Neck pain with headaches

[Golf123]

Every so often, during sleep In get neck pain which worsens over night. This leads to what feels like a "splitting head" which lasts through the day. I do have osteoporosis of the spine -4 (take AA). Does anyone have similar symptoms and any advice on how to ease.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Have you spoken to your GP about these headaches?

[Golf123 in reply to PMRpro]

I haven't spoken to my GP, as my headaches come on when I get neck pain. I try to sleep on my back, but inevitably end up curled on either side. This seems to cause more neck pain. I'm currently waiting for some new pillows ( GX) in the hope they may help. I have quite a few pillows which help off and on. So I rotate them quite often .

[Hidden in reply to Golf123]

I’m the same and now been suffering for a few months. Changed pillows, help for a while. I think it’s osteoarthritis. I too suffer headaches due to neck. Mine is left side

[Missus835 in reply to PMRpro]

The only pillow which has helped with my neck pain over the last couple of years is a fairly firm travel neck pillow (u-shaped kind) which keeps my head, neck and chin from drooping downwards as I am a side sleeper. I use it on top of a rather thin contour pillow. Works for me and always worth a try.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Any new headache needs to be investigated… it may be connected to your osteoporosis but it does need to be checked out.

[HeronNS]

You should talk to your doctor, but in the meantime you may find this helpful: I remain on my back with the aid of a travel pillow. I don't have it behind my neck (which would give me a headache as lying down it would cut off circulation or press on nerves) but with the curve over the top and down the sides of my head, so my head doesn't flop from side to side. Pillows under my knees keep me comfortable, and this arrangement makes it virtually impossible to turn onto my side without waking myself up. I don't have osteoporosis, but do have bad osteoarthritis in my neck, and stabilizing my neck when asleep is very helpful.

[Flivoless in reply to HeronNS]

This the way that travel pillows were designed to be used.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Flivoless]

I understand Heron to use it in the same position as an alice band or headphones. The claimed correct way to use them is more like a necklace with the gap at the back.

[Flivoless in reply to PMRpro]

Exactly what I meant.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Flivoless]

Which? There are two ways described there ...

[Flivoless in reply to PMRpro]

Gap at the back of neck.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Flivoless]

I think Heron has her neck in the gap and the sides over her ears

[Flivoless in reply to PMRpro]

Didn't spot that 🧐

[Sharitone]

Further to Heron's description of her travel pillow, I have a full-sized microbead pillow which I'm very happy with, because whem I move from back to side, I can move the stuffing to wherever I want it. I like the idea of an extra travel pillow to stop one's head lolling, though.

Even if you GP doesn't make any diagnosis, (s)he still might think it worth giving you a go at physio - 🐖🐖might fly!

[cranberryt]

Neck pain is often the first sign that I have overshot my prednisone dose and need to go back up 1/2mg.

[AyJayBass]

When I was sleeping on my back, in the weeks between onset of PMR and diagnosis, I bought (from Amzn) a pillow with a head shaped depression in the middle. It helped my head not lol to one side. Like Heron I had another pillow (a heavy memory foam one) under my knees.

[whitefishbay]

I have a bad neck on the left side and sometimes I wake up with headaches from the neck. My physio has given me exercises and they help. Had an MRI to check it in Dec and have the follow up in May (gotta laugh - I'll be dead or cured). The exercises - shrugging shoulders and turning head really help.

[heartbreaker]

I have cervical spondylosis, my neck kills me everyday, but added 2_that I now have awful headaches, that start from back of neck over head, effects quite a bit of face, ears, eyebrows & sinuses, I also have osteoporosis, arthritis & fibro, last night I woke,up with a feeling of laying on a block of concrete instead of my soft flat pillow, recommend by one of my consultants &_it works!does anybody else suffer with this? Or similar? Be good to sell ideas, & tips?.........

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to heartbreaker]

What you are describing could be typical signs of GCA and does need checking out. GCA commonly affects the occipital region causing the headache at the back of the head. It could also be due to neck muscle spasm - but you can't assume that.

[heartbreaker in reply to PMRpro]

Hi, Thank you for ur reply, who do I see for this? X

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to heartbreaker]

Think you need to raise a new post to ask this question, as not everyone is likely to see this reply.

This forum is for PMR and GCA-and your bio doesn’t say you have either of those conditions.. but the headaches do sound a bit GCA ish so perhaps you should get checked in case that’s what it is. Hope not, as you seem to have enough going on…and they may well be related to your cervical spondylosis - but always best to check.

[heartbreaker in reply to DorsetLady]

Thankyou....what is GCA? Please....

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to heartbreaker]

Giant Cell Arteritis - look at this from charity for more info -

pmrgca.org.uk/information-a...

[heartbreaker in reply to DorsetLady]

Thankyou, when I see my Dr, I'll talk to him about it....

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to heartbreaker]

Please do, and let us know ..