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CFS/Fibromyalgia + Neck Pain

Posted , 2 users are following.

mattbretty
mattbretty

Is it normal to have neck pain with CFS?

I've had CFS for a year now ever since a viral infection in the gut. From the very beginning I have had some wierd pains in my neck but recently it's got worse to the point that it's my main complaint and it's also affecting my traps and shoulders. Through certain diet and supplements I have got to the point where I am no longer fatigued. But this neck pain is horrible. As well as the neck pain I have swollen lymph nodes in my jaw and neck and a sore throat as well.

Does anyone else get pretty serious neck pain and trap pain?

0 likes, 5 replies

5 Replies

  • philsey
    philsey mattbretty

    Posted

    Matt,

    Your situation sounds awful and I should know, having had CFS since 1996, and been too ill to work since 2002. However everyone's illness is unique and the average length is 1-7 yrs even for people with the severe symptoms. In which case you should count yourself blessed that supplements and diet have had an impact on your fatigue.

    1. Sore glands are a normal symptom of post-viral illness, but I would go to the doc and ask for a complete check of your neck glands anyway, blood tests etc.. You need to eliminate any other conditions which manifest in swollen lymph nodes, and swollen glands. To be blunt I include cancer. If you ask and your blood tests show anything up your are entitled to be seen within 2 weeks by a hospital specialist. From your history I think this sounds unlikely but you will at least be relieved to have ruled out the nasties. 

    2.  The neck symptoms worry me however, because they are increasing and this suggests your CFS has not been resolved. With CFS the entire body is thrown into immune system disarray. Whilst this may present with some people as fatigue, in others it can present with other symptoms. Play safe and don't regard yourself fully recovered. You sound like someone who works out: don't! You must continue proper pacing so as to achieve a balance of exertion and rest, or risk relapse of the fatigue.

    3. The shoulder, armpit and neck region is jam packed with all sorts of glands. Post-viral conditions like CFS can send those glands into overdrive and they then become swollen and painful to touch. Where they bang up against other parts of the body like bones, larynx and big muscles, they will cause you similar pain. Pains like this can get worse because we all tend to adopt postures which free us temporarily from pain - but which are unnatural and which eventually become a cause of pain in themselves.

    A. To assist your lymph glands to restore I would recommend a course of massage. This will be painful as all massage is, but over a period of 6 sessions it could assist the fluids jamming your lymphatic system to move and drain. Cranial osteopathy is also useful in allowing bunged up pipes to get flowing again.

    B. To hit your potential posture problem you should visit a good osteopath, probably only once, and you ought to get an assessment of whether your vertebrae and other bones have become 'still', causing stiffness all round the upper areas. The practitioner may give you some simple exercises to prevent a return of these problems.

    C. To have a lasting effect on posture you need to take a few sessions of some postural therapy like Alexander Technique. This will ensure you are not bearing excess weight on the wrong muscles. The head is damn heavy and holding it wrong can cause pain to accumulate especially in the shoulders and traps even when you haven't got CFS!  

    I have found all these remedies helpful at various stages on my illness. God bless. 

    Philip

    The lymphatic system is all over the neck shoulders

    3. If you are given the all-clear on that

    • mattbretty
      mattbretty philsey

      Posted

      Thanks Philsey for your answer. I am living in Turkey so I'm not sure if I can see an osteopath but I have found a chiropractor I could go to, so through that I should be able to get some info on whether or not there is a mechanical/postural element to my neck problems. I would love to get a massage as well, I will look into whether this may be possible. I have heard of the Alexander Technique before. I'll check that out also.

      It's helpful to know a few different reason why the neck pain might be presenting. I will look into the things you have said.

      Thanks

  • philsey
    philsey mattbretty

    Posted

    That all makes good sense Matt. Do the Turks have any trouble acknowledging CFS, either socially or medically?
    • mattbretty
      mattbretty philsey

      Posted

      It's the same as it is in the west, barely recognised by the medical establishment and generally considered to be phychological in nature. Socially I don't think it is considered a legitimate ilness either. There is a Turkey CFS Facebook group, which I was surprised to find.

      Going to the Chiropractor tomorrow, hopefully it will clear some stuff up for me.

    • philsey
      philsey mattbretty

      Posted

      As I suspected. At least we had Esther Ransom's daughter's illness publicized, and the papers tend to take a pro-patient position.     

      Prayers for your Chiropractor appt my friend.                           

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