Neck Pain: Cervical
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July 4, 2009 - 7:19pm
8 mo with Disc Problem in neck - getting worse
Hi - i'm new to chat forums like this but looking for advice from anyone who can relate.
I'm 41 and until recently have been very athletic and active. For the last 6 months i have increasing neck problems and pain, including pain that radiates to my arm and hand, and increasingly really bad pain comes and goes around my shoulder/scapula - a horrible cramping burning pain.
I've been to a neurologist, had an MRI, which shows a c5/c6 buldge. I've also had the first of several cortisone injections in my neck. The injection provided TOTAL relief for 24 hrs and then things were right back to where they started.
Has anyone had anything like this, and what/when do you contemplate surgery???
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Welcome.
How big are your bulges?
Anyhow I first got hand numb/tingle pain. Then I got headaches, then neck pain at night then neck pain all the time, then tight left side of neck, then tight shoulder muscles, neck, upper back. Pain radiating into my left arm and hand.
My shoulder pain has gotten worse. I think I'm pinching nerves everywhere from muscles being so tight. My shoulder bones hurt, my scalp hurts, my neck hurts to touch.
I've had triggers or nerve blocks and they would work for a day or two maybe a week depending on if they got it in right and how bad of shape I was in...The best thing I find is muscle relaxer like soma or amrix , pain killer, and a tens unit.
Ice and head sometimes helps, but not my shoulders. I'm in so much pain right now with what feels like pinching pain in my shoulders and sides of neck, that I don't know what to do. I'll be getting PT monday. I am suppose to get a cervical epidural on the 13th but due to money and my dad being a baby, i'm going to have to cancel that.
I just feel like my life is spiraling out of my control and it is very upsetting. I'm only 27 and almost done with school (6 more classes) but I don't know if I can do that, and I've been dealing with this for two yrs now.
Well I hope you get some relief.
According to an MRI in 2008 I had 2mm and 3mm herniations at C5/C6 and C6/ C7. Both having mild to slight central stenosis. Disc desiccation without protrusion at T1-2.
On my Xray from 2008 it said: Very minimal hypertrophic uncovertebral joints at C5-C6. Minimal osteophyte formations and foraminal impingement at C5/C6.
Yes I have and still do deal with neck pain. I have had 2 neck surgeries since 2006. I had burning pain, arm pain, shoulder pain and neck pain. Surgery depends on the conservative measures first. Most insurance companies will not pay until the patient does the injections, physical therapy, resting options and a lot of diagnostic testing first plus follow up notes from your surgeon to be and physical therapist. It's a long road. A positive attitude helps a lot. The forums I have read up on say about 70 percent of patients respond well to conservative measures. I would ask your doctor to prescribe you aqua therapy first and see how that goes. I was in aqua therapy 3 times and it feels so good and I healed faster from my lumbar operation also. Taking anti inflams will also do some good if taking correctly. (every day several times a day) and applying heat and ice alternating on the painful part of neck.
6/9/09 cervicial laminectomy C3
1/13/06 cervical fusion C4 through C6.
1/23/08 bunionectomy
11/23/06 L3,L4 discectomy.
please join us in the room, many of us know whay you are going through. Me very much. I have had the extremities for coming up on 2 years now. I would love to talk to you more on this subject. Take care for now.Rest is best. I will see you in chat, then if you want to we can private chat about this.Take care till I read your cords. I go into neck/back surgery forum. you are welcom to be part of the family of friends who all understand. It really is a healing room, even if we are silly, or cry, or drinking on-line lol inside joke. Hope to see you soon.
please join us in the room, many of us know whay you are going through. Me very much. I have had the extremities for coming up on 2 years now. I would love to talk to you more on this subject. Take care for now.Rest is best. I will see you in chat, then if you want to we can private chat about this.Take care till I read your cords. I go into neck/back surgery forum. you are welcom to be part of the family of friends who all understand. It really is a healing room, even if we are silly, or cry, or drinking on-line lol inside joke. Hope to see you soon.
it is so very important that when you post, you post information that you were going to discuss in the chat rooms.
There are so many people that never go into chat and by telling everyone there is so much to discuss there, you are leaving out a good portion of Spine-Health members.
So please whenever you talk about chat and whats going to be discussed, outline that in a post so others can see what is going on.
Ron DiLauro
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The information provided by members of Spine-Health should never be considered as formal medical advice. It is recommendations based on member's personal experiences only.
This can vary from person to person, so do not take comments as medical facts or rules
I can relate to what you are going through... I have had the same exact symptoms and have a severe C5/6 bulge. I am scheduled for a C5/6 ACDF on July 20th.
Don
I've had the pain that you describe, both in my upper back, shoulder and radiating down my arms. My MRI results were three totally herniated disks, though, with the very common DDD and arthritis.
Sometimes we don't have any choice when it comes to surgery - the insurance company requires conservative measures before they'll approve paying for surgery, or at the opposite end of the scale, the doc says trying anything but surgery is useless (as was my case).
What does your neuro say about surgery - is he/she giving you that option?
The pain in my shoulders and back were muscle spasms and controlled by muscle relaxers. Do you have any tingling, numbness or weakness in your arms?
Cath
~ October 21, 2008 - ACDF, 3-level (C4/5, 5/6 6/7), with hardware and eight screws. All fused and hardware is stable.
~ January 6, 2010 - TLIF at L4/5, two rods and four pedicle screws.
~ July 2010 - New CT and MRI on cervical shows further problems above fusion at C2/3 and worst at C3/4.
I am in no way affiliated with the medical profession. Any recommendations I make are based on my personal experiences only, so do not take my comments as medical rules.