a little better today. It does always feel worse when I am laying down in bed.

Hi JeanB thanks for asking how I am apart from the neck. To sum it up I feel like I am 'creaking along' with this very fickle RA. I have had it in my knees and hips as well as the normal places (hands shoulders wrists) when I see the rheummy people, because my blood tests seem to look good (low crp for example) they say it is under control. If its under control, why do I keep getting it in other places. I asked for a depo injection and was refused on the basis of my very good blood tests!! So thats it really, I never know what tomorrow is going to be like.

Hope you are well


Val

Hi Val

Just to add that my 'team' are not in favour of 'depo' jabs generally and I suspect that other health authorities perhaps feel the same. I expect, like everything, it possibly comes down to money and they prefer to spend it on long term measures rather than temporary 'fixes'.

You mention about the movement of the RA from one joint to another; this is fairly consistent unfortunately. You just about get one bit right to find that it's sprung up somewhere else! Very irritating indeed to say the least. I too have low CRP, always, and the ESR tends to flick about all over the place, high, low, you take your pick and it never matches the way I feel or the inflammation levels. My GP finds it really funny (in a kind way!) Are you sero-positive or negative? I'm negative and I wonder whether this possibly explains the inconsistencies between the reality of how I feel and the blood test results. Just a thought

Take care and hope you feel better soon,

Lyn x

Hi Val
sending you cyber hugs.
lv melly