Welcome, Friend!
It looks like you're new here. If you want to get involved, click one of these buttons!
Quick Start Forum Video Tutorial
Forum Tools
Forum Topics
Protect anonymity
We strongly suggest that members do not include their email addresses. Once that is published , your email address is available to anyone on the internet , including hackers.
Notice
All discussions and comments that contain an external URL will be automatically moved to the spam queue. No external URL pointing to a medical web site is permitted. Forum rules also indicate that you need prior moderator approval. If you are going to post an external URL, contact one of the moderators to get their approval.
There are no medical professionals on this forum side of the site. Therefore, no one is capable or permitted to provide any type of medical advice.
This includes any analysis, interpretation, or advice based on any diagnostic test
The main site has all the formal medical articles and videos for you to research on.
Comments
I know that many here on this site have said that the healing process takes far longer than most of us expect.
I hope that you begin to get relief from your pain soon.
This is a great site filled with info and supportive folks. I hope it helps you as it is helping me.
take care
I've got to constsntly stretch my neck by either jutting my chin forward or by placing my hand on my chest, GENTLY applying pressure & pulling down, rotating my head side to side while looking as far behind me as possible. Looks like some serious eye rolling. Sort of like trying to look at your butt without twisting your body.
The spasms I can tolerate with ice & heat. I've got to alternate between the two (10m ice & 20 m heat) & it helps within about 1 hour. I will tell you mediation helps a lot. Never was a believer but i really helps. One dr had me concentrate on my breathing...4 sec in thru nose & 8 sec out thru mouth. Less than a minute my shoulders started to relax. Muscle pain I've all sorts of ways to control...have you tried Volteran Gel or Pennsaid? Both are pricy BUT drs do have samples. Rubbing these on my neck, shoulder & chest area really help with any inflammed muscles or joints.
I truly wish you the best! Please let me know if any works or not ... what all have your tried?
I really wasn't worried about the recovery & never asked...I didn't have much time to debate my choices & never thought recovery would the worse that a double lumbar fusion...I confess its much worse. My lumbar issues were a cake walk compared to this!
God Bless You!
RESEARCH pain drs in your area. Don't expect miracles but to find a livable situation. That's what sucks for me. Treatments & meds last at most 8 months then my body says NO! And we have to change everything again. I've had gastric bypass which leads myself to believe its the reason my pain meds don't last the time expected/experienced as other patients. Shortened digestive tract means faster processing of the meds!
I will tell you 10mg of methadone every 6hrs has been the BEST thing for my neck pain. My pain was starting to break too soon again & the oxymorphine wouldn't control the breakthrough pain.
I take 2 strong pain meds that requires me to take some form of pain med every 3 hrs. I take cymbalta 2x to 3x a day (this varies due to it can cause insomnia to be worse).
Sounds like physical theraphy may help...you don't hold back & make sure you are clear with them about what works & what is a waste of time. A good therapist will listen & adjust. My last pt was stopped before started. They were straight with me saying I was too out of control with pain & it needed controlled more before starting pt again.
Jewel this is a WONDERFUL site for support 24/7. You will meet great people here. Some will be wonderful for support when you've hit your end. Others do offer much needed advise to help the physical pain. (Please ignor anyone you may try to knock you down).
Either way you are not alone now that you've found this site.
Traci Mac
Hope you get some relief soon!