Nuchal Tendon Occification/Calcification

Wow, I can definitely see it in your photographs! I can see where that would be very uncomfortable if it’s putting pressure in that area. I think if it is that uncommon (retired nurse and not aware of it) Mayo might be a good place to go if you have access to them.

I was just diagnosed with the same calcified mass on nuchal ligament and 3 doctors so far have told me it's an incidental finding and nothing to worry about. It grew 4x the size in a 4 month period but has appeared to stop growing...for now at least. My only symptom that I can attribute to that is my neck seems weaker than usual but I am guessing if the nuchal ligament holds your head up that would make sense. Truly I think it's so uncommon that most Dr's have no clue what to do. I have read in med journals thar it could be the start of spondylosis or spondylitis.

Please update me on what you've found out about you nuchal calcification if you can!! I was just diagnosed with the same thing

I am wondering if I might have the same thing going on as others here. When I look up, there is a hard mass that pops out of the back of my neck around the C4 level. It feels like a bone on a rubber band. You can push the mass in and out. The mass can only be felt when I put my neck back (look up) and not when my spine is in a neutral position. It seems like whatever it is hides in the cervical spine when my neck is not back (looking up). My doc did an ultrasound and there was a dark mass there; however, the xray and MRI came back with normal results. It is quite obvious to anyone who feels my neck that there is something not normal going on when my neck is back. My doctor does not know what it is and says that since there were no findings on the xray and MRI, there isn't a lot more that can be done. Does anyone have a diagnosis and if so, is what I am describing the same as you? I'm so frustrated and really want answers. Thank you!

So I just had an X-ray done today and in mychart it says "Calcifications in the nuchal ligament". So I'm assuming it's the same thing you all are experiencing. Except my pain seems different than you all are saying. It started in my neck but has radiated to my shoulder and arm and even causes some numbness in my index finger and thumb. My arm feels like it is constantly getting hit in the "funny bone" which is obviously not a bone but the Ulnar nerve. I was off work for 3 weeks because it hurt, and then decided I needed to get back to work because of money, but my pain is still there. I have been to 10 PT appointments already since oct, but the only thing that helps my pain is the cervical traction that I do there. I'm hoping my Dr will fix me up, I'm a 47 year old male so I have years to live yet, I hope, LOL.

There is not a lot of info on this topic so I'm unsure what to really expect as far as treatments go. The Dr is putting me on gabapentin, cyclobenzaprine, and naproxen.

OH MY GOODNESS!!! I have been desperately searching for anything describing the horrible lump in my neck for THREE YEARS, and this is the first time I’ve come across a description of what it feels like and how it behaves that is EXACTLY what I’m experiencing!!! I’m so excited!
And completely miserable!
It feels like a the spinous processes above and below it, only when you gently press on it, it moves. When I’m feeling really rough, it always seems to be pushing out (often to the left a bit) and feels larger and the sides are defined and can be felt going deeper into my neck. Like up to 1.5 inches across maybe, but when I’m feeling ok it just feels about the diameter of a large pea. When it is bad, I start to feel like I’m choking, and it’s more difficult to swallow. I just need to lie back with my head supported.
This lump is what led me to being diagnosed with severe cervical stenosis (cord compression and nerve) at c5-c6 with radiculopathy, but orthopedic and neurosurgeon both dismissed lump as unimportant even though every Dr but 1 (because it was so far in that day) could feel it. I’m also dx’d with Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (Hypermobility type). If I have so much as a soft floppy winter hat pushing against the lump, I start to feel ill and weak. It doesn’t feel unimportant to me. My quality of life has gone into the toilet.
The bit about it disappearing when lying down- YES. I keep asking drs about upright MRI or digital motion X-ray. Something that is upright and shows movement! Good luck if you have Medicaid.
I went to the ER at one point when it was bad and a Dr was kind enough to order a (lying down) neck CT after feeling it, he said they found “thickened ligament”, but no further details.
Maybe it is just nuchal ligament, that info is more than I’ve gotten in 3 years. I’m just so happy (and feel awful too) to find other people saying the same thing. It’s not my imagination. It’s a real and disturbing problem that at least deserves consideration and explanation.
Good luck and hugs to all these folks posting on here.

Hello.
This all sounds identical to what I have been going through for many years now. However, I did manage to receive a diagnosis 'nuchal fibrocartilaginous pseudotumor' in February 2020 and had surgery to remove pseudotumor 2/20/20. I wish I could say everything has been wonderful since but unfortunately it has been miserable. A neurosurgeon is who finally provided a diagnosis and preformed the surgery. He used old MRIs that many doctors had seen prior. They were flexion/extension MRI (if that helps anyone) notes on MRI stated "thickening of nuchal ligament" and just as others stated I was told it was nothing while the mass continued growing and pain as well as many "strange" symptoms worsened. However, from doing my research I have found that these are reoccurring in some cases and unfortunately for me I believe mine has returned. You would think I would be believed, especially by the Dr. who finally diagnosed but here I am starting this battle again. I hope others have a different outcome.

They believe it is cervical dystonia now and will only treat with trigger point injections and nerve blocks. They offer any and all the pain meds but it doesn't help anyway.

I have the same extra bone-like thing also and am also suffering neck pain, the question is how difficult is to get it removed and how can we prove the pain is due to this extra piece of bone see we can convince the DR to remove it? if we can prove that it causes pain, I believe that the Dr will like to remove it. any advice?

May I ask you is there any risk of removing it by surgery ? My Dr told me that it will have the risk of weakening the tendon in the long run.Is that true? How big is this surgery? I want to remove mine to get rid of the pain. Thanks. Justin