I have not had an AF episode for over a yearTwo weeks ago I started having bad headaches and a very painful neck .
The doctor thinks it is arthritis in the top vertebrae.
I have a scan in 2 weeks
Since this pain started I have had two AF attacks
Could there be a link ?
Has anyone experienced similar
Thank you
Until I went on anti-arrythmic's and finally had an ablation, my neck was one of my major triggers. Not unusual because of how the vagus nerve runs through the neck and how the vagus nerve plays a major role in autonomic functions which can affect afib. I never had a specific diagnosis such as arthritis, but that is definitely a possibility. In my case, upper body exercise often strained my neck and often an afib episode was soon to follow. At one point thought of seeking chiropractic care for neck and afib, but ending up taking the more conventional path of anti-arrythmic meds and then ablation.
Jim
Thanks Jim That all makes sense
Any inflamation can be a trigger for AF be it viral, arthritis , infection etc.
Hi Summerlily, I had not had an AF episode for 9 months until I got Shingles 7wks ago & the stress of it must have triggered it.
Thankfully haven't had AF for a while but think you may be on to something. My AF seemed to come on when I have an infection, or other 'inflammatory' experience. Makes sense to me.
How unusual - glad you don’t have to wait too long to find out what’s going on and do hope it isn’t anything too bad and you can get help to stop the pain and the AF episodes.
My AF started shortly after I developed Achilles Tendinitis. I was also in a stressful job at the time and was told the stress could have triggered the Achilles problem, would you believe. Knock on effect, AF could have been triggered by either.
That is a very interesting question and, I suspect, maybe not something the medics have considered. Three or four years before my first Atrial Flutter episode (2017) I started getting headaches and neck pains but for years was told I would just have to put up with it. Then last year I had an MRI on my head and neck which showed spinal and foraminal stenosis - where the nerves coming out of the spinal cord are pinched or squeezed. Nobody ever makes the connection, but I now wonder if that can impact the heart’s internal electrical signals? All body functions are controlled by electrical signals from the brain….
Yes, my experience of (back of the) neck pain/tension and it's link to AF events is similar to the description given by mjames1 .
But I have actually been previously diagnosed as having cervical spine arthritis (not sure of the degree) which causes periodic bouts of tension/pain/discomfort across the back of my neck spreading outwards. This periodic pain/tension, which I seem/am unable to alleviate by either exercise or rest, causes me so much discomfort and frustration that I found I was inevitably "winding myself up" with stress and making an AF event more likely.
Realising I had to break this cycle, but having a lifetime aversion to all medications, it took me far too long to discover I could "solve" this situation within 20 minutes by taking 2 paracetamol tablets. Doh! I suppose I was blind to ever thinking paracetamol would be useful in cases of muscular (or joint) pain/inflammation, and completely missed my use of paracetamol as a last resort for flu symptoms.
I obviously hope your situation can be as easily resolved, and much quicker than the years it took me.🤔
Similar, my neck , headaches and arm and shoulder pain are from stenosis in my high vertebrae. I live with afib constantly but treat. It medically. I’m nit a suitable candidate for cervical vertebrae surgery
Dr. Joel Wallach believes that Afib is caused by cranial and spinal arthritis that affects the Vagus Nerve. As you may know, there are 12 cranial nerves. Listen to Wallach's radio program on the Internet and his books for more information.
Any "itis" is inflammation. The bigger question is what is causing "itis" I learned that in my holistic training. So, dig down and find out what is causing the inflammation. Most likely you can correct and issue. Just recently I ran across a book called Good Energy, by Dr. Casey Means. She talks about this subject in her book. She is a ENT specialist and she began noticing the connection between inflammation and our health. Might be something to look into.
I have cervical stenosis and have been dealing with afib/flutter off and on for years. I think many of us drive ourselves crazy trying to figure out what the triggers are for afib. I think the burden of stress induced by pain regardless of where it comes from could be a trigger but it's hard to say. There are a lot of charlatans out there who play on our frustrations offering sure cures for something they know nothing about. If I had a dollar for every cure for afib being touted I'd be a millionaire. Certainly, treating your neck pain cannot hurt and anything that minimizes stress in your life has to have a positive effect on your health and quite possibly your afib.
That's interesting, before my first recent episode of atrial flutter I had been having osteopathic treatment for a neck problem that had been causing me headaches. I had very tense neck and upper back muscles.
Hi I used to get chronic stiff neck and take ibuprofen which sent me into AF, so first point is watch your pain killers and only take paracetamol, cos most others are AF triggers, ice is very helpful. Secondly watch your sitting posture especially using any tech device. Third arthritis is usual medics cop out, good you are having a scan, but if they confirm arthritis probably best you get is more painkillers and some physio advice. if it persist think about alternatives, acupuncture etc. good luck.
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