4 replies to this topic

[hannibal]

So recently, I been having some neck pain. When I stand up and use a walker sometimes pain will shoot down my left arm. This seems to come and go. I do have a syrinx up in my neck along with a little hardware in t2. Iam getting a mylogram done, but just looking for some advice.

[A trophy guy]

hannibal, on 07 January 2012 - 12:45 AM, said:

So recently, I been having some neck pain. When I stand up and use a walker sometimes pain will shoot down my left arm. This seems to come and go. I do have a syrinx up in my neck along with a little hardware in t2. Iam getting a mylogram done, but just looking for some advice.

Hi, I've been dealing with chronic, pretty severe neck pain primarily running down the left side of my upper neck, all the way down into my trapezius muscles, ever since I trained for and competed in a 10-mile wheelchair race back in 2004. Due to the physical positioning required when one is situated in a racing chair (leaning very far forward, over your legs, with your head tilted sharply up), combined with the strenuous exertion required to race for 10 miles, I ended up doing something to my neck (strangely only on the left side) that to this day still hounds me.

It's not bad every single day, it's more like little random things will tweak it and make it bad. But when it's bad, it's bad. I can't turn my head, or lean it down, much less sleep or function at a high level. I have found that massages, professional massages, really help. This and good ole ice and heat.

That being said; I'd like some good tips myself. Because I've been suffering for years too and the things I turn to for relief are by no means a "silver bullet". As I type this, I feel the left half of my neck slightly throbbing. Ugh. Solidarity my brother.

[wheeliebear75]

I won't bother telling you to make sure you get your Dr. to scan for trouble since you're already doing it.

I get pain and stiffness in my neck & upper back...sure I broke L2 but those other dislocations do come back to bite me in the arse from time to time...DAMN THAT HURTS!

I've found that heating pads are my FRIENDS! If you haven't tried it yet it might be worth a shot. ALSO...my mom found this ointment to rub on sore achy muscles; it's no MAGIC CURE, but it works better than "ICY HOT" & hardly has any smell to it at all.

"Topricin"
(Mom has to find EXACTLY WHERE on the web she got it from, but I have to wait til when she gets home.)

[hannibal]

Thanks, yea Ill prob have to break out the heating pads and ice packs soon. Just hope its not that damn syrinx but thanks for the advice.

[physiotherapist]

I'm not able to give you any specific advice as I've not examined you but if it's not your syrinx it would be worth looking at your general posture and also your daily activities - e.g. are you moving awkwardly that side or using your left side more than you right? are you sitting to do something for prolonged periods with bad posture? Are you weak in your trunk so when you stand to walk you compensate/fix with your head/neck and more so on the left side than the right for some reason? etc.

It would be worth you seeing a physical therapist to look at those sorts of things.