Trigger point pain or Cervical Spondylosis?

Occipital Neuralgia and trigger point pain can greatly affect fibromyalgia.

One trigger point area is at the base of the neck at the back, just below the occipital ridge, so the pain could be coming from this known fibro trigger point, or it could be occipital neuralgia caused by any number of things from trapped nerves serving this area, to tension.

I have been thinking about this subject quite a lot in the past 9 months, as I had a major flare up early last summer, which usually lasts for anything from a week to several weeks.

However, I went to see my GP after a few months, and I told them that as I am all too familiar with my fibro trigger point pain, I knew this was not the usual presentation of symptoms. I remember telling my husband I knew something was wrong with my neck, and it was not the usual trigger point pain.

The symptoms were quite different for both.

Trigger Point Pain.

Whenever my neck was triggered, the pain was localised to base of the skull, and wrapping up and over my head, causing pain that was similar to headache, and aching and pain in the neck itself.

However the symptoms I was now experiencing (and still are), were more widespread in nature and affecting other joints in my body, chiefly elbows, knees, wrists, ankles, toes and fingers.

The symptoms included those of occipital neuralgia, but with the addition of alarming crunching in the neck, sharp pain behind the eyes and into the head, joint pain in other parts of the body, and a lot of pain when in bed trying to sleep.

Also sometimes dizziness and heat in the area during exercise involving the neck (like teaching yoga). Another strange symptom was pain throughout the whole neck, whether active or at rest.

In August, I told all this to the nurse, then the senior practitioner, then the GP in that order, and although they did their best I did feel they were thinking it was my fibro, and this can get me a little fired up to protect myself.

I became really depressed and virtually hibernated for a while, because I felt I was not being heard. I told my GP in August I thought it was occipital neuralgia which they agreed with, and I said I suspected cervical spondylosis, greeted with no reaction.

Eventually I was sent for an x-ray early this year and of course, I have cervical spondylosis in c4 to c7 vertebrae in the neck, not in keeping with wear and tear for my age and most likely caused by radiotherapy I had 2 years ago after cancer.

I did very calmly tell the GP what I thought in a nice way, so I have now taken my life and my diagnosis and taken several steps to help myself.

1. I have bought an orthopaedic pillow with a raised area where the neck is, which keeps the neck in alignment with the spine during sleep, and this is proving very helpful.

2. I have bought a neck support for when I am sitting at the computer for a while (like now), as this is really painful even after a short while.

3. I am seeing the physiotherapist next week to speak about the physio I have already had to see if this can be altered now we have the x-ray results.

4. I have raised the miles I walk every week to keep as active as possible.

5. I have baths with Epsom salts in to help relax the muscle tension caused by the pain (careful how much you use if you do this).

6. I do more relaxation techniques lying down.

7. I lay on my yantra mat (acupressure points on it to help with pain).

8. I temper my housework to how I feel and my husband does things that hurt me too much like lifting big pans from the hob etc.

Positives!

Being the natural positive person (so I am told), I realised that having fibro helps me to understand my body and mind much more, and know when something is going on.

Also as a yoga and meditation teacher, both of these keep me in tune with what is happening in my body, and, like above, know when something is wrong.

Taking care of myself is important to me because of fibro, so I know what to do to help myself.

Moral of this: -

If you are getting neck pain a lot, anywhere in the neck, do not assume it is fibro, get it checked out and get informed choices with pain relief and any other way you can be helped!

Try using some of my self-help techniques above, and don’t take no for an answer if you feel you are not being heard.