Can you have pain in your skull and neck with RA?

hi angie!

i'm raising my hand! i do! i do!  i'm suffering with neck pain right now as i type this (3rd day so far).  and i've also had the pain at the base of my skull, and if you read one of my earlier posts....inside my ear in those little tiny bones in your inner ear, although i'm still trying to figure out if i should even be getting that.  i could use a massage right now.  my neck sounds like i have the Rice Krispies guys held hostage in there!!  it's snap, crackle and pop for the last 3 days...*sigh*... have a good day! desiree

HI Angie,

Absolutely!  My neck and the base of my skull were one of the primary areas affected by RA, and were the reason I was referred to physical therapy.  Once my meds (I am on enbrel and plaquenil) kicked in, it lessened some, and the PT really helped me, not only in relieving tension and pain, but my physical therapist taught me some good exercises to do to loosen the knots all the inflammation was causing and build strength so that there was less pressure/stress on those tiny little neck joints in the cervical spine.

I also used a heating pad on my neck when it would flare up.  You could try this, though for some people, heat irritates the inflammation. For others like me, it helped quite a bit.

Ask your rheumatologist if they can refer you to a good physical therapist trained in working with people with RA, or go get a massage-that helped me quite a bit, too!

Good luck,

Sara

I have neck pain, I went to therapy and the DR. told me to use 2 dish towels or 1 thick  one and roll it up and I put a rubber band on each end & boy did it make a difference. It supports my neck. Whatever you do don't ever get your neck fused, you won't be able to move it. I went to Mayo clinic and the DR. said no, there are other alternatives. I've had my 3 toes fused. It did help with the paid but I can't move them & it sucks when you need to wear shoes.

I hope this helps, try the towel thing and let me know. srustin1@hotmail.com

Oh yes! I am having a terrible problem with just that. My neck was x-rayed and my upper vertebrae are so damaged that they are pressing or near pressing on my spinal cord. Extreme pain, swelling and the inability to hold my head up. I use a cervical collar some days just to give my neck some support. Remember RA affects not just to joints but the organs, eyes, skin, spine, tendons, muscles and everything in the whole body.

I also wanted to say something else. I use a travel pillow. The kind that is in a cresent shape and sit on a chair with a high back. The travel pillow supports my neck very well.  They wanted to do the surgery on me too but I refused. Don't have medical insurance so I can't afford a pain killer much less surgery. In Germany-they actually have replacement vertebrae. They have done this procedure for years now with great success. The vertebrae are made of metal and other components. They move and everything.

I would just like to know what are the possibilities of it being associated with arthritis , and or what other possible thing can cause such similar pains . Thank you