[mspennyloafer]

So recently my thoracic spine is calming down and I've been sitting more.

But I've noticed even with a soft collar neck brace on sometimes the back of my neck around c5..c6?? area starts burning up and itching. Its tender to the touch in parts. The front of my neck is fine. I know my pt wants to blame it on foreward HP but I'm wearing a freaking collar. My cervical MRI is normal. Does this sound like its tos related...cranky nerves..muscles or what. I don't know how to calm it down other than lying down

[Jomar]

which collar is it?
Does it allow the head to still tilt forward even if it is a little bit, and not stay centered on the spine?

Once things get settled down, does PT suggest going w/o collar for short periods of time to let muscles build back up slowly?

I don't know how long it is OK to wear something like that, if it is holding your neck / head up at some point seems like muscle tone will be lost.

Is the PT is monitoring and guiding you.

I'm sure with eds it is a delicate balancing act...

[mspennyloafer]

it's a styrofoam cheap collar, my head can definitely move some or else id go insane

my pt wants me off of it before we do any shoulder stabilizing exercises because i'm going to be on all fours on the floor.

its def a balancing act with eds. yesterday i went without it for an hour..then put it on for a few hours then off again for another. its only for when im sitting. it was later in the day (with it on that i had an episode), basically burning back at my c-spine then 20 minutes later i feel it spread, the itching to down in my armpit/tricep area. it gets kind of warm, burning in triceps, and then pins and needles in my hands. only on my left side.

another weird thing is these crazy burning sensations didnt happen until i started stretching, specifically with my neck. i did a brachial plexus nerve glide that set my neck ON FIRE.

does it soudn like my head is too far back, making those muscles tighten, and clench down on the nerves?

the collar and my pt has been a blessing. i dont have neck spasms anymore and according to my pt, my left rib has lowered some, my scm muscle has calmed down. i really think i was on my way to developing *regular* tos on my left side.

[mspennyloafer]

im going to ask for a copy of my neck mri. i dont trust doctors anymore, they say everythings normal unless youve been decapitated

[Jomar]

Originally Posted by mspennyloafer

my pt wants me off of it before we do any shoulder stabilizing exercises because i'm going to be on all fours on the floor.

Yikes - on all fours the whole weight of the head has to be supported by the neck muscles - approx 14 of it!!
That is a very stressful posture for me still sometimes.

Plus the added strain on the shoulders, arms and wrists from holding the upper body weight??

I wonder what the PT is aiming for with this?
might be something to ask about before you try the moves.

[mspennyloafer]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BmW-i3rcrg0

i think its going to be something like that

i have no muscles around my shoulders. its all bone

[mspennyloafer]

my scalenes and the side of my left neck are itching its disgusting

i guess its better than having a spasm tho

[chroma]

Originally Posted by mspennyloafer

my scalenes and the side of my left neck are itching its disgusting

i guess its better than having a spasm tho

My symptomatic side gets itchy too. It's the side that has the edema that Stoxen mentioned in his presentation that was recently discussed here.

Is it the backed up blood then that is causing the itching?

[mspennyloafer]

oooh do you have a link to the discussion

i have terrible circulation! interestingly when i was having palpitations 2 weeks ago my neck pain subsided.

ive also always told people i have edema but nobody believes me

[mspennyloafer]

never mind i see the chiro thread, reading now