cervical spondylosis

[dotti]

Hi folks

Just a quick question are people like us who are Hypo more prone to Cervical Spondylosis, i have been diagnosed with this and at the moment its in the moderate stage.

Although parts of my neck are severe i am worried as i do house cleaning for a living and my neck is really hurting, i guess i should change my job but its not that easy.

I also came across something on the net that you shouldnt have botox injections ( which i have for my migraines caused by my neck) if your Hypo.

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated

Thanks

Dotti

[CarolineC57]

Hi Dotti - I'm afraid I can't answer your questions, but I'll watch this thread with interest if you don't mind. I was diagnosed with cervical spondylosis a month or so back too. However, I've also just been diagnosed with calcific tendonitis in my shoulders and, since my neck and shoulder pain and stiffness seem to be connected, I'm not sure now if the CS diagnosis (which was only done by a physio attached to my doctor's surgery) was wrong.

Anyway, it'll be interesting to see what other people say in response to your questions.

[dotti in reply to CarolineC57]

Sorry to hear that you have CS too, its driving me barmy at the moment it took the Consultant 2yrs to figure out that it was my neck causing the headaches

Dotti

[CarolineC57 in reply to dotti]

Yes, I've had constant headaches for ages too - I'd assumed it was due to my neck being stiff and painful. My problem is, I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia around 10 years ago - so if I go to the doctor with anything now they always blame it on the fibro. That diagnosis has been like a millstone dragging me down. So it's been really difficult to get any investigations for anything else. I was referred to a rheumatologist last year again after pushing for it - but all she did was the 18-tender point test and reconfirmed the "fibro" diagnosis (even though the only "tender points" which hurt were the ones on my neck and shoulders).

[Tessica in reply to CarolineC57]

I can really relate to this. Once you have a diagnosis of fibromyslgia doctors tend to attribute all other problems to that. This makes you worry that they are overlooking the real cause especially when fibro has about 20 symptoms☹

[Treepie in reply to CarolineC57]

I have a stiff neck ,and some calcification in one shoulder but more tendon pain / aches in the other arm and shoulder.Both arms diagnosed by Physio as Impingement syndrome.

I believe calcification areas can be jetted out in an operation.

I have had ankylosing spondylitis for over 40 years which may be the cause of the neck stiffness.

[Hidden in reply to Treepie]

AS would also be the cause of the calcification in your shoulders, and would, I imagine, be without doubt, the cause of the neck pain.

I had calcification removed from 3 areas in the supraspinatus tendon, so yes, it absolutely can be removed - they can't take *all* of it, but they take most of it and they hope the small amount left over will be absorbed by your body.

[dotti]

I was wondering myself if its worth seeing a Rheumatologist, but if they are anything like the Endos then complete waste of time. Have they not offered you Botox treatment for your headaches.

I have to say at first i didnt think it did anything but i have seen an improvement in the headaches but no relieve from the neck pain

Dotti

[CarolineC57 in reply to dotti]

No, I didn't know you could get botox injections to help headaches. I'm afraid I've more or less given up on doctors - what ever symptom I went to them with I got the same answer "It's just your fibromyalgia". No investigations, no help. My hypo diagnosis isn't a NHS one - I had to go and see a private doctor and take tests privately for that.

The doc has started taking me more seriously now they've found these neck and shoulder problems. Now they can see it on an X-ray/ultrasound scan they believe me. The change in my GP's attitude when she saw those results was very pronounced! They're probably worried I'm going to sue them for medical negligence or something!

[Schenks]

This is scary - I only found out by accident (medical letter slip-up)that I have spondylosis. If I'd've known earlier I'd've protected my neck. I now have crippling shoulder pain and have asked to see a rheumatologist.

[CarolineC57 in reply to Schenks]

I hope you have better luck than I did with a rheumy, Schenks. Make sure they do X-rays - don't take no for an answer! I'm fuming it took them so long to take my complaints of pain seriously.

[Schenks in reply to CarolineC57]

Thanks, kid. Sorry about your cr*p experience.

[Hidden]

Yes, absolutely, once you have one autoimmune disease, you're more prone to getting others, and spondylosis and AS are autoimmune issues.

[dotti]

Thank you everyone for your replies, i will be asking for referral to rheumy

Let the battle begin again, am sure it will be like ploughing through mud with the so called experts.

Dotti