Hey does anybody get pain in their neck ???????? I mean the lump that is under the nape of the neck I believe is called the Atlas ....Mine is excruciating almost everyday and when it's hurting it actually swells and protrudes Not sure what this is, just want to see if anyone has this and maybe will give me an answer
Thank U 😊
are you talking about the back of the neck at top of spine? like base of head... mine hurts badly and swells and remains swollen....
Hey Peacefulandcalm I always find it difficult to explain where, but I guess yes your correct the base of the head, where your neck meets the shoulders .I've added an image and I think it shows its C7.
I have the pain almost everyday, then maybe it will go for a day or so but comes back . When there's a day that it doesn't hurt the pain is somewhere else, so this makes me think, from my personal experience , that it's Fibro.
My hubby rubs my neck for me and its absolutely excruciating and there's a certain point on the left side that kills to touch, it feels like there something sharp digging in. Have u ever had it seen by Dr to know what it may be ??
Hi Frenchi88, Yes I have that too. It isn’t fibromyalgia! It …or mine is degenerative disc disease with extensive spur development involving C5 and C6. I also have a lump on the left side of my neck. Verdict is still out on that. Have an ultrasound Friday to see if it shows anything new. Supposedly had ultrasound done by the endocrinologist but didn’t show anything. Pain doctor said it was bone and that isn’t normal. Long frustrating story but this all started up about 6 months ago as a sharp pain in my right upper back just below the shoulder blade. It has progressed up into my neck, right side of my head and into my jaw. Been through PT, for dry needling, first PT agency weren’t certified to do thoracic area so they gave me name of one who did. It didn’t work, had MRI of upper and lower back. Saw spine doctor who said it was coming from my neck so had MRI of my neck, PT for neck, steroid injection in my neck, pain doctor did trigger point injections, had chiropractic adjustments which made it worse, was told by PT not to go to chiropractor. Went for 90 minutes massage go back for 60 minutes in a couple of weeks. Sorry for rambling but this is not fibro. Be persistent don’t give up. You have the right to be healed. We shouldn’t have to hurt like this. I have gotten so discouraged and depressed over this. This week is all about treating my mental health as result of this pain. Please keep trying and get copies of any x-rays, MRIs and other tests that may shed light on this. I have all kinds of stuff I tried that didn’t work too. I pray we both get relief soon.💜
Hey SarahvitI do wonder if mine may be something similar as I also have disc issues (I'd have to go over my medical notes to see what ones) I have lower ones aswell.
It seems that your issue is more than what I mean as yours seems to be from your back/shoulder/etc so this is far more than what issues I get.
It's sounds like you have a lot going on and some confusion of what's going on and as you say it doesn't sound like Fibro.
As I said to someone on here who was kind enough to reply to my question, that I think Fibro people can tend to put everything down to Fibro , I am one of those people big time but trying to change my way of thinking.
For so many years I've had one thing after another and always just kept suffering because as I thought it was all Fibro we all know there's nothing that works so just kept on living with it. Now other issues are showing themselves I'm beginning to seek help with them.
So your right we shouldn't have to suffer like this and I also have been discouraged and depressed for years and years. I kept going to Dr's, Hospitals, Consultants and hardly ever any reaction when the "F" word was mentioned so it all just fell on deaf ears (this was late 80s early 90s).
It actually took an American Neurosurgeon friend of mine in the mid 90s to casually put a name to my problem and that to me was as good as a cure ...someone putting a name to it was music to my ears. I only got officially diagnosed in the UK around 5/6yrs ago so many many years of nothing.
When you say get copies of scans xrays do you mean the actual xrays or the write up of the results???
Well thank you so much for sharing and bless you for your kind words to me and yes I do hope we can both find some relief because I'm sure we so deserve it ...all of us xx
F🤗
Hi, mine is terrible at the moment on the right side only. Looking at the diagram it's called Atlas. Using diclofenac gel, neck exercises but not helping much. Worse in bed.
Hey Ladame I've used creams over the years but none are effective., waste of time and money when you keep purchasing this & that and then throw in the drawer with all the other stuff that doesn't work.
Yeah Atlas is what I think it is.
I find mine is worse when sitting down ie watching TV, reading or now writing this, bed doesn't help because when it hurts it hurts no matter what position I try.
I find this pain and the headaches I have the most unbearable and the most debilitating of all the places I have pain. Its a pain that you just cannot get on with or ignore to some degree, when I have mine it stops me in my tracks.
I really feel for you as its the worse ever for me.
So I do hope you can get some relief or that it doesn't stay with you too long.
Wishing you a good day
F 💗
Thank you. I forgot to mention that I use a wheat sac, the heat from that seems to really help. Hope you find something to help.
Hi yes I have the same and rheumatologist explained it’s fibromyalgia muscular skeletal pains, mine is horrific when I get fatigued and have to lay with certain pillows arranged to help my left side back of neck and when get bad it radiates to my left temple area or to top of shoulder down left arm to fingers.
I have been off work two months due to flare after flu and had meeting with work to go back next week on phased return really stressing about how I am gonna cope.
Deep breath and see. 🤞
Take care all great folk 😃
Hey Geeforce99I'm actually going to Rheumatology next week so hopefully will get some answers for this.
I get headaches as a result of the neck pain too , horrendous headaches that last for a stupid amount of days or weeks.
As silly as it sounds I use my sky remote (weird I know) to put pressure on the "lump" when I'm sitting watching TV it doesn't really take it away but just by putting pressure it relieves it somewhat. My husband rubs my neck for me which causes the most unbelievable pain but I ask him to do it because it makes it numb somewhat I'm the end and helps a tiny bit.
I also get pain into my shoulders but mine doesn't emanate from the neck. It causes my shoulders to tighten and then stiffen and unable to move side to side and when I get this pain I think for me it's the most debilitating of all Fibro.
Wow how do you manage to do anything let alone work when you have this pain, the thought that I'd have to function when I have this is impossible for me so I really feel for you having to navigate work when you can't just stop what tour doing and do what gives you some relief is mind blowing. I do feel for you now having the prospect of having to go back.
Well I do hope you get the understanding that all us Fibro sufferers deserve from work.
Here's to some pain free or low pain for you to get you through this, as I see it, challenging time
Hoping today is a goodish day for you 💞 F 🤗
Hi Frenchi88
Good luck at Rheumatology and hope you get some answers 👍🏻😃, I find my pains come in waves then one simple turn of the head or get up or move then it’s back and when bad it’s back to bed to hibernate then spreads to legs toes feet and can go for short while then eat and my jaw clicks up to ear then side of head very sharp! Heat soothes but does not rid pain. Take care and chill and think of better days hopefully ahead 👍🏻😃
Yes and it spreads down.my arms to the tips of my fingers wearing my grip making tasks extremely difficult. I find heat helps relax it and rest to let it pass its usually when I have overdone things.
Hey ElizahlOh so you also have it travel to your arms and fingers, something I don't get (at the moment) that's new one on me.
I'm actually on the side of cold helps mine not heat as I feel it burns A LOT already so cold is what I turn to.
I understand that it would impact your grip that makes total sense.
As I said I have never heard of the neck causing issues down the arms & fingers, I used to get pain in the arms many many years ago but haven't for some time now. I guess its just moved elsewhere now.
Here's hoping your having a good day today ..
F ❤️🩹
Morning, this was one of my first places that caused me so much pain and made me look for answers! it’s excruciating and like others I also get the pain down my arms and into my hands/fingers 😞 I have a V pillow and use heat/gels to try to ease the pain.
Hey SummertimeshineSo you also have the pain emanate down your arm & fingers. As I said to others I've never had this and didn't know it was a symptom , very interesting that 3 of those who have replied to my message have this.
For this to be one of the first places you had pain you was very much thrown in the deep end as it is as you say excruciating.
Hope we can all one day find help with this neck pain as it's got to be one of yhe worse for people
Thanks for replying
F 💚
Hi, I suffer very badly with this problem. But for me OA and bad posture are major contributing factors. Straining the neck forwards on and off every day for hours on end while using the mobile and the laptop is straining the top of the neck.
It then become stiff and finding a comfortable position when trying to sleep is impossible. The neck at times actually becomes locked. Very, very painfull.
The only way I can deal with it is by staying away from my mobile or PC sometimes for days or even weeks. Thats why I am not around on the forum as much as I once where. OTC pain pills and my relaxant pills topped off by laying heat on the area. A few mild neck exercises and time is what works best for me.
To be honest I have the pain etc right now. Having to bend my head forward and down to post this reply.
Momo
Hey DizzytwoYour absolutely spot on with when it triggers for you. Its the same for me too.
As I'm writing this I keep stopping and laying my head down for couple of minutes to ease momentarily. I get that it doing these things ie phones, laptop,reading..anything really that requires us to been our head, and I would almost guarantee that my posture is adding to this big time.
I'm seeing a Rheumatology Consultant next week so I'm hopeful they will tell me what it is or likely to be. I don't anticipate getting remedies for it but just knowing sometimes helps.
I am surprised that you are also one for heat in this area and that nobody has mentioned the burning. I use cold in this area because of the burning that this pain causes, but hey I also don't get what others have mentioned ie pain down the arms and fingers, so of course we are all going to have different symptoms and it'll effects us in different ways .
I also wondered if its caused by OA as I have in other areas so maybe it's this here too. The stiffness is another symptom and also tightening of the shoulders which then stops me from being able to move my neck but I don't get the locking part of it either, that sounds horrible and as you stated very very painful.
What can I say to you other than hope your pain eases quickly and I appreciate you replying knowing it will kick start your neck again ...
Thank u
F ❤
Hi Frenchi, you are correct about using the heat. I forgot to say that I do use uce gel packs that I keep in the freezer always.
The burning pain gets the ice treatment. But as that subsides it can turn in to an ache that then gets the heat treatment.
I suffer from Intercostal neuralgia. You may want to look it up. It differs from costochondritis that it mostly effects from the top of the spine. It runs down the top part of my spine covering the shoulder blades and wraps it self round my ribs.
This can effect the nerves between the ribs etc. Which in turn can cause tingling sensation in the arms.
Not saying this is what you have. But you may like to check it out xx
Oh I see that makes sense heat cold then the heat after I've never actually thought of doing that maybe I'll give it a go.I've just been told about wheat packs on here and never gave that a thought and now you mention gel packs ..I will really need to give these things a go they may surprise me and help me instead of using my Sky remote (weird I know 🤭)
I shall look up the other things you've mentioned see what that tells me and go from there.
Thanks so much again
Have a great weekend
F 😁
Yes, yes, yes! It's horrendous! Hurts all the time, particularly after eating anything as I also have arthritis in my jaw joints and neck, and I clench my jaw at night. The atlas is markedly swollen but my GP said it's normal as I have lost muscle mass because of menopause, but does not offer any kind of solution so I am just left to get on with it. I permanently feel like someone is attacking my spine with a flamethrower (sorry but that's the only way I can describe it) as the burning pain radiates over my ribs at the back and down both arms. And when I have been to the loo (I have chronic constipation) it is amplified ten times. I'm not living, I'm just existing I in the knowledge this pain will never get better.
Hey Wonderwall3I feeeeeel your pain it is absolutely the worse, but you ha e the added problems with your Jaw which I can only imagine.
I hopefully will be getting some answers later next week as I have a Rheumatology appointment, it'll be good to have some expert diagnosis (if that's possible), I don't hold out much hope with help with this but just a diagnosis is what we need, especially after suffering with Fibromyalgia and not getting diagnosed for many many years.
I don't have the burning pain down the back and arms it stays with me in the neck & shoulders so this in the arms symptoms is new to me but I guess we are all different with our symptoms.
Yeah I do get your "not living just exisisting " it's what I feel and I would guess a lot of us on here do too. Everyday I wake up and don't think I wonder if I'm gonna be in pain today but where will my pain be today, and when I have those Fibro headaches it actually causes me anxiety as I panic that I'm in so much pain but there's nothing that will help and that scares me because the pain is sooo bad and how am I supposed to be put up with it ,BUT we do and the cycle continues
I do hope you get some respite from the pain fingers crossed it subsides for you.
Thanks for replying much appreciated
F 💖
I have the exact same thing. My neck is in pain everyday, very clicky. On my mri it said i have a protrusion there but nothing has been done about it. I find acupuncture gives it slight relief or strong pain killer, sorry to hear that your going through this too. Hopefullly you can find some relief
Bless you thank you and the same goes for you too 😌Mine is clicky too (I actually forgot about that 🙄).
Protrusion of what can I ask ??
I've never had acupuncture on my neck but had it in my knee and it did no good.
I have a friend who gives me prescribed pain patches and I use them as of recently on my neck and it does relieve somewhat. I use them on my lower back and on my bottom as I have Piriformis syndrome and this helps with that a little so I have them to fall back on thank goodness.
I do wish you well thanks for replying
F 🤗
The joys of the clicky joints. Protrusion on my spine at the C7.Sorry to hear the acupuncture didn't help, it seems to help me because she does suction cups to get the blood pumping properly. Hopefully you get some relief. I've definitely realized that tomatoes and caffeine really aggrevate my joints. Have you tried cutting out food to see if something is flaring up the pain?
No problem.
Take care
unfortunately had this on/off for over 40 years…at its worst excruciating pain, but on other occasions even seizures from trapped nerve. Although heat, heat alternating with cold etc etc have helped the best treatment has been gentle spinal manipulation ( performed by two different practitioners originally trained as McTimoney chiropractors). I get it done every 4-8 weeks even now to maintain the shape of the spine as good as possible as now lower spine joins in the problem due to a permanently bent knee waiting nearly two years to be totally replaced. No idea why I have had the problem, although first manipulator said I had a small atlas; while a Gp without even examining me said it was a virus, and at 27 what did I expect getting old!
Hey Judithdalston Yeah had mine for many many years as I said to others on here its probably the worse pain for me. My Chiropractor years ago told me my spine wasn't straight and that my knees both extended too far back when standing. She did manipulate my neck many times but I don't think it helped. Maybe once I've been to my Rheumatology appointment tomorrow I will decide if I go back to Chiropractor.
I think I've also had the spine manipulation but that was years ago so that may be another thing I will consider.
I've never found heat helps for me ,it's totally cold for me as it burns like hell.
Waiting 2 yrs for a replacement is such a long time when what your waiting for may be one pain you could be living without.
When you have non helpful Drs/Hospital appointments it leaves you disheartened which is why for many many years I gave up going for help even when something new popped up.
I do hope you get your Knee Op sooner rather than later. Sorry only just replied as only just seen your message.
Very much appreciated
F 🤗
hey there, if you are able to afford it, I highly recommend going to a chiropractor especially for diagnosis. I had many steroid injections before going and finding out it wasn’t what the gp thought it was and the injections were for nothing. My discs were the issue and he has corrected them and with Pilates and ice when I feel a tweak it is much better. They will tell you whether heat or ice is best for your particular issues, I’ve is best for me sadly lol,
Hey Chunky6I have actually been to a Chiropractor many years ago solely for this issue. I can't actually remember what she told me the problem was but she used to manoeuvre my head and then a quick movement to click it into place (I remember her saying that to me) and also my back was out of line so needed straightening.
It may be ab idea to maybe go again, but I am going to Rheumatology Consultant this week so maybe they will tell me what the problem is because it will be one of the few things I will mention.
But that is a good idea and u actually reminded me that I did go before and see what happens with appointment and go from there.
It's good news to hear that your having some relief and that they found the problem and sorted it. It's a shame u had to have the steroid injections before finding out they wasn't necessary. I had them in my hands ONCE and blimey once was enough. The pain of the injection was more painful than the issue itself. NEVER AGAIN !!
Anyway thanks for your reply and I'll take on board what you said and hopefully something will come out of it.
Take care
F 🤗
hey Frenchi88, good luck with your appointment and I’ll keep everything crossed it’s an issue that can be manipulated and improved. I’m my own worse enemy my chiro tells me, bending my neck. Office work isn’t the best and I’ve adjusted my screen etc and multiple tools so I’m not bending (phones are the worst 🤦♀️)
Steroid injections are awful, I used to have them in my hip and 3, 2 weeks apart for my plantar fasciitis in my heels! Thank heavens I found shoe orthotics and never have to go through this again. Take care and best of luck
Oh bless you thank you.I hope it can lead to help with it too. We as Fibro people have enough to cope with without something that may possibly have help or a remedie for.
I have had my feet mould taken for insoles and have an appointment to go get them fitted, should have gone last week but was over come with fatigue so I just couldn't face the journey so had to reschedule
Anyway I'm glad yours works for you, I have been told by few people tell me "don't see the point" or the hurt more to wear them. I suppose time will tell.
Again thank u and take Care
F 🤗
We seem to go round in circles with various health practitioners….I too have had insoles made firstly via podiatrists who over a few years disagreed with each other and changed the prescription, then nearly two years ago when I ripped the knee meniscus the orthopaedic surgeon remarked about the insoles implying they were both wrong and couldn’t have worked for a long-held ‘knocked knee’, and 15 years of previous knee pain. I must have had decades of poor spine health due to knees throwing it out of true; I had had other X-rays of knees and spine. Is it surprising we resort to DIY treatment and chiropractors/ spinal manipulators?
Hey Judithdalston Ya know your right in that we go round & round in circles with different health professionals.
What always gets me , in some other walks of life too , is that there's never a one answer. You would think that there is only ONE ANSWER but nooooo, and that confuses me and sometimes worries me. But what else have we got, so the circle continues
I am yet to go collect my insoles which I already don't have faith in. For one, I've been told by few friends who have had these that they either don't work or actually make the issue worse.
Most of all while I was being measured for them the guy said to me that he doesn't even know why I'm here as my issue is at the top of my feet & ankles and these are for the underneath of my feet and doesn't understand why they sent me in the first place so that makes me feel its a water of time BUT I shall go and go through the rigmarole just to say I've done it.
Anyway thank u for your message
and I do hope we all get some results one day that will change what we go through, even just a little bit
Have a great day
F 🤗
Yes! I had an MRI years ago showing issues from C2 through to C5 (I think without looking out the letter) with nerve compression causing pain and numbness in hands.
For me neck exercises really help, they're painful but keeping the movement is so important, in my opinion anyway and it does ease it off, a bit. 🫤
Phones & screens are a nightmare for our posture & necks. Take at least an hourly break and move your neck, head & shoulders any way you can.
Head rolls, shoulder rolls, head tilts (ear to shoulder) all very slow movements. Hold your chin with your thumb underneath and your forefinger on top, firmly push back. You should feel it in your neck exactly where you're having the most pain (Atlas).
There's loads of physio exercises freely available online. Give them a try, they really do help.
Hey CheetieCatI actually already do some exercises that don't really give me much help but still do them incase it's a long term thing. My husband taught me the holding your chin one as was shown these by a Chiropractor so I've already been doing that one too.
As for the uses of phones etc it's the main culprit for my pain. I do manage my time on the phone etc , I'm not really a phone mad person but it only takes a little time. I will keep on doing what I'm doing but am waiting in anticipation for what the Rheumatology Consultant will say.
Thanks for your reply
F🤗
Sorry you're not getting any relief with the exercises they definitely take the edge off the pain for me. Really hope you get somewhere with your Rheumatology appointment 😊
Hi, I used to get pain like you describe a lot when I was younger and more active. One morning my neck completely seized up and I couldn’t move - it was excruciating. I was given a neck brace to wear and that really helped. I wore it for about two weeks and from then on I would often have to resort to it. I got headaches with it too and eventually I went to see a physiotherapist who put it right for me. The neck still gave me trouble but the headaches were much less. In later years I’ve had my neck x-rayed and it shows I have a slight twist in my spine in the upper neck joints. I now think I was constantly putting my neck out of alignment by lifting heavy things eg toddlers, pushchairs, shopping, gardening stuff - even my Dyson which weighed a ton! I was a horse rider too which can be quite hard on the spine! I take a lot more care now I’m older and I have less trouble with it, although it’s sad I can’t lift the grandchildren or ride any more. I also bought a proper neck pillow which really helped. I’ve tried several but I really like the shaped memory foam ones best, although that’s a personal preference. I have RA with fibromyalgia and other related conditions so I guess that’s why I’ve suffered from this. I can also advocate yoga and (very) gentle stretching exercises if you can manage that to relieve the tension neck pain brings. Hope some of this is useful! x
Hey Its very interesting that you've had this since you were younger.
I have had this for many many years but for years I put it down to Fibro, BUT as I see on this group many times and from my mum, family they tell me don't put everything down to Fibro "get it checked". For many years I think I've done this because everytime I did look things up it would be Fibro so i always just took it as such. Now I am getting things checked and getting some answers but this has remained unanswered but still remains the pain it always has been.
So once I've seen the Rheumatology Consultant this week & get some answers that will decide what step I'll take next, maybe Physio or Chiropractor.
I appreciate your reply thank u
F🤗
Hi Frenchi88, I definitely agree with your Mum and family. When we are young we are so much fitter and able and we take it for granted! I used to be able to hoist a bale of hay but now I can barely lift my Tesco carrier! 😂 I struggled with aching neck and shoulders since I was a teen and I expect doing a newspaper round with heavy newspapers and sitting at school hunched over a desk for hours was the real start of it - by the time I was in my twenties I was already rubbing Ralgex into my muscles! Here’s hoping you get some answers from the rheumatologist when you go - fibro is so hard to pin down and treat! Good luck! x
Yes I do I do I put it down to looking at my iPad, I neck exercises which is really good for it
Hey paula9087Yeah mines the same with phone, ipads etc, but I also get it with just watching TV and driving or of I stand still for a very short time for instance washing up it is absolutely excruciating. I am going to be sent to Physio so will see how rjay helps me. I'm glad the exercises work for you it's always a god send when something works.
Appreciate your reply
Thank U
F 🤗
Hi ,I suffer with bad neck and shoulder pain, at the moment it's in.my back too no sleep for days.
Hey StrugglingthroughYou know for me out of all the points of pain I have, the neck & shoulders are the worse by far. It's the most excruciating pain I've ever had, and it's so bad sometimes it scares me.
I do get pain in my back but it's lower back so not a continuation of the neck/shoulders
I feel for you, I really do. No sleep is horrible , I struggle with that too. Totally exhausted but still can't sleep and for many reasons too.
So I totally get what your saying
I do hope it subsides soon for touch or at least let's you sleep.
Thank you for your reply
F 🤗
Pillow and neck pain. 
Neck pain bad migraines
Neck shoulder pain tightness
Neck and shoulder pain
Shoulder and neck pain
