About almost a year ago i woke up with a stiff neck one morning out of nowhere. The pain never went away. I have a stiff neck, mainly on my right side of my neck up to about the middle of my head, tight shoulders, and a tight upper back, all sometimes with pain too. I’ve had an x-ray on my neck which came out normal, physical therapy for 2 months which didnt improve much, and an mri that came back pretty normal on my neck and upper back. Minor scoliosis but the orthopedic doctor saw nothing that looked too extreme, but he was also a clueless idiot. Can anyone help me out…..it’s so stressful, physically and mentally.
#1 by Cherokee Billie on February 27, 2010 - 9:32 pm
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a condition known as Fibromyalgia often starts in the neck and shoulder area. You need to see a doctor of rheumatology and have them check for this condition.
Here is a brief list of common symptoms of this disease:
• Chronic pain throughout the body
• Burning, numbness and tingling
• Tenderness when pressure is placed on or around the neck, elbows, hips, thighs and knees.
• Sleep disorders
• Chronic fatigue or exhaustion
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Facial Pain
• Jaw Pain (TMJ)
• Memory Loss
• Irritable Bowel
• Tension or Migraine Headaches
• High sensitivity to foods and medications (allergic type reaction).
• Minimal tolerance to heat and cold
• High sensitivity to bright lights and sounds
• Hair Loss
Because symptoms develop gradually, this disease is often misdiagnosed. It is often diagnosed as a repetitive strain injury; sleep disorder condition, irritable bowel syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis or any other type of medical problem. Based on the American College of Rheumatology a person is diagnosed with Fibromylagia when he or she suffers pain throughout the body for at least three months and has 11 out of 18 tender points present.
#2 by Atlanta Chiropractor on February 28, 2010 - 3:16 pm
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It could definitely be Fibromyalgia. You may want to take a blood test if you haven’t already done so to rule out other conditions.
To meet the fibromyalgia criteria for diagnosis you must have pain in certain points in your body like Cherokee Billie mentioned. Some ares include your cervical spine (like you), the lateral epicondyle of your elbows, the medial knee, the gluteal region, and the trapezius to name a few.
Almost all patients with fibromyalgia sleep poorly so one of the treatment strategies should be directed towards improving their sleep patterns. You also need to look at different types of treatments that help with muscle relaxation (massage, acupuncture, chiropractic, etc) and make sure your nutrition is optimal for your condition.