Hi All,

I was doing really well on the neck pain front until I had to write a long document for someone at the university last week. Two days of keyboard PC work and my neck threw a massive tantrum again. Hasn't been this rotten for months. I think it's happening 1) because of labyrinthitis and 2) because I'm a two-fingered typer who has to look down at the keyboard while typing (never had it before lab though). Apparently that's just asking for neck problems. Guess these neck muscles just can't cope with supporting my wobbly head. Anyway, I was just wondering if you guys still get/ still have neck pain with the inner ear junk? Has it resolved in anyone out there yet (besides Subs...I know he's fine with it now).

Thanks....Scott

Hi Scott,

I have had neck problems even before the dizziness and its hard to know whether the neck is the cause of the dizziness - I havnt had a diagnosis in the 6 years I have had the dizzness but have had different opinions off different docs. Ive been doing a desk job for 18 years until being off sick with this dizziness for the past 4 months when it got much worse.

A physio I saw said she thought it was the SCM muscles in the front of my neck and that was why the dizziness was much worse when looking down, but nothing seems to help. I know sometimes it feels like my neck is too weak to hold my head up. I feel much better when I am laid down. The dizziness is better then too. Do you feel better laid down?

Chris

Hi Em,

I've got a moulded pillow too but can't say it's done much to help me out. Just amazes me how some of my friends can sit at a PC ALL day for weeks on end and experience zero problems....and then I do it for a day and can barely see from the eye pain neck pressure it generates. I know labs has contributed to this a lot (or entirely) for most of us - there's no question there. It makes perfect sense that the neck muscles are probably exhausted from the dizziness but I wonder if other things come into play as well? I read somewhere that the whole idea of neck and back pain being a truly "mechanical" problem is just not true in 95% of cases. Instead, your brain/body sets it up for you as a reaction to life stress or anger (that everyone has to some degree) as a distraction to the emotional problem by reducing blood flow to those particular muscle groups through the autonomic nervous system (just like it can make you blush in an instant) and creates pain for you to obsess about instead of dealing with the emotional problem. In other words, it doesn't matter how much physio, osteo or chiro you get, it just ends up being a temporary fix because the low-level ischemia is always there when you go back to the PC or whatever the task is that creates the pain. I found this very interesting because I have spoken to a lot of people with chronic niggling little pains (or big ones) and almost all of them had some big stressful event occur....or they started having relationship problems...or whatever.

Chris - yup lying down always sorts out my neck. It usually feels OK in the morning and then goes downhill at the PC or extended periods of looking down.

Scott

....maybe....could have been the pressure to finish the PHD that kicked it off...don't know....because apart from that I have always been very laid back and stress free...boy did that ever do a 180 after getting lab! BTW, the doctor proposing these theories said it wasn't simply related to just neck and back pain but to a whole host of common ailments such as reflux, fibromyalgia, and chronic bladder issues believe it or not! The human body certainly is a complex piece of work. Not nice when it doesn't choose to function correctly or gets nailed with a nasty virus..

S xxx

Hi Scott, Littlemiss, and all,

Hope all is well with the Board.

Just jumping in about the neck pain.

I have neck pain on some level every day because of how I hold myself and my head. I think also, how I sleep adds a lot to this (I have my head elevated on pillows or blankets).

One of the best things that I did for myself to help alleviate this was go to a chiropractor a few years ago. I HATE having my neck manipulated in any way; I am even "on guard" when having my neck rubbed because the rubbing sensation can provoke a feeling of dizziness for me. However, there was a time when my neck was so tight and sore that it was adding to my headaches and woozy symptoms, and impacting my sleep. I went to a chiro who specialized in disequilibrium disorders - I was going for THAT, but as part of treatment, he stated that he needed to loosen my neck - as well as break up the calcification that occurred normally in that area, but that wasn't breaking up because I was limiting my neck/head motion. He really "cracked" me hard, every time I went, and that was 2-3 times per week for a few months. But after the first week of that, my awful neck pain dissipated. I stopped going after a few months, but those weekly manipulations left my neck area limber enough that I am still able to continue to bend my neck and I continue to stretch my neck muscles daily. I am able to break the calcifications by myself simply by turning my neck in a slight position that allows it to "pop". This greatly alleviates tightness for me.

Another chiro showed me two exercises that I can do any time, to keep the muscles in the neck and shoulder area loose and to increase the blood flow to those muscles - poor blood flow can result in stiff muscles too.

I have tried all kinds of support pillows, etc for my neck, but I have found during the really bad neck aches, what works the best for me in the past has been rolling a small towel under my neck for support at bed time. Prior to that, I will take an aspirin for muscle inflammation, get a rub on my neck and shoulders with something that heats up (like Ben Gay), and apply a heating pad to loosen things up and increase blood flow to the surface.

Hope this helps out. xo

Geez Wow,
That's a real production you got going there! ;-) I hope you can find something in medical or therapy treatments that will allow you to sleep easily again. I know that was one of the worst parts for me. I would be exhausted from dealing with my symptom all day long only to NOT be able to get comfortable enough to sleep at night.

Hugs

Hey RockingSeas,

Sadly, it IS a production, and too bad that it is this way for me! Bed time is frustrating for me because of how long it takes me to find a comfy position for my head and body. I used to love bed time so much! Just flop down and go to sleep! But now I have considerations....

I am going to try a course of Vestibular Rehab soon (yikes!) and then top that off with going back in a low dose of the Amitriptyline. The Ami really helped me sleep well - I mean, WELL. So, we'll see.

I used to be a very heavy sleeper, and over the years (prior to symptoms), I found myself waking to every little noise. And now, I also sleep light just because of my symptoms. Now we've got a little creak in the house that happens to be on my side of the house, so I'm trying to adjust to THAT. Ha ha.

Hey, it's always something. xo

Wow,
Have you seen the movie DareDevil with Ben Affleck(sp?)? He sleeps in this sealed chamber filled with fluid to block out all external sounds and vibrations. Maybe they need to make something like that for those of us who have trouble sleeping. I think he also took 2 Vicadin a night to sleep! ;-)

I considerd buying one of those vibrating beds they have in motels just to mask all of my symtoms. Do that rehab and take the Ami. Good luck.

Hugs.

{{shuddering here}}

Since I now have some mild claustrophobia associated with my symptoms, there is just no way I can see myself lying down in a sealed chamber filled with fluid. There are THREE things already wrong with that sentence!

Lying Down
Can I bring pillows?

Sealed Chamber
I have trouble being comfortable in a Ladies Room stall, let alone being sealed in anywhere.

Filled with Fluid
I am already in motion. I think even gentle rocking or floating would be nasty.

I had an uncle who had similar symptoms that we all experience. He stated that the only time he ever felt "normal" was on a boat. That's the only time his symptoms didn't bother him. So maybe you DO have something there about the vibrating bed....

Go ahead, try it and let us know. ;)

xo

Did your uncle ever get better?

No, his symptoms persisted until his death. But he had symptoms for years, and I never knew about them until recently, as I've been investigating my symptoms more. He was a pretty great guy!

No, his symptoms persisted until his death. But he had symptoms for years, and I never knew about them until recently, as I've been investigating my symptoms more. He was a pretty great guy!

Wow,
I hate hearing about that. I hope that's not our path.

Hi Scott, Julie & Everyone Else !!!!!

Went to see my surgeon on Wednesday and he said that all the dizzyness that I am experiencing post-operative is normal. I can feel it has been slowing down, but at a very slow rate. Just wanna get back to work and have a normal life again. Have any of you looked at the website I recommended ?? If you did, I hope it all helps. There's sooooooo many prople out there suffering from this wretched problem.

Keep you all posted.
Good Luck !!!!
Bru