Karin, we could be twins! I suffer terribly with cervical spine pain and myofascial pain too. I was forced to leave a very successful career about 7 years ago due to the pain and discomfort plus the unpredictable nature of it. I have learned now what triggers my flare-ups but my life is forever changed. I can't reach or carry anything over a pound or two and not for long, bad sleeping positions bring it on big time, and riding in a car too long or for that matter sitting anywhere too long. Drafts can start the myofascial pain and like you, the weather. I have occipital neuralgia headaches from the pinched nerves at C5-6/C6-7 and they are agonizing. I have some arm symptoms of burning and aching at times. I am not overweight and walk 4 miles a day, when I can which helps on so many levels. Any other exercise brings on the pain, esp if using my arms. I take Fioricet for the headaches which after all these years helps little. Also take Lyrica for the nerve pain prescribed 3 times a day but I only take at bedtime. (Side effects esp weight gain). Today I am a mess, couldn't walk earlier with my group and am still feeling pretty rough. Woke up in the night with pain on rt side. Usually will do a couple days each side per flare-up. This miserable disorder has truly changed my life. I have made peace with the loss of activity and work but it is a agony no one can appreciate unless having experienced it. The ongoing pain is unbearable at times. I have had trigger pt shots, epidurals, docs insisted on hard narcotics but I am really trying to not get started on those meds for as long as possible. Was told will worsen over time which it is doing. No surgery unless arm pain worse or lower limb involvement. My diagnoses are cervical foraminal stenosis, occipital neuralgia, degen. Disc disease, and fibromyalgia although I think of it as more myofascial pain. I have lots of trigger points. What type of work-out are you able to do at the gym? I can't imagine riding a horse with this problem. The movement and jostling would be really rough not to mention the potential for a fall. This is my first time writing on this board. I am shocked at how many sufferers there are out there. It sure helps to talk to others with this. Sometimes you can really feel alone as far as what it is like. I hope I was of help to you. Take care. Andrea

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From: "karinbendel"
Date: Wed, 17 Jun 2009 13:38:01 -0000
To: <Cervical_Spondylosis@yahoogroups.com>
Subject: [Cervical_Spondylosis] cervical osteoarthritis

Hello, I would love some opinions on cervical osteoarthritis. Years ago, I had a car accident and it has left me, at 58, with osteoarthritis in my neck and myofascial pain syndrome. Along with that, are two slightly bulging discs ( that are actually fine, now), but I have arthritis symptoms from my neck, especially with weather changes-headaches, some tingling and pain and muscle related discomfort . However, I am very fit and work out at a gym which has really, really, cannot emphasize how much, helped my neck problems. My question is this, I am a former horse rider, who had ridden all my life before the accident and have been sidelined, as I have built back up...can the movement of riding worsen osteoarthritis? I can't get a clear answer from my doctors on this, they seem to say to go ahead and live your life and deal with whatever pain may result. I just don't want to increase/make worse the problem I do have so that I would have constant pain...just now, it is finally, after years, mostly weather related, so for the most part, I can not take medication, preferring to just tough it out. I have made my life without horses, am able to be active and fit and would never want to jeopardize that. Suggestions? Thoughts? Any other riders out there? Incidentally, I was a dressage rider...so, for those that know, all of the sitting trots, along with the whiplash car accident took it's toll. Thanks for any help. Karin