can anyone help? I’ve woken this morning with intense muscle spasms in my neck so painful I could cry. I thought my pains were going but this month my husband has been ill so I’ve done a lot of driving to hospitals etc. my neck was getting a bit stiff but nothing like this. I’ve used a heat pad had a hot shower and taken paracetamol. It’s making me feel nausea and shaky.
I’m not on steroids.
As you aren’t on steroids there’s little point in giving you the usual advice of dealing with a flare -if that’s what it is.
Maybe a combination of a flare of your PMR caused by stress regarding your husband’s illness and muscle strain from driving.
Are you still required to drive?
This link gives some exercises that might help and continue with heat and painkillers - but if it doesn’t improve you need to contact GP -
nhs.uk/live-well/exercise/s...
thank you for your reply, will definitely look at the exercises. I needn’t drive today and to be honest I couldn’t, but he needs the hospital again tomorrow so hopefully this pain will ease.
If it stays like this I will contact the GP, but of course it’s so difficult now isn’t it to see anyone.
But thanks so much for the advice
Hello. You say in your bio that PMR is suspected and that you’ve been prescribed steroids but are worried about taking them. Please be assured that if you do have PMR steroids are your ‘friend’ and that nothing else will manage the inflammation in your body.
I am shocked that you were diagnosed over the phone by an oncologist!!! The usual procedure leading to diagnosis is through a GP or RHEUMATOLOGIST and involving a number of blood tests to rule out other conditions. A pretty reliable way to determine if you do have PMR would be to start taking the steroids daily and if your symptoms ease considerably with four/5 days you can be pretty sure that the diagnosis was correct. If the reduction in symptoms doesn’t happen there will be the likelihood of something else going on and you can stop the steroids as you will have been taking them for a very short time. Regarding your neck, the spasms could be PMR inflammation but perhaps a result of the stress you are under with your husband being unwell or your sleeping position. I see that DorsetLady has provided a link in respect of that.
Yogi Wendy, it would be really helpful if you would add a bit more to your bio, eg, the symptoms you were experiencing that led you to consult a doctor, the dose of steroids you were told to take….
You under a lot of stress and at times like this it is understandable that having to access medical help is a difficult choice but you do need professional help. I am reminding you that you cannot take care of someone else (your husband) if your own health is poor.
Please let us know how things go and the result of any further action you take; you will always find support here.
(I hope all this makes sense.)
I was thinking stermocleidomastoid muscle pain
healthline.com/health/stern...
may add something to DL's link.
thank you for that it’s exactly the pain I have. I’ve just looked at the exercises and tried to do them. Thank you for reminding me they are good yoga stretches ! I must pay more attention to my posture too. Since PMG it has deteriorated.
Fingers crossed it’s easier tomorrow
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