Different type of pain at neck spine area

[slopers]

Hi all,

I have been tapering slowly and am down to 4.5 and have been doing ok. A few days ago I started feeling pain at the base of my skull cervical spine area that's unlike anything I felt with PMR neck stiffness. It's a sharp nerve like pain that hurts depending on how I support and turn my head. It especially hurts trying to support my head getting out of bed. Last night I started feeling nauseous with the pain. I plan on calling my rheumatologist this morning for an appointment. Anyone have any thoughts or experiences with this?

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Hi,

Neck pain can be caused by lots of things, have you done anything recently that could have triggered it -

Hurt or strained it, been in a draught, different bed or pillows?

Have you tried warmth on it or ordinary painkillers.

Nausea can be a sign of vertigo or balance issues..

It may be PMR, but could well to be something else altogether.

Please let us know how to get on.

[slopers in reply to DorsetLady]

Thanks for your quick reply. I don't remember doing anything out of the ordinary, I did try taking Tylenol but had no relief at all. In my attempts at tapering in the past I've noticed stiffness in the neck and shoulders which makes me realize I've gone too far and increased the dosage.This pain feels much sharper and different then other times. I'm not sure if this is just a very bad flare up. I'm waiting to hear back from the Dr's office with advice.

[Purplecrow]

Changed pillows lately? Mine was related to old pillow,,,got new one and it's better...also reading in bed aggravates neck...especially when I doze off in the cocked up position...

[slopers in reply to Purplecrow]

Thanks for your response. You may be correct because that's what I do at night before bed. I just got back from the doctor and he says it is not PMR related.

[slopers in reply to slopers]

I took x-rays because he feels it's a pinched nerve and I'm waiting for him to read them.