Neck painful and feels soft

[nogutsnoglory]

I know my bones are weak after so much time on steroids in the past. I was diagnosed with osteopenia.

I have been laying down for months now barely moving much. I have neck pain when I lay on my pillow and the back of my neck feels soft.

Could months of little mobility cause damage?

 

[ForeverACrohn's]

I've currently got a sore back of neck and right side of jaw. not really sure what it is caused by, but it gets a lot worse when i try to lay down to sleep. been like this a few days now and i've resorted to sleeping sat up in a chair. it feels kind of like toothache and whiplash all at once. been on steroids for a little while now, but i doubt it's been long enough to cause much bone damage (around 2.5 months). and i've also spent a hell of a lot of time in bed/chair over the past few months, so my mobility has been to and from the bathroom mainly. hopefully this will just ease away for the both of us, but i've thought that about a lot of the pains i've been in so far.

 

[CrohnsChicago]

Being physically active and strength training definitely helps strengthen your bones. Exercise is a recommended treatment for people with osteoperosis so I would imagine it would be for osteopenia as well. An inactive lifestyle is identified as a risk for osteopenia and osteopeorsis bone loss here:
http://www.webmd.com/osteoporosis/guide/osteopenia-early-signs-of-bone-loss

Here are some neck exercises I found online that seem simple enough:
http://www.spine-health.com/conditions/neck-pain/neck-strengthening-exercises

Also you may want to consider getting some 3lb and 5lb weights and practice some light strength training your arms and legs while lying on the floor or sofa.

 

[nogutsnoglory]

Thanks I definitely need to exercise for overall health and my bones. It might even help my neurological problems. I am just too darn tired to get off the couch. I'm going to try it in baby steps.

 

[CrohnsChicago]

Here are some more good tips for starting out whenever you feel ready:

http://www.nof.org/articles/238

 

[Traumanurse]

Yes, for sure months of immobility can cause damage. It really is tru that if you don't use it, you lose it!

I truly understand being so tired and sick you don't want to move, but we all just HAVE to! Little steps if needed at first. Little walks, even exercising the muscles while in bed helps. In order to return to any kind of normalcy, we have to move.

You can do it too NGNG. I know how rough things are for you right now, but be sure and keep moving. Muscle atrophy can be really damaging!