neckpain/pressure

[sinudawn]

I was diagnosed with MS in Aug 09 and have been on copaxone since Nov. after trying Rebif with bad side affects.-Lately I have been having bad neck pain?pressure. Almost feels like my head weighs too much for my to hold up.  Spoke with my neurologist who said it's not MS but then spoke with my primary MD and went to the ER. BOth other physicians believe this is caused by MS. I did have an MRI of brain and c-spine on Friday. Just wondering if anyone else has these problems.  I've only had one MRI of the spine when I was first diagnosed for a baseline-have had 3 of the brain r/t increased weakness and other issues. Multiple lesions on the brain that have gotten larger oand more in quanatity. Had no spinal lesions with initial MRI,   Any one with ideas for me- Thanks Dawn

[sinudawn]

Thanks so much for responses.  MRI showed no new lesions although I have a spur at c4c5.  Atleast I know my meds are working. Tried high dose steroids twice and thought my skine would fall off it hurt so bad.  I guess I will just deal with relapses with a smile and the truth that it really could be worse. I'm a critical nurse so every day I'm on this side of the bed is a good day.

[Ginosmommy]

I know I had a cervical spine MRI and it showed I had arthritis, this was way before I was I was diagnosed with MS. I was due to have steroid injections in my neck done but I never got around to it.

When I did get diagnosed with MS and I had the steroid infusions done for the my ON - WOW was I in heaven! All my stiffness and discomfort from the arthritis was gone!
They claim the arthritis is not that bad and is not pinching any nerves but my muscles in my neck feel like a rock it is so tight. I might still go in for that pain managment injection yet!

[sinudawn]

Thanks for the comments. I am waiting for the MRI results and hopefully will get some answers. This is a frustrating disease with no true answers since everyone is so different. Hoopefully it is just a muscle problem and not MS. Thanks again

[Lulu54]

Hi Dawn,  Welcome to the forum here.  I hope you will find lots of reasons to stick around here. This is a very smart, compassionate community that has a lot to share.

Sometimes I feel like my neck just can't hold my head up anymore, but I'm not so sure that my feelings are due to the MS.  

It is hard to ignore that two out of three doctors think this is your MS, but this is such a complicated disease to understand that I would lean toward what your MS specialist thinks.  

Hopefully you don't have to wait long to see the results from your latest MRIs and perhaps there will be something that can be done or taken that will help your discomfort.

Welcome again and I hope to see you around.

Lulu

[HVAC]

I have a lot of muscle tightness in my neck do to MS. I do stretches to help. Sometimes it is so bad I just have to take pain killers under a Doctors supervision of course.

Alex