Arthritis in neck causing noise in ear

Has your blood pressure been checked?

Hi, glad to hear you are pain free, that must feel wonderful, my GP just said to use heat pads and do some exercises which do not help.  If only we knew when we were  sitting in our typing pools how we would all end up. Take care

Sorry forget to mention, one minute blood pressure high, then ok, gp said I have white coat syndome as when they first check I am nervous. Will ask again next time I go.

Hi Loxie, I too had the exercises which did not work, I was told to put hot pads on my neck and shoulders as it was wear and tear and nothing they can do about it.  My shoulders are bad when touched as I have fybro, I think arthrtiis/fybro go together.  I have a slight hump on base of neck as if my head is being pushed forward and like you I have a really bad headache at base of skull, if I touch around that area it is really painful.  I cannot take ibuprofen so there is nothing medication wise I can take to help.  Physio was too painful as therapist said my muscles were rock hard and impossible to move.  Good to know you also had throbbing etc, as I do think it might be related.  My neck sounds like rice crispies when I move it, all cracky and horrible.  I will also ask my GP about throbbing when I go next week and let you know.

oh I recognise that 'rice crispies' sound you mention - very unnerving isnt it.  my blood pressure rises and falls like the tide - the nurse at my last appointment said not to worry as stress from the appointment was probably the cause.  I did get given a monitor to wear for 24hrs a couple of years ago and apparently my BP went from too low to too high and all points in between, my doc said it wasnt an issue.  I'm pretty sure after reading your post that the wear and tear we've suffered due to our work is the cause of these weird popping and crunching sounds and also the headaches.  18 months ago I saw a neurologist who said I had no neurological concerns, so at least I know it's not something nasty in the brain (what's left of it hehehe).  The rheumy said I dont have fibro but couldnt really give me a clue as to what else it could be.  I think you're correct that OA and fibro go hand in hand sometimes.  I hurt all over now, no just the places affected by OA but all of my muscles and even my skin hurts. Today I woke up and my hair hurts! how silly is that.

Hi Loxie, I know that feeling, when I brush my hair it hurts, that is fybro, I quite often feel like I have flu especially in the cold weather. Not sure if you are UK, but if so go to Wilko and get a lavender bag, they are about 15 inches long and you heat them in the microwave and put round neck, heaven.

Hi Young - yes I'm in the UK.  I have one of those seed filled bags, it's quite helpful.  I sympathise with the flu type symptoms, thats exactly what I told the rheumy - that it often feels like a very bad virus with painful muscles and skin plus chronic fatigue and also a sort of memory fog - she was still insistent it wasnt fibromyalgia and basically said take painkillers and that was it.  I'm tryingt to summon up the energy for another round of GP visits but they just want to prescribe painkillers too.  I cant take opiods (tramadol etc) as they make me sick and anti inflamms cause me really horrible stomach probs, as do paracetamol, so I only take them if I have to.  Pain meds dont help with the fatigue or the foggy brain though.

Hi, I was told I had fybro due to having a child at 40, I went into shock after caesarean and could not stop shaking and that is apparently one of the causes ie from a shock of some kind ie car accident etc or a really bad virus. There are several pain points that can tell if it is fybro, a couple of which are on shoulders and elbows and knees, all of which are agony if someone presses mine, even a slight bit of pressure across skin on shoulders hurts.  I cannot take tablets either so just have to put up with it as my GP is not really interested.

I suffered a major accident back in 2008, which actually was the start of my osteo arthritis - the foot was severed from the leg and although they rescued it, it destroyed all the cartilage in the joint and a year or two later OA set in, now I have it in both thumb joints and upper spine.  The accident may well have been enough shock to trigger fibro, as the pain and fatigue syndrome I now have started around a year later.  I've been on a merrygoround of referrals, blood tests, MRI, ultrasound, etc etc every since and the last appointment was last month with the rheumatologist who told me she's just a pill pusher.  Very upsetting to feel I'm getting nowhere fast and my health is degenerating due to lack of exercise etc. I've variously been told to take paracetamol, ibuprofen and then amitryptaline (which I had to stop as they gave me hallucinations) the rheumy has said I either have to take pain meds or basically go away.

Hi sounds horrendous, no wonder you are in pain.  My GP and the rheumy do not believe that fibro exists, my GP huffs when I say I have it, so we are never going to get anywhere with attidues like that.  I am told basically at 57 I should just accept this is life and it is down to wear and tear and get on with it.  Not very helpful, but with so little time to discuss these things at appointments and getting a referral nearly impossible I have given up.  Take care

I really sympathise - my GP is unconvinced that fibro actually exists and the rheumy was adamant that my blood tests showed I didnt have it (although at a previous appointment she actually said blood tests arent effective in showing it up!).  They either blame all my issues on OA - which they definitely are not - OA gives me joint pain not muscle pain and not brain fog, stomach probs, sleep issues, fatigue etc.  Or else they blame all the other symptoms on me not sleeping properly - but the sleep problem came after the other symptoms and is because of them not a cause of them.  Its hopeless.  I dont really care what they call it but ignoring what I tell them and sweeping it away isnt helpful and my health is suffering.  I'm building up the courage to book yet another 2min appointment with the GP to try to stand my ground and demand something other than yet another pain med prescription.

Good for you, doctors intimidate me, they have a way of looking at you which makes you shrivel inside, perhaps I am just a wimp. I am only 57 and do not want to spend the rest of my feeling like this, but unless someone listens that is probably what is going to happen.  I also get told it is the menopause or wear and tear and having a baby at 39 was so stupid and irresponsible as your body cannot cope at that age, it goes on and on.  Keep me updated if you do make that appointment and I will keep my fingers crossed that you get someone to take notice.   

we could be twins lol.  I too am totally intimidated by doctors and always leave the surgery feeling like i've 'failed' - half the problem is that the appointment allotted is so short, its a nightmare trying to be brief but cover all the issues and a lot of the time the GP's seem not to be listening at all or thinking about something other than the patient in front of them.  39 is so NOT too old for a baby, my mother had me around that age and she was fit as a fiddle with no arthritis or heart problems until at age 90 she developed cancer - 50 yrs after my birth so obviously unconnected whatsoever.  I guess we just drew the short straw with arthritis.  I saw a tv show last evening about revolutionary new treatment for PTSD (post traumatic stress) and pain relief being trialled in the USA - it involves simple electric pulses to the part of the brain controlling either the pain reflexes or trauma condition and is proving 100% successful.  Guess what, it wont get to the UK unless private funded I bet.

Morning Twin, I have an appointment on Wed with yet another GP, so trying to run through how get it all in in 15 mins.  I want to be like your mum live to a ripe old age, which is why I am so anxious having my son later in life I want to be with him through his journey.  I would happily be electrocuted for less pain, but as you say not on the NHS.