upper back pain and back of neck

[Sezvic]

anyone here who got SLE and RA has suffered with the above. Lately I’ve been a lot of pain in my middle upper back. Had an x-ray yesterday awaiting the result. Thanks

[LuzyCLL]

i also have lots if trapezius and neck muscle pain. I have noticed a decrease since I started methotrexate. Yoga for shoulders & back really helps.

[Sezvic in reply to LuzyCLL]

yes sometimes it feels like a muscle pain. It has been over 8 weeks now since the pain started. And also I’ve been using computer quite a bit lately. I will contact the rheumatology Monday.

[LuzyCLL in reply to Sezvic]

when I worked at the computer I always wished some masseuse would come by and work on my neck & shoulders I have an excellent chiropractor now but I get tired of one more appointment…

[Chris21]

yes,I get excruciating pain in middle of back and neck. I had an mri scan and it seems the fluid in between vertebrae’s has disappeared. I have to be careful how I sit/stand and when the pain starts I need to reposition/stretch my spine. Prefer to do this than have an operation.

As Lucy says, yoga may help.

[Sezvic in reply to Chris21]

Does your doctor said this has happened due to your autoimmune disease?

[Chris21 in reply to Sezvic]

Not in so many words, but was assumed it’s because of auto immune diseases, I have sjogrens as well as lupus sle and arthritis.

[Naladog]

I have the same pain on the left side of my neck, shoulder and upper back. I was thinking it might be a contracture from sleeping badly or doing some bad movement. I had the Covid19 a fortnight ago and since then I haven't fully recovered. I really don't know if it has anything to do with it or not.

[Jerg]

I had a nerve root injection for my back pain and it worked well don’t know how long it will last. My neurologist recommended it

[Maverick77]

I had a similar pain about 5yrs ago and an X-ray showed my T7 vertebrae had started to crumble and there is nothing they can do. Probably due to 15yrs on prednisilone. So I now need to be very careful I don’t break something else. I have lupus, ra and sjogrens.

[Potatoheat]

I get left-sided pain in my shoulder and neck. Asked my new rheumy who i actually saw last week after 3 years ! I not sure he knows much about Lupus ! He said probably not lupus related but osteo degeneration , made worse by too much use of computer and mobile during lockdown ! Have started monthly back , neck massage which is lovely . She also gave me simple posture hints .

Hope you get some answers soon

[Hidden]

note my diagnosis is Stills Disease which for me manifests as rheumatic pain, swelling, stiffness in the joints with afternoon fever and constant sore throat. I have other AI conditions associated with RA. Diagnosis was 1979.

In the last 12 years or so a new area of pain has developed on the left of my lower neck and extends into the shoulder and upper back. I also have pain in mid upper ribs both sides which developed in the mid 90s so considerably after the original onslaught which was mainly and typically the wrists and knees. I find heat and massage help but the neck pain also causes nausea and dizziness which is horrid. My vision is becoming blurry too BUT I know I need new glasses 👓.

Yoga has too much weight bearing on the wrists for me but good stretches seem to help and of course codeine.

[ijeasike]

Yes I get alot of neck, shoulder and back pain. Mine is my lower back especially when I stand for a long time. Seating position also gives me pain, I tried a massage and it helped.

[Sezvic]

thank you all for you comments. Tomorrow my I will have the result of my x-ray. But been feeling unwell since weekend. Terrible headache and my scalp feel like is on fire. My joints in my shoulder is aching also. I feel like my lupus is flaring up. I had a blood test yesterday and I’ve called the rheumatology to tell I’m feeling unwell. The nurse just called and said my inflammation markers are with the normal range. And the nurse doesn’t think is my autoimmune disease. But I don’t feel well at all.

[Froggie70]

Hi yes I get excruciating pain in shoulders, back of neck and into base of skull leading to really bad headaches. Waiting on appointment with physio but in the meantime I’m trying a hot water bottle and arnica gel. Not brilliant but better than nothing. Rheumatologist said it could be wear and tear and not necessarily the lupus.

[Sezvic in reply to Froggie70]

Did you have any x-ray done for your spine to get that diagnosis wear and tear?

[Froggie70 in reply to Sezvic]

No usual finger in the air stuff, I’m so disillusioned with consultant I take it all with a pinch of salt so waiting until I see physio.

[Sezvic]

I thought my appt with my GP was today but apparently it’s for next Wednesday. I’ve been waiting since 2pm 😤. Mine is more in my middle upper back (between my shoulder blades). Today it’s not aching that much but is more feeling hot and burning inside. Feel like muscle pain. My joints in my shoulder still aching though. Whenever my lupus flare I always get pain in my neck and upper back. But the nurse said my inflammation markers is ok. Froggie 70 did you had any x-ray done of your spine to be told it’s wear and tear?

[Froggie70 in reply to Sezvic]

Oh no, it’s not the first time I’ve got a date and time mixed up too. So annoying isn’t it? I’ve had no X-ray done and no mention of getting one, my consultant isn’t great so just waiting on physio appointment. My inflammation markers are up and lupus isn’t under control so am getting this more frequently. Take care.

[Sezvic in reply to Froggie70]

Let me know how your physio appt go. I feel at the rheumatology, they look more at my RA than my lupus. But for me I find my lupus gives me more problems than my RA lately. I’m constantly getting ulcer in my nostrils. And when I tell them at the rheumatology they don’t pay attention to it.

[Froggie70 in reply to Sezvic]

I’ll let you know how I get on although I suspect with the way things are I’ll have quite a wait. Take care and hope you feel better soon.

[Sezvic]

Hi all, hope you’re all doing well and keeping warm with this cold weather. Today I had the result of my x-ray of my spine, nothing significant seen apart from scoliosis. And my GP is not worried about that. But the pain in my upper still there. I told my GP, last week the pain was really bad. At the back of my neck, throbbing headache, feeling a bit dizzy, nausea and blurred vision. I’m still having the headache and blurred vision. She said she will refer me to neurologist. So going tomorrow to see her, for her to do the full physical examination to do the referral. But I got a strong feeling everything I’m having is link to my SLE. I did called rheumatologist last week and spoke to a nurse. She doesn’t believe there’s anything to do with my autoimmune disease bcos my CRP came back normal (3). But the nurse I spoke to she was focusing more on my rheumatoid arthritis. Sorry for the rant.x