Stiff neck for 4 weeks??!!??!!

[Ljbrow]

I am a 40 year old, otherwise healthy, woman.  4 weeks ago today, I woke up with a stiff neck and I have had it ever since.  There are some mornings that my neck hurts so bad that my husband has to sit me up in bed.  The pain makes me scream out and it feels like I have been beaten with a metal bat.  The epicenter is the base of my skull, just to the right of the hollow.  I have the stiff neck all day long but it is much worse in the mornings.  It feels like the sensitivity often associated with a flu--it feels like my glands are swollen and sore.  I know it may be partly muscular but I don't feel that this is the underlying cause of it.  What's strange is that the day before I came down with this, I was visiting my friend whose husband was away on business.  Come to find out, her husband suffers from the exact same symptoms and has had them for 5 1/2 weeks now!  He has been seen by his M.D., been to P.T., massage therapy and even tried accupuncture-he is on pain killers.  I have been to my M.D. and my bloodwork, including Lyme, was neg. I am trying P.T. but without results.  Several people I know, including family and co-workers have had stiff necks but none have lasted as long as mine or the other person I mentioned.  Could this possibly be a strange virus that has settled into my neck??  I am SO sick of people asking me how old my mattress is or telling me I simply need a new pillow!  I feel it is too much of a coincidence that I have the same exact symptoms as my friend's husband and I was in his house the day before coming down with this. I am at my wits end! Any clues

[virginia412]

Hi, my boyfriend has been suffering from a stiff neck for almost 10 months now. He is 22 this year. He's seen a neurologist who told him that it is a pinched nerve on the C6 and C5 channels. X-ray results were perfectly normal and hence he was given a painkiller. The pain killer didn't work at all so he approached a physiotherapist. For the past 10 months he's been going for physiotherapy every three weeks but the problem has persisted. We are not sure whether continuing with the physiotherapy would help. Is it normal that for problem like this, such a long period of time is necessary in some cases for the therapy to take effect? Could anyone advise me on this? I really hope that this problem would go away soon because he has been suffering constant discomfort in his neck and shoulder area, numb arms. It has been particularly distressful because he tires easily and haven't been able to sleep at ease.

[darlingdivatx]

It could be so many things...it may just be coincidence about your friend's husband. Or maybe it is related. I've had undx neuro problems for years. No stiff neck though. In the beginning my problems started as pain in low back, being so young I didn't know anybetter when a relative told me to go to a chiro. They made me worse. And it's not because I went to a bad one. I've been to several chiros, many very good ones. After all I've learned about the body and medicine, I would strongly advise against it. A chiro may very well give you temporary relief, but that's all it will be. Keep on with the docs. A stiff neck is usually a sign of a neuro problem. Even if this doc can't figure it out, another might. I have learned that there is so much that the field of neurology knows about, and even more it doesn't. You just have to keep trying until you find an answer.

For the record, viral men. is a valid possibility, but I think unlikely given that pain is your only symptom. Lyme is a real possiblity even if you test negative. It's so true that the diagnostic test for lyme is useless as someone else mentioned. Unless you start having more symptoms, I bet it's not lyme either.

Because of your friend's hubby, it's possible that you were exposed to something there. I'm not thinking so much viral. More toxin. Like had they had the house exterminated or treated for anything in which chemicals were used? Even at that it's unlikely. Again I would expect to see other symptoms if it were viral or a toxin.

My best guess...it's neuro. Something in your brain or spine. Tumor or a chiari as mentioned above, or a disc issue.  Also, low potassium or calcium can cause cramping. It's possible it's muscular in nature, in which case taking calcium and magnesium might help.

I'm sorry your in such pain. I wish you the best. Keep us posted.

[Manerva101]

Any suggestions? I've had a really severe stiff neck for almost 2 mths now. It started out so bad I actually screamed out when I moved a certain way. It's now just really stiff and painful. I also got a sore stiff wrist around the same time. Just a few days ago I started to get ear aches as it feels like my neck is pulling my skull down.

Oddly enough I quit smoking 3 mths ago and stopped taking Zyban as an quiting smoking aid. I find the timing coincidences curious. Can anybody tell me what they think might help or what is happening?

Manerva 101

[Bobbi300]

Has anyone found answers to their questions about neck pain yet?
It's been about 4 weeks since I woke up one morning with a stiff neck, and like Ljbrow, it's worse in the morning.
I've been taking muscle relaxers, I've had deep tissue massage and I'm using A535. Nothing is working. Nothing's even making it feel a little bit better. I do have a headache with it but I think that may be be a reaction to all of the painkillers in my system.
No other symptoms.

[Bobbi300]

Has anyone found answers to their questions about neck pain yet?
It's been about 4 weeks since I woke up one morning with a stiff neck, and like Ljbrow, it's worse in the morning.
I've been taking muscle relaxers, I've had deep tissue massage and I'm using A535. Nothing is working. Nothing's even making it feel a little bit better. I do have a headache with it but I think that may be be a reaction to all of the painkillers in my system.
No other symptoms.

[hannu]

By the way, could it be from the sinusis? Do you have a running nose, do you feel pain in your head?

Hannu