Pain in the Neck!?!?

[twistylady00100]

Hi! I've never been diagnosed with craniocervical instability (CCI) but I do think that I possibly could have this. I feel my head is too heavy for my neck to carry, and cervical pain has been one of my primary complaints for many years. I have received trigger point injections (which do not help as local anesthetics do not work on me) when in extreme acute pain. My main concern is I get EXTREMELY sleepy (to the point of nodding off) when working on my laptop, reading, etc., and have been prescribed Nuvigil, but I would like to take one less medication if I can help it. I have wondered if this has anything to do with the nerves that run throughout the occipital branches?? My neurologist and pain physicians I see are not well versed in this area so I'm grasping at straws here. Any input is surely appreciated! : )

[Marshamellow]

Sounds familiar ! I have very similar problems that cause me severe ear pain - I have had the injections (led to me finally getting diagnosed with hypermobility as the anaesthetic didn't work). What helps me enormously more than any other complimentary therapy is the Bowen Technique - would highly recommend to all with head/jaw/neck issues

Good luck !

[twistylady00100 in reply to Marshamellow]

Thank you. I am not familiar with the Bowen Technique, but I am going to research it now.

[Mandrea1976]

I had that issue and was helped very quickly with pt for upper back and kt taping. Also use a slope board when reading or typing. Your neck should not be bent looking down. Yoyr eyes need to stay level for the neck to be happy.

[twistylady00100 in reply to Mandrea1976]

Thank you for taking the time to respond. I have tried PT, which helped very little, but have not tried KT taping. Do you do the taping or does your therapist do it for you? Ergonomics do have a key role in all of this, I do agree, and I really need to do better. Thanks for the reminder!

[Rubypickle]

I have a diagnosis if HSD, PoTs MCAS, my cervical vertebrae were rotating, I found a specialist physio who knew about ehlers-danlos HSD etc who could rotate them back.

But interestingly recently I have found HRT (yam based) has stabilized my neck and joints generally- ostrogen helps build and maintain collagen- I am 50, so definitely perimenopausal.

[twistylady00100 in reply to Rubypickle]

I believe I am perimenopausal as well, good information to know. I will look up this yam based HRT therapy. Thanks so much for this.