Persistent stiff neck

[bubbakid]

I am 3 months post ablation and have been suffering from stiff neck and shoulder area on my left side. It's worse in the morning. Could this be a reaction to Eliquis or Metoprolol Tartrate? Anyone else have this symptom? Thanks.

[Buffafly]

Did you have a cardioversion during your ablation? I had two and had a very painful neck and left arm for a few days. It could be that your pain has persisted.

[bubbakid in reply to Buffafly]

Thank you for your reply. I did have a cardioversion prior (March 2024) to my ablation. How did you deal with the pain?

[Buffafly in reply to bubbakid]

Paracetamol, but mine wore off quickly.

[bubbakid]

Thanks. Tylenol is good for temporary relief but the persistence of pain leads me to suspect one of my medications. I have an appointment with my EP next month.

[jeanjeannie50]

Many years ago I suffered a very painful stiff neck that went on for months and had me receiving physiotherapist and chiropractor treatment. I eventually discovered it was caused by the way I was sleeping in bed. All my weight was mostly on my head/neck area. I now sleep on my right side with both hands forward under my pillow and am fine. Give it a try.

Jean

[Buffafly in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Or physiotherapist.

[BenHall1]

I've suffered from stiff and painful neck and shoulders for years and its worsening. Underlying problem is osteoarthritis and because I take Warfarin I'm limited in pain relief ... so I take CoCodomol 30/500. My personal take on this is that its unlikely to be the Eliquis or Metoprolol Tartrate, but, do check and read the bit of paper in the packet which will discuss side effects of these medications.

It might also be sleeping posture, now, THAT I do find an issue as I am a side sleeper. I've had a steroid injection into the right shoulder and it is reasonably trouble free. The left is a damn nightmare and although I've had several injections into it nothing is working to subdue the pain. That said, the pain increases significantly just before the onset of a weather change, like from dry and sunny to rain ! Changes in humidity also have a bad impact.

Mine is worse, as I've said, at night but if I do get a reasonable sleep it is bad in the morning too.

[Ronnieboy in reply to BenHall1]

You mirror what I'm feeling most of the time except I don't take hardly any medication, oh and throw in a bit of hip pain, the joys of getting older.

[bubbakid in reply to Ronnieboy]

It's nice to know we are not alone but it seems there should be a successful way to deal with this. I am trying several methods and refuse to attribute anything to getting older.

[Ppiman]

This will be from laying in a certain position for too long, I guess. Both spinal issues (if it is that) and tendonitis type pains take a variable but often long time to settle. Mine has taken several months. A useful treatment is an occasional diazepam tablet which your doctor might give (with the usual warning not to overdo them as they can become habit forming).

Steve

[Falkovec in reply to Ppiman]

1 year ago I had a similar problem, and after I started doing these exercises of the Russian doctor A. Shishonin for neck pain, for about 1 month, the pain disappeared. I still do them 1-2 times a week.actualno.com/health/gimnast...

[Ppiman in reply to Falkovec]

Thank you. It looks fascinating!

Steve

[DawnTX]

I have a feeling it was coincidence with the timing. My EP reminds me when I have some type of complaint that not everything is heart related. Because of the pacemaker I have he has all kinds of charts, etc. they are really watching me. He can show me that there is nothing wrong on the heart end of things. As far as medication I have been on Metropol to quite some time and not had any issues. I am on the sucrate now in the beginning it was the tartrate I am also on an anticoagulant. To be honest with you with all the medication changes I have had since this journey began the only medication that bothered me was amiodarone, and that was a killer for me

we become very focused on our heart and every twinge we get the heart gets blamed for when we are new with this if you have questions check with your doctor and the odds are pretty good. There is a simple explanation. Sometimes it’s a matter of how they had you laying. I had a lot of trouble with my hip after a different type of surgery. it turned out. It was simply because of the position I had been in for so long. I know my hands were strapped down for my pacemaker surgery. Different feelings and pains can be anything from over eating gastritis, etc. I am monitored 24 seven they will know before I do if there’s anything wrong. if there’s one thing I have learned it is to get out of my head about a fib, etc., because we tend to focus on it and drive ourselves crazy. My EP also told me to get rid of the oximeter and not be checking my numbers because for one thing, otc medical equipment is rarely accurate. Also, our heart rate, etc., fluctuate constantly depending on what we are doing. Unless you are in serious pain, etc. I think most of us have had to learn to ride it out when we have an episode. With my pacemaker, etc. my EP has told me going to the local ER is really not going to be helpful when it comes to a fib or flutter they are not set up for what I have and all they can do is keep me stable and comfortable, usually I consider my flutter more annoying than anything about a month ago. I had several weeks of almost constant. I’m pretty sure I know what triggered it and one thing my EP is always on me about is working on my anxiety and stress level to help control things knowledge is power the more we learn the less worried we will be about something that is going to be with us. The rest of our lives most likely. As a few other people mentioned yes especially around my age who doesn’t have some kind of arthritis, etc. I already knew for fact because I have spinal stenosis and will know the end of the month if I need hip surgery and pelvic. It was supposed to be addressed several years ago, but I could not get the cardiac clearance to have it done. Just remember how many pieces you have inside of you

[Ppiman in reply to DawnTX]

Useful advice!

Steve

[bubbakid in reply to DawnTX]

Thanks. Very helpful.

[Tapanac]

I get exactly the same since my pacemaker insertion.

[Sozo]

I have had an achey stiff neck and shoulders since my ablation a year and a half ago. May be a fluke.. It comes and goes during the day and I wake in the night at times as well with it. Some same it from tension but no I know my body and thankfully do not have much stress in my life. I know this isn't much help, but wanting you to know that there is yet someone else as myself who can relate and to why this is happening.