Today I awoke with pain that began yesterday and it was worse when I tried to move so even though I did make it to the living room when I could not get comfortable in my recliner I painfully returned to bed with additional pillows to support my left arm due to the neck and shoulder pain emanating from that side. You see, besides my MS, Multiple Sclerosis I have cervical stenosis plus seven other types of arthritic conditions out of the one hundred that do exist and that cervical stenosis can at times also cause those chronic headaches that keep me awake at night.
Moist heat was tried and Tylenol which makes me sleepy, so after my care giving Hubby served me breakfast in bed I fell back to sleep until noon!
Again he served me lunch, but after my warmish shower I was able to sit at the table. Although, my neck and shoulder seems to feel worse before the extra strength Tylenol is due again, only every six hours, but one must remember I am also on Gabapentin/Neurontin an anti spasmodic pain medication as well as Baclofen an additional antispasmodic and muscle relaxer.
So pain has to be real bad for me to notice it, ya know? The next step neuro/ortho approved is my cervical collar which I did find helped considerably. I only took it off to write tonight, but it is the soft type and so if need be I can even sleep in it.
I do take it off to prevent my neck muscles from becoming lazy. I have been wearing one on and off since the car accident I was in as a thirteen year old and was diagnosed with true whiplash! I was a passenger in my friend's aunt's car that was T-boned on my side on our way out of a parking lot. I missed two months of school that year. I believe that is when this all started over fifty years ago, on and off all these years it sneaks up on me when I least expect or want it.
Dinner was Chinese take out! Hubby needed a break, ya know.
"Cervical stenosis refers to when the spinal cord in the neck is
compressed as a result of degenerative changes that occur with aging. In
many cases, spinal stenosis
of the cervical spine is asymptomatic, meaning that the condition is
present but there are no noticeable symptoms, thus resulting in the
patient simply being observed. In other situations, cervical spinal
stenosis may produce symptoms like intermittent, shooting pains in the
arms and legs, an inability to walk at a brisk pace, deterioration in
fine motor skills, referred arm pain and/or a heavy feeling in the legs.
When progressive spinal cord dysfunction is present (described as
cervical stenosis with myelopathy), a surgical opinion is typically
warranted."
Thanks to: http://www.spine-health.com/glossary/cervical-stenosis
Thanks to: http://www.spine-health.com/glossary/cervical-stenosis
cervicogenic headache
"A headache that begins in the superior segments of the cervical spine and radiates to one side of the neck, forehead, and/or shoulder. It typically is worsened by movements or postures of the head or neck, or by pressure applied directly to the neck. It may be relieved by massage, manipulation, or occipital nerve blocks."
Thanks to:
On this note of it always gets worse before it gets better mentality, allow me to be the very first to wish all of you a very happy healthy safe good night and to kindly ask you all to count all your blessings and share all those overages with you know whom and we will too!
And next time please be here or be square, ya hear!
Ouch, and now if you don't mind I am putting my cervical collar back on, good night all! Actually Hubby even has to help me with that process.