Oh my goodness, that's freaky! I haven't gotten to that point yet-just the beginnings of dysphagia-swallowing liquids.
September 25
First off, 10 years of doing well is genuinely impressive — and it's completely understandable to feel thrown off when a new symptom like this shows up out of nowhere.
Yes, neck spasms are something others in the MS community deal with too. As one MyMSTeam member shared, "I experience terrible headaches and neck pain that Show Full Answer
First off, 10 years of doing well is genuinely impressive — and it's completely understandable to feel thrown off when a new symptom like this shows up out of nowhere.
Yes, neck spasms are something others in the MS community deal with too. As one MyMSTeam member shared, "I experience terrible headaches and neck pain that seem to be caused by my neck and shoulder muscle spasms." That "strangled" feeling sounds like it could be MS-related spasticity, where nerve damage disrupts normal muscle signals and causes muscles to contract tightly and resist relaxing. Since this is a new and acute symptom, it's really important to reach out to your neurologist soon. They can help figure out whether this is:
- MS-related nerve damage causing spasticity in the neck muscles
- A possible sign of a relapse
- Something that needs prompt treatment
In the meantime, some things that have helped others include:
- Heat or ice therapy (one MyMSTeam member found heat in the morning and ice at night helpful)
- Better neck support with pillows
- Relaxation techniques to reduce stress, which can worsen spasms
- Physical therapy, if your neurologist recommends it
Don't wait too long on this one — new or worsening symptoms always deserve a conversation with your care team.
September 24
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