For sale or trade-one spine, fits a shorter than average woman, lots of years of service now in need of a more relaxed lifestyle. Owner looking for a spine that can withstand working, house cleaning, playing, and other activities. Please send email reply.
It took many, many years for the doctors to find out what was wrong with my spine, and only then after things got so bad that you now can see part of it without x-ray. I had lumbar spine fusion 2 years ago. It stopped the pain going down my butt and leg, but my scoliosis is so bad that I still have constant pain in my lower back.
I hope they are able to determine what is wrong with your neck very soon. There are many more diagnostic tecniques today than there were 40 years ago. Maybe that's why they couldn't diagnose me properly for so long.
Is the doctor an orthopedic surgeon? I assume that he is, but I hope that he specializes in backs/necks. Also, I think you might benefit from a pain specialist. I have finally got some relief in my upper back and neck with radiofrequency ablation. My pain specialist, now, is an anesthesiologist as well. The procedure I had was in an outpatient faciity and after 2 previous procedures to determine if this would work, the ablation basically cauterizes the nerves from the spine that are causing the problem. It doesn't work for all neck/back pain, but it has helped mine. The pain level is down in that area for the first time in years. And I've been on opiate pain relievers for several years. I still have to take my pain meds, but my OA is throughout my body.
I still have pain in my lower back and 1 place in upper, but they are going to do another procedure on the 15th.
Sorry to go into all this, but I just wanted you to know that there are really more ways to manage pain than there has ever been. You might be a good candidate for surgery, but at least there are other, less invasive things that can sometimes be done.
Of course it depends on what he finds. I will be thinking of you! I do understand how all-consuming back pain can be and I pray that you will be able to get the help you need.
Gentle hugs,
Nini
PS. I forgot to tell you. This is really weird. I have been 5'6" all my life until about 4 yrs. ago. They then measured me at 5'4". I stayed there until 2 weeks ago. I couldn't believe it, but the nurse measured me twice at 5'2" !I've lost 4" of height in 4 years, because of my spine.
Wow! the incredible shrinking woman!!
I do have a herniated disc at C5-C6. I did see a pain mgmt doc that was an anesthesiologist and he did spinal injections under conscious sedation. They didnt help. This doc is an orthopedic spine specialist, he is my second opinion doc. The first one told me I was too young for surgery and he didnt want to cause me more problems with my RA. That was a year and a half ago and my RA was not under control at the time. That was also before I have the spinal injections. So maybe it is going to be different this time. A few of the nurses I work with have had surgery on their necks by this particular doc and were very pleased with the outcome. This courtery procedure you are talking about is not anything I have heard of before..maybe it doesnt apply to my situation since none of the docs have mentioned it before, but I will look it up and see what I find out.
It is truely a pain in the neck!
Sorry I can't help Crunchy but I have neck problems of my own. I had x-rays about 8 weeks ago and they showed that there is no disc at c/3-4 and that the neural space on the right at c/4-5 is quite impinged but not by disc, the actual bones are way out. My GP is sending my to a neuro surgeon but I have no idea when I will see him probably not until in the new year
Anyway, I hope you get through the next week until you see your surgeon and I hope you get some relief soon.
Just a Good-morning bump! Nope ya do not want mine. It starts to hurt and get stiff within 15 mins of consistant sitting upright and sometimes while laying down.Sorry...I don't think you would like the trade. I have the neck problems as well as arthritis and inflamation from top to bottom. I hope all goes well, and then you can recover. I am sorry about the pain....I honestly know what you are feeling.
Nope, you don't want mine either. Multiple herniations in the cervical and lumbar areas, plus spondylosis too.
The only thing I can add is to ask whether you've consulted a chiropractor or gone for physical therapy. They won't be able to "fix" it, but they may be able to help with the muscle tension and get things back into line. There are good chiropractors out there if you look.
I've been seeing my chiropractor for 26 years (yes, I started when I was 11) and he has been one of the most helpful docs I have. He always has time for me, listens to what I have to say, respects my knowledge of my own body, and even takes the time to help me understand my MRI films that the other docs have ordered. (So I got to understand why my one disc now looks like a valentine heart!
As for my other docs, I got an epidural nerve block that didn't help at all, and I saw a highly recommended specialist surgeon who told me I should put off the neck surgery as long as I could stand it, and hopefully the procedures would be more advanced by then. He also told me there was nothing they could do for my multiple lumbar herniations.
I hope you find some relief soon!
(Edited to find those 10 yrs I lost in my RA brain)
Crunchy, please let me know what you find out! By the way. If you look up the cauterization procedure I had, it is called "radiofrequency ablation"
Good Luck, Sweetie! I know how hard this pain is to deal with!!
Much love,
Nini
edited to fix bad typing (I have a cast on r. hand/arm)
< =text/>_popupControl(); Well, you and I have had many conversations regarding your more than rebellious neck problem. I have no other suggestions for you my hunny. All I can really say right now is try your darndest to get in for surgery before 6 months. I am betting that something will come along that will free up your schedule so you can get this done.
I'm so sorry you are in so much pain. It kills me to know my bestest friend is in this much pain and there isn't a darned thing I can do about it. Except tell you how sorry I am, tell you I loves yas muchly, and be there when you need to vent about it.
I will try and fly down when you have the surgery so I can help out with my diva and money man. It is all going to depend on my RA!! Which better be under control by then!!!!
I'm sorry you're still having neck and back problems and I hope you can find a solution.
Not a good trade here though I'm afraid. Degenerative disk makes mine a poor swap!