As if having a wonky hip and sciatica/lumbago wasn’t enough…
I’ve had chronic neck pain for years. Apparently this is because my neck is completely rigid and lacks the slight curve that necks normally have. I found this out about 12 years ago when I could barely move my neck and my left forearm very weirdly swelled up to almost double its size. Even after a whole whack of tests nobody could explain this, though the two things must have been connected because after a couple of months the neck pain subsided and my arm went back to normal.
Another weird thing I notice is that when I’m lying down on my back I sometimes can ‘hear/feel’ an odd sound/sensation where the neck joins the skull … kind of a bubbly feeling with the slightest ‘almost there’ sound similar to crumpling up a paper bag.
As I say, this has been going on for as long as I can remember. But since yesterday I’ve been getting dizzy whenever I lie down (and sometimes getting up from lying down). And not just a bit dizzy – I always thought the expression ‘the room was spinning’ was an exaggeration until now.
My GP is away on holiday – the one I saw yesterday says it’s a neck contraction and prescribed muscle relaxants for 3 weeks, which I’m not really keen on taking. He also gave me a prescription for some ‘anti-dizzy’ pills (no idea what those are …). I dunno, I think I’ll just wait until next week when Agustín is back and get his opinion, because the dizziness is quite worrying.
Meanwhile, just wondering if anyone has had anything similar and what sort of treatment worked for you.
~ neck pain pic from Damon Tommolino ~
casa azahar 
So sorry to hear about your neck pain and dizziness, but yes, I would avoid the pills as much as possible too – they’re only masking symptoms which are trying to tell you something is wrong.
I haven’t had neck pain, but I get bad lower back pains – it sort of clenches and spasms making it impossible to straighten up – and a succession of ‘proper’ doctors have done nothing except prescribe pain killers. But I have found that a chiropractor was able to diagnose exactly what the problem was, and that yoga has REALLY helped, amazingly.
I hope you soon feel better.
LikeLike
That sounds bad!
I haven’t (nor do I know anyone who has) had anything that sounds in the same league.
But – at risk of sounding like an advert – the guy who does the “Treat Your own Back” book that I have recommended, does a “Treat Your own Neck”. My good lady bought that as she was suffering from a recurring stiff neck, and it seems to have helped her.
LikeLike
Hola Az, my sister suffers from neck pain and sometimes dizziness. After a lot of medical visits and useless pills, she went to a traumatólogo (dont know the word in English) and he discovered that she has a leg longer than the other. From child, she also has a “s” in her spine. She does everyday a set of exercises recommended by a physiotherapist, who also gives her massages, she takes carbonato de magnesio (you can buy it in any herbolario, I use the one from Santiveri)Carbonato de magnesio has many functions, one is to make the muscles get relaxed. Most women take it to fix the calcium in the bones to avoid osteoporosis ( important if you are above the 40´s) It can loose your intestines, so if you are “easy-going” take it at night.
She is going to wear an orthopedia too.
About yoga: It´s excellent, I do practice it, but I think it´s advisable to check that your spine has no problems, and in any case, ask a specialist.
Anyway, a massage is always wellcome… give you a treat, Blanca Flor.
María
LikeLike
Hi Johnny – yes, still have to get the back book, might now go for the neck one as well…
Hi Mariangus – nice to see you here and welcome. Thing is, just about everyone has one leg longer than the other (that’s how chiropractor’s get their victims – by making this seem like something ‘unusual’ that only they can ‘treat’). Guess it’s obvious that I don’t have much faith in chiropractors – quite the opposite, due to previous crap personal experiences with them.
I honestly wish I could afford a proper therapeutic massage once a week, but for now I can’t.
You know, nobody has ever explained why my neck is totally rigid and not curved.
LikeLike
Hi truce – yeah, I have no intention of taking the prescribed drugs … I think this doctor was just being lazy and didn’t know his arse from his elbow.
LikeLike
hi Az,
I´ve been talking with my sister-in-law(the normal one) she´s nurse and sometimes suffers from neck pain. She has told me something like this: the vertebrae arteries located in the nape are responsibles of the irrigation of all elements that work in the equilibrium system. If the muscles of this area are rigid, contracted,they also contract the arteries. The symtoms are dizziness, buzzing in the ears and some visual and hearing disorders. All this produces stress that affects even more to that muscles. Most of the times is stress the source of the tension. the solution: get relaxed.
About massage: your husband can do it. Use lavender and rosemay essential oil ( Casa Soria´s are quite good) Do it, it works.
I volunteer myself, I´m good at that, but…Madrid is a bit far from your home.
maria
LikeLike
Oh, Nog is very willing to give me neck and shoulder massages. Thing is, for the last 25 years or so my neck and shoulders have always felt like they were caught in a vice grip … it’s not easy for me to relax that part of my body because it always hurts. I guess that’s why I don’t notice when there is a serious problem – until it gets really serious.
But I’ll be doing the yoga stretches … hope they help.
LikeLike
To get relax you have to start with your thoughts. Thoughts produce feelings, mental states that influence directly on the body. (it´s not hippy jargon, any neurobiologist can tell it)
If I were your doctor I´d recommend:
– a vistit to the herbolario to buy Carbonato de Magnesio and essential oils of rosemary, lavender and azahar (put a few drops on your pillow)
– to buy yeast of beer in pills ( in farmacias is too expensive, buy it in mercadona or any other place)
-relax. Do not worry too much.
You´ve got a husband willing to do massages!!! (therapeutical I mean) Girl, you´re fortunate!!!
LikeLike
Yeah, I’m pretty lucky in that respect – Nog is always there for me.
I’m wondering now if the dizziness and accompanying nausea might be due to a sinus or ear canal problem, possibly a slight infection since I’ve had a sty on my left eyelid for the past week and I’m feeling pressure in my left sinus area. The GP said there was no connection and it was my neck, but I’m not very confident about his diagnostic abilities.
Guess I’ll have to wait until Monday to find out what’s really wrong (at least I’m hoping Agustín will be back then!).
LikeLike
The sty is produced by skin bacterias. It´s like acné, but in the eye.
The sinus pressure ( I suffer from that) is treated with nasal showers, that´s what works. Buy a big bottle of suero fisiológico, a syringe and a needle (the already-made like Rynomer are TOO expensive)in a farmacia.
The nausea? Your doctor will know how to “read” properly those symtoms. I feel silly about my previous post,obviously “thoughts” are not going to cure you, but getting relaxed help a lot.
Enjoy the weekend
In case you give credit to this charlatan : the drops in the pillow are with lavender or azahar. Lavender and rosemay for massages.
take care
LikeLike
I quite agree with you that your thoughts can affect your health – check this out…
10 Ways To Improve Your Life
And I’ll try the azahar oil on the pillow (can’t stand lavender). I know that azahar has natural tranquilising properties. My favourite essential oils are from Neal’s Yard and they are very expensive. The neroli (azahar) oil shown on this Neal’s Yard page is not only in a tiny bottle (about 4 cm high, not including the cap) but 2.5 ml only fills about 1/4 of it.
As it turns out (I just went to check) I still have a bit left from a bottle I bought a few years ago in London. I wonder if essential oils lose their properties if they are kept for too long.
LikeLike
I attended a course for teachers named School Health, one of the modules was about aromatherapy. The woman who taught to us said that they lasted about 3 years, if well kept (tight cap and no light)However, I went to an arabic perfumist in Granada, he put a tiny drop of a mixture of essenses of 20 years old. He told me that some essences are like some cognacs,the older the better. I can tell you it lasted three days on my skin!! Delicious.
Open your bottle and if the smell is agradable to you, use it. Azahar is not oily, and any oil tends to get deteriorated, rancio. It probably smells nice.
If you decide to have the massages, mix some drops of the essence with almond, sesame oil or vaselina, it´ll last more. Rosemary is the most used for muscle pain.
LikeLike