Hi i hurt my back at work a year ok from lifting things that were too heavyfor me. I got repetitive strain injury and the muscles in my neck became inflamed. i had 12 sessions of Physio on the NHS. My neck felf fine as long as i do no excercise or lifting. as soon as i began doing excercise again i ened up back at square one with the neck pain,dizzyness,headaches earaches. I have had 3 sessions with an ostoepath he said that my back was completedl locked. He cracked my back nexk and hips and although i did feel the relief i am now back to square one again. If i walk more than a few miles or try and do any excercise i get all the horrible symtoms back. i have put on half a stone in 4 months and i cant do any excercise at all so that is adding to my misery. I have no idea what is wrong with my back or what to do about it. I am contemplating doing yoga but i have no idea if that would be good for me or make the symptoms worse. Any advice would be much appreciated thank you x
Hi
Sorry to hear about your back/neck troubles. With neck troubles, especially where there are headaches / dizzyness, I think its important to see your GP and either get a referral for a neck MRI scan, or a referral to a Physiotherapist , who can test neck movements to determine problem. Osteos don't diagnose conditions, they just treat whatever is presented, and may not be able to define the problem exactly. You won't be able to judge the best way forward until you know exactly what's happening with your neck.
Good luck
Thanks Gerry I have been to my Gp about my neck he referred me for Physio i had about 12 sessions but that didnt solve the problem at all.
Hi Anne.
Understood. I've been through that process myself, a few times. But it wasn't until I had an MRI that the problem was identified exactly, and that opened the door to a Neuro assessment. There tends to be a reluctance to process it up the ladder if they think they can maybe deal with it at a simpler level.....but if the PT sessions don't work, they are obliged to investigate further. An MRI scan is the logical step, and probably the only way for developing a clear definition of the problem. There is a possibility that your neck issues are chronic issues which can't be easily resolved, but you may be able to manage them ...if you know the 'cause'. Headaches and dizzyness would seem to indicate possible cervical spondylosis, but you really need the diagnostic definition before you know how best to deal with it. It's ok to ask your GP or PT for a referral for MRI scan to help identify the problem first, before considering treatments.
Hi Gerry
Thanks for your help. i will go back to the doctor and start from the beginning once again. Its great to get support from people like yourself thanks again x
Hi Anne,
I also have bad neck issues and had an mri done which showed a disc bulging into the spinal column but no compression of the cord so I was told its normal for my age which was 29 at the time. I did physio with no relief. My neck is still very bad with all the things you mention such as ear problems, dizziness, headaches, eye blurriness on left side as well as intermittent facial numbness and burning and a whole host of other problems. For me osteopath made things worse overall. Also like u exercises even the physio type make my neck seize up.
You could try yoga, it's actually enjoyable if u can do it but don't push yourself to far, if it hurts stop. you also have acupuncture as a treatment choice as well as cervical facet injections, epidural injections, prolotherapy (if it's a disc problem) and trigger point injection, Botox, massage. Although it's never helped me you can use heat and ice and there is the thing called the actipatch, £19.99 from boots or trial version is £2.99 just google it. I've used it, can't say it helped for certain as weather was good over the time I was using it and that sometimes helps my pain however I've now ordered the full months version. I bought a memory foam contour pillow for £19.99 which helped for a period of time and I had the cervical facet injections which for me didn't help but they help other people.
I would ask to be seen by a pain specialist and also for an X-ray and Mri scan. There is also lidocaine patches which need to be given by a pain clinic but I've read they are excellent. Will be asking for them at my next appointment as my gp said he couldn't just prescribe them.
There are treatment options which will probably work for you, I'm still waiting to find my magic thing regarding my neck but a lot of others get relief from things mentioned above. There is also pills such as pregablin, gabapentin etc but personally I don't get on with them, again many do.
Good luck
Hi Anne
Happy to assist, and hope it goes well. I think it helps to be prepared with the difficult questions before presenting to the professionals.
Hi Anne,
I've been experiencing shoulder and neck pain since October/November 2013
I went to an osteopath and my doctor told me manipulation is not good
I've had 3 sessions of low level laser therapy then a deep tissue massage and I am now pain free (December 2014 was taking up to 4000mg paracetamon a day)
I'm now in your situation were if i do any neck stretches my pain comes back, I'm seeing a shoulder consultant soon
I would seriously suggest Low Level Laser Therapy for pain relief, I tried everything else and this therapy was the only one that works
hope this helps
John
Hi John,
Can you tell me a bit more about this therapy? Is this an at home treatment or in a Dr office, also is this the same as ultrasound therapy?
thanks
Hi Charlotte,
I believe Low Level Laser therapy for pain relief started with regard to race horses
its not ultrasound, its cold laser treatment
it regenerates the dead cells, dead cells give you pain apparently.
its not via a doctor or hospital (I'm in the UK)
Googled Low Level Laser Therapy for pain relife and you should find a center doing it.
I was recommended by my father who had neuralgia nerve issues with his arm and it sorted the pain out
my mother and aunty had frozen shoulders and it sorted that out too.
my issues started from a dislicated rib, 1 year later my rib stayed in place but I can only discribe it as a large circle of pain (top of back, shoulder and neck) and 8 months of pysio later, I was at my wits end and prepared to try anything
This treatment has changed my life, I now sleep 8hours without waking up once !!!
if you need anything else, please ask
John
Hi Charlotte
Thanks you for all the amazing information. i did have acupunture with the NHS Physiotherapist i found it good in the beginning but after about 5 sessions i was given a differnt therapist and the acupunture she did on me was sometimes painful so im not quite convinced if she knew what she was doing at all.Im going to the doctor this week so im going to push for a referral, Thanks so much x
Thanks John I will definitely look into the laser therapy i have never heard of it before. I think the osteopath has made my pain worse not better. It is so frustrating but i will keep trying till i get to the bottom of it.
Ooh I will definitely look into that, I'm in UK also so hopefully can find someone nearby, I'm pleased it helped you. Much better than all the anticonvulsants they want to give which although help a lot of people I have never got on with. My neck pain goes into my face arms and shoulders as well as my throat which on bad days constantly burns, aches etc plus my ribs and back, my muscles seem to tighten in response to stretching or rubbing them which is odd as most people a massage helps them loosen up.
Race horses seem to get the newest and most thorough medical treatments!!
Thanks for the info
Hi
I'm not familiar with Low Level Laser Therapy, but as far as I know, it is not a 'recommended' treatment. I would be concerned about any debilitating effect it might have on surrounding tissue/muscle. Are there any long-term studies of its possible effects on humans ? There's a world of difference between testing on racehorses and testing on patients. Promoting a non-accredited invasive treatment which may not be licensed is something which requires scrutiny. I'd advise caution !
Hi Gerry,
I found the below but its not really a LONG term study, i dont know how it works to be able to comment on potential damage however upon searching for someone in my area that does it for pain i found there seems to be lots and lots of people using it or similar for cosmetic purposes. I dont know how they differ.
Abstract
BACKGROUND:
Neck pain is a common and costly condition for which pharmacological management has limited evidence of efficacy and side-effects. Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) is a relatively uncommon, non-invasive treatment for neck pain, in which non-thermal laser irradiation is applied to sites of pain. We did a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials to assess the efficacy of LLLT in neck pain.
METHODS:
We searched computerised databases comparing efficacy of LLLT using any wavelength with placebo or with active control in acute or chronic neck pain. Effect size for the primary outcome, pain intensity, was defined as a pooled estimate of mean difference in change in mm on 100 mm visual analogue scale.
FINDINGS:
We identified 16 randomised controlled trials including a total of 820 patients. In acute neck pain, results of two trials showed a relative risk (RR) of 1.69 (95% CI 1.22-2.33) for pain improvement of LLLT versus placebo. Five trials of chronic neck pain reporting categorical data showed an RR for pain improvement of 4.05 (2.74-5.98) of LLLT. Patients in 11 trials reporting changes in visual analogue scale had pain intensity reduced by 19.86 mm (10.04-29.68). Seven trials provided follow-up data for 1-22 weeks after completion of treatment, with short-term pain relief persisting in the medium term with a reduction of 22.07 mm (17.42-26.72). Side-effects from LLLT were mild and not different from those of placebo.
INTERPRETATION:
We show that LLLT reduces pain immediately after treatment in acute neck pain and up to 22 weeks after completion of treatment in patients with chronic neck pain.
FUNDING:
None.
I went to a centre in Birkenhead (I'm from Liverpool) which has been established for 10 years. he does LLLT for pain and also cosmetics.
I got to a point were I felt everything was failing, osteopath made my condition worse, physio advised neck stretches, I did this for 8 months untill LLLT made me aware neck stretches hightened the pain, physio advised yoga and swimming, these also made me worse.
Also, LLLT has stopped my neck clicking/popping/grinding/crunching
when your in my situation, living with constant pain, getting no sleep, affecting your work life and personal life, you get to a point where you will try anything
LLLT worked for me
Im defenitely going to try it, I let them stick injections in my spine which has to be potentialy far more damaging that the laser therapy could be, the sound of a click free neck sounds amazing to me. If my necks clicking you can guaruntee that day im hurting, if i have a good day no clicking happens....they say its just gas in joints etc but i dont agree.
you may need more than one session
my first session in Jan 2015 (I travelled from Bristol to Liverpool) I was hoping for 50% relief, 2 days after I was 85% pain free, 4 days later I was 95% pain free, I didn't touch a pain killer for about 6 weeks, this sorted out most of my neck clicks, moving my head backwards and forwards I had no clicks but was still getting a bit if clicks moving from side to side.
unfortunatley the consultant didn't tell me 2 sessions in a week was required
I went back up in march had a session Monday and one on Friday
and within a week I had a deep tissue massage as the tension in my neck has disapeared
(I suggest you do the 2 session a week LLLT) and I now an pain free and no have to take pain killers
would be nice to know your thought once you've had this treatment Charlotte, good luck !!!
Not criticising anyone's choice to undergo any treatment they see as being fit. I consider myself entitled to try bungee jumping if I think it might help. However, just wondering why the Laser treatment, if it seems as good with outcomes as is suggested (and one testimonial doesn't prove anything unfortunately), why it hasn't been introduced into general practice. Surely something offering such claimed improvements would have been flagged up across the whole range of painful conditions. The cosmetic medical industry doesn't have a good reputation for informing patients of negative outcomes....and, for that matter, why is this treatment seemingly only available in the cosmetic clinics. I would contact an accredited 'pain clinic' for their opinion first. They must be aware of the laser treatment, and maybe have already decided on suitability, or not. I think it would be irresponsible to just assume it's ok based on hearsay....no offence. I understand that recommended therapies aren't up to scratch for neck issues, but I'm sure the laser method would have been assessed for suitability at some stage. Laser, by definition, has a burning effect, no matter how low the intensity, so it's worth considering long term negative possibilities before plunging in. And, by the way, any treatment not declaring it's own failures, is a suspect treatment. THere are always failures to risk consider.
hi Gerry
Just found this beloe
Slowly but surely……………………
There are many hospitals within the NHS that own Cold Laser machines; sadly many of them are not deployed because of lack of awareness and training. Only when a doctor has witnessed the power of the laser does he/she start to understand it’s potential.
The laser treatment represents a whole new way of treating patients, and at present the NHS model does not readily accommodate someone receiving a regular and perhaps hour long therapy from a doctor. However, there is progress as a result of the evidence – seeing is believing, and the UKITL is delighted to report the following:
Following in-depth training with Prof Gordon Farmer, a number of consultants have adopted laser therapy as part of their treatment of patients; the therapy is part of pioneering work at:
Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital – oncology dept
Northampton General Hospital – stroke and cardio unit
Leicester Royal Infirmary – oncology and stroke unit
Addenbrookes Hospital – oncology and neurology units
Plymouth Hospitals - oncology unit
We look forward to further adoption in oncology units and stroke units around the UK