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Any luck with relieving ankle swelling and/or neck stiffness?

Posted , 2 users are following.

manda08392
manda08392

Hello all,

So I know we all go through cycles on how bad the pain is, three terrible weeks in a row followed by 2 much more bearable days or not sleeping for 2 weeks to get 5 hours one night, I know this is par for the course.

I have been dealing with fibro for almost a decade and am currently off all perscription meds except my adderall for ADD and am dealing with treatments for neck curvature issues that have caused daily migraines.

With all this being said I really, really try to be realistic and positive. There is no cure, so I can't bother stressing on it. If I can go 8 months without a single migraine free day and have only 3 melt downs, I can surey live with the evil pain I already know, right?

Yesterday I was still positive, today I yelled at my dogs for being dogs, it's so ridiculous. I think it has come down to the fact that most unbearable pain is at my c7, just so tight I can't comfortably sleep and my right ankle.

I am interested if anyone has any tricks they use for relief on the base of the neck, top of the spine that I can use between massage therapy and chiropractic visits at home.

The other thing that has been slowly driving me insane until I had a little hissy fit by myself trying to get off my bed today is that for the last month my right ankle and calf area has been much more swollen than normal. I work long hours, it's not like it never happens, it's just over the last month it's not really going down and we all know how difficult that can make getting out of bed in the mornings or how sore it can feel to walk.

Any suggestions for easing the swelling from home betwen visits?

Thanks in advance for any suggestions and sorry if I'm coming off like a drama queen, just some days are harder than others.

0 likes, 6 replies

6 Replies

  • deb97936
    deb97936 manda08392

    Posted

    Manda I have full neck issues from compression, I have  used a 'Bambillo' piillow which I punch down reasonably flat and tuck into the crook of my neck so it rests basically over the shoulder not under it.  Everyone is different though.  

    My C7 is really bad just as my others are and they trigger migraines and nausea to.   I keep my neck warm and free from drafts.  I also found the Bambillo keeps my whole of neck warm.  (Took me weeks to get used to this pillow, but perservered)   On those odd occasions though I have to remove the pillow and still lay out flat or slightly angled to suit my pain issues of the moment.  

    After my car accident I couldn't sleep with any pillow at all.  I was flat out straight with my arms above my head to help me breathe and to relieve huge pain issues.  I slept like that for a few years before my body freed me up to even allow me to roll semi on my side supported with the corner of a pillow tucked up under the crook of neck with no pressure on my neck at all... (instance belting migraine if it did or does!)  Which of course takes out your spine and peripherals...

    Have you ever considered a skull cap and leed attached to the top of your door jam, and using your wieght 'ever so carefully' to stretch your neck out a little?  To take off pressure..  Works better after heat treatment and a massage of surrounding neck muscles.  

    My muscles are now locked up like stone and have been since my accident..  You could smash a heavy table over my upper back and I wouldn't probably feel it..  The tension is so huge it no longer can massage out....The brain won't even trick the muscles to relax deeply enough..  Which of course affects the loudness of my Tinnitus.  The worse my Flares then the Louder my Tinnitus!!   Muscle tension noise!!   

    Have you tried the old rolling your chin into your chest and other neck stretching exercises?   No matter how stiff we can still attempt some movement, and pain/s are not the barrer, it is us and our perceptions..   We can still push through pain most days to try and complete some stretches and exercise.  If we don't, we can be our own worst enemies...  

    I also use Voltaren Gel round my neck on the worst days to help before I go to bed and will run it on gently to if I should wake up sore...  Use it on my wrists etc to.   I cannot afford tubes of it so I use it sparingly...  

    Warmth, positioning, meds and V Gel, stretching... and careful positioning with or without a pillow/s.

    I use one like a support behind me incase I need to relax back slightly without having to pressure my muscles...  It's quite a common thing to do...

    • deb97936
      deb97936

      Posted

      whoops sorry taken wrong button my mistake..hahaha

      wanted to say, re ankles... it's best to keep off your feet and raise them throught the day and elevaite at night or in bed to, till they are recovered.  Took both mine 2 months to come down and I'm not on my feet like you are!   You don't want to wind up with permanent swollen ankles!!....   You may have to re think work hours or how you work.. Rest time with feet up during work hours?   Your health comes first...:-)  Gentle Hugs...

    • manda08392
      manda08392 deb97936

      Posted

      Deb, thanks so much for the quick reply. The pain has been especially bad where i could stretch so slightly to the left and right but not down at all. The warming gel and pillow definitly sound like something i check out immediatly.

      I have to admit the skull cap one made me cringe a little, is this something you have used often? I found pressure helps after an adjustment but i can't always get my arms to cooperate to reach and have to depend on someone else to help but your solution sounds very independant.

    • manda08392
      manda08392 deb97936

      Posted

      I unfortunately run a retail center an hour away so staying off at work isn't an option. i have to be more creative during my off time. Truth is that I dont elevate them at home as often as i should and should probably put more effort into that nightly instead of a couple of times a week.

      i have also dabbled wiht the idea of trying to change how i drive since i am in the car at least 10 hours a week. not a solid idea yet but maybe keeping my right leg up on the seat and learning to drive with my left. dunno, that's still new.

    • deb97936
      deb97936 manda08392

      Posted

      hahahaha you sound just like me, in an automatic I once had..   As I only drive with one foot in an auto, as we actually should.   I used to elevate my foot up as best I could resting it up the side of the belhousing...

      I had a physio chap put mein a scull cap contraption with weights on it...I freightened the heck out of him when I became elevated out of my seat and still begged him to load up the weights! hahah   My muscles were locked...  Far to locked up like rock so 'no' this treatment was never going to work at that stage..  I havent ventured since as for me it's pointless..

      I have had periods of about 4 years where I could not bend my head forward or side ways.  But with gentle attempts per day I improved my lot.  I don't have very good Rhom, turning my head but again it's to do with soft tissue damage from major repetitive head whiplashing.  

      However, just like anyhone else with Fibro, when our muscles pull up and go like Riggamortis, it makes our Tendons stiff to and stand out proud.  I had one Tendon in my left side in the front on my neck stick out like a thick large over taunt guitar string...  painful at times and meant I couldn't turn my head or use my left arm properly at times...

      It eventually came right and relaxed on it's own about 1.5yrs later..

      The pillow high up against the back is a great buffer and support!!   I am on my own and don't have help so I think outside the square.

      My friend who had Rheumy and Fibro really bad, also did the same thing!!  we laughed at how similar we were in our self helping..hahaha..  I do miss her bless her heart!...  

      How would you feel about getting an electric type of chair for work to rest in and temporarily work from when the need is there?  Would that be a feasible option?  I know someone who uses one and they are able to put up the foot rest into position to elevate one or both feet when required..

      Otherwise, I would be resting up, elevating a lot more home.  Took me two months as I mentioned (I think), for both my feet and  lost ankles to reappear..  :-)

  • manda08392
    manda08392

    Posted

    oh and i meant to add that i really like how a lot of people here end with 'gentle hugs' ha ha, that's only something a forum like here could understand as my husband doesn't understand why i sometimes yell out when he hugs me.

    however, its so very, very sweet.

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