Spinal Cord :: Cervical Radiculopathy From Pinched Cervical Neck
Feb 23, 2015
Have been suffering for 3 months with pain from cervical issues (diagnosed through MRI) - bulging discs, some stenosis, degenerative disk disease that is causing severe pain from neck through shoulder blade, underarm and down left arm. As I've had arthritis in my neck for a long time I know this pain came about from a stress injury to my neck. Have tried much conservative treatment (some physical therapy, chiropractic, and medication - currently 900 mg gabapentin and hydrocodone and ibuprofen and various others that I stopped.) I just had a Epidural Injection last week and thru this week experienced a bit of relief but not what I was hoping for. My question is has anyone gotten better with this type of problem doing these measures and had their problem resolve or at least get about 75% better without having any surgical intervention. My doctor thinks we can resolve this without surgery but also said surgery would be extensive as I have about 4/5 bad levels. I'm thinking of trying acupuncture and would appreciate anyone's input. Very tired of the pain and getting a bit depressed.
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I'm 65 years old, male.
In Nov 2014 I found by casualty (MRI magnetic resonance imaging) that I have severe spondylotic cervical myelopathy (CSM) at C4-C5. I don't feel or show any neurological symptoms, like gait or radiculopathy. Neither feel any pain. One neurosurgeon strongly recommends surgery, because, he says, I'm in great danger and I will get symptoms soon. Another neurosurgeon strongly recommends not doing surgery, as long as I do not show any symptoms, because, he says, my case is clinical, not surgical, and recommends me to take care, don't walk in slippery floors and don't put my head to much backwards.
Does anyone has a similar condition that may help me to decide for surgery or "wait an see"? Is there any less invasive surgery that in spite not decompressing the spinal cord might at least delay progression, like ozone therapy or foraminotomy?
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I dont know i have cervical spondylosis , but MRI said i have a cervical spasm < now even after eating food my heart rate increase some times and there are weird feeling all day long in the chest ,pain in arm .. i feel tingling numbness, in legs ,arms , shouledrs some time. disbalance when i just stand up
Mty Doctors are sending me to neurologist,Cardio , Rheumatologist,Internal medicine .
nothing solved . Heart is ok , ECG is ok, x-ray of heart is ok.Blood test was ok ...
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I went to physical therapy for TMJ 4 days ago, I'm 31 years old. While massaging my jaw the physical therapist went on to my neck, and without me knowing out of nowhere cranked my neck super hard and it popped 3 times on the left side. My neck has been stiff on the left ever since with some pain and when I walk I hear loud clicking crackling/pop rocks sounds in my neck right before it meets the shoulders. Did he injure me? anyone else experience this? will it go away.
I was so upset he cracked my neck like that he isn't even a chiropractor but said afterwards when I got upset with him that he knows chiropractor movements.
I've never been to a chiropractor so I don't know how it compares but it seems really hard and forceful when he did it. Its weird that when I move my neck I don't hear the sound, only when walking. Someone please advise me on this.
Also what type of doctor should I see for this issue, i'm going to schedule an appointment tomorrow, but don't know the type of doctor who would be best. My GP just gave me ibuprofen and said it should go away on it's own.
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I am new to the board and am now one year out from lumbar fusion. I am a very physical person and a Personal Trainer as well. My low back pain has all but disappeared however neck and shoulder pain,stiffness and numbness are very concerning !!! I am currently treating with acupuncture and muscle relaxers. I also am a chronic migraine sufferer and believe this is partially being caused by cervical issues.
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My brother is on disability. He has a bulging disk in his neck that is making him dizzy. He has fallen several times because of this and frequently has to sit down. His insurance company won't cover the surgery. Is there anything I can do or something he can do to ease the pain? It makes me so sad that he is in such pain and can't afford to get help.
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I had five facet joint injections in my neck yesterday and I am in a lot of pain.
I have a lot of stiffness and can not move my head that well without being in pain. Anyone else experience this?
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can anyone help me understand the medical terminology used in my spine MRI report?
there is mild reversal of the cervical lordosis. at c 3-4 there is small right paracentral disc bulge mildly indenting the thecal sac. the cervical cord appears normal in caliber with no evidence of compression. normal caliber thoracic cord. conus medullaris terminates at the mid L1 level. there are single small T2 hyperintense foci within T1 and T12 vertebral bodies, which are inconspicuous on T1 weighted imaging, isointense to vertebral marrow, consistent with small hemangioma.
at SI joints, there is minor subchondral sclerosis evident on the sacral side, with low grade subchondral bone marrow edema evident anteriorly.
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I'm 42 and i have just found out that i have this condition. The 1st doctor i saw after having an x ray didn't bother to tell me that i had this condition, and it was the next doctor that did. I have been having symptoms for the last year or so , which are dizziness, some numbness in my little finger and ring finger, neck ache, which is muscular and nerve extending to my shoulder and arm i have also been getting jaw ache, and i've had tension headaches for years.
i'm not sure if all these symptoms are due to having 2 ribs. i'm waiting to have an mri in october.
However i am seeing a 'sacral-cranial' osteopath who is really helping, and i am also having homeopathy which is also helping.
I'm not sure what is going to happen and it's comforting to know that there are others out there that will know what I'm talking about and who i can talk to.
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I have recently been told after 15 years of going to the doctors asking for help i have 2 cervical ribs and need to see a respiratory specialist.
I have been suffering with breathing problems which they did put down to asthma which might not be now, pains in my back, stomach, neck and arm. and sometimes get numbness in my arm and fingers.
I am cold and feel weak and tired all the time. I can sleep for days and still feel tired, the more i do the more i feel ill.
I have a large bone showing above my left collarbone which i can feel a large tube or vein above it going over the top of the bone which i measure to be about 2" wide.
Just wanted to know what the average size and width of cervical ribs.
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I've been having pain and neck stiffness for years, and also have rheumatoid arthritis. Several months ago I started having "pins and needles" feeling in my left arm that became more and more intense from my shoulder down into my hand, mostly my thumb. I had an MRI, this is the result:
C2-3: There is a small posterior right lateral disc osteophyte complex as well as advanced facet arthropathy, particularly involving the right facet joint. This causes marked narrowing of the right neural foramen.
C3-4: There is moderate facet arthropathy, causing moderate narrowing of the left neural foramen. No evidence of canal stenosis. Right neural foramen appears patent.
C4-5: There is mild disc space narrowing and a right paracentral posterior disc/osteophyte complex causing minimal ventral impression on the thecal sac and mild narrowing of the right neural foramen. There is also moderate right facet arthropathy.
C5-6: There is advanced disc space narrowing, with prominent spurring both anteriorly and posteriorly. There is endplate sclerosis on both sides of the disc space. A prominent central posterior disc/osteophyte complex causes moderate to severe canal stenosis at this level with mild flattening of the cord. There is also moderate bilateral facet arthropathy. Neural foramina are significantly compromised at this level.
C6-7: There is a small posterior disc/osteophyte complex with minimal ventral impression on the thecal sac, but no significant canal stenosis or neural foraminal narrowing.
C7-T1: Normal.
OTHER: There is degeneration and narrowing at the C1-2 articulation with some irregularity of the dens.
CONCLUSION: Advanced degenerative disc disease involving the cervical spine, which is most severe at C5-6 with canal stenosis and bilateral neural foraminal narrowing at this level.
My doctor never called me, just sent me an email that said "no bulging disks, just arthritis", and he suggested I go see a pain management doctor. What should I do? I am having a really bad day today, my arm has been asleep more than it has been awake, and it's becoming more painful.
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I'm 48 suffered with cervical spondylosis for around 6 years, in the last two years it's got so painful. I have tried all meds, last year I had an op foraminotomy where they drilled the left side spurs C4 to C7. But the last year has been a nightmare the pain is worse. I have now had more MRI & CT scans more meds and having two injections next week. I asked the long term affect of my neck I was told I have a neck of a 70 year old. What dose this actually mean? Wheelchair what?? I am also on the list for a anterior cervical discectomy & fusion.
I have a fall time desk job which doesn't help at all but have a mortgage... holiday is taken as sick days.
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I am recovering from Anterior Cervical Discectomy, which became necessary to avoid drastic further deterioration.
I would like to tell you about my experience and what helped me. My problem started quite unexpectedly with a persistent back ache at work (I am an office worker). Within days it was so bad that I was vomiting with pain and had to stop working (I was commuting to London). I was on morphine within three weeks, but it did not help either. I won't list here all the various painkillers I was prescribed, which helped to certain extent, but the pain was so bad that I was suicidal. The doctors communicated with me hardly at all except writing another painkiller prescription. I felt totally abandoned by them. I tried osteopathy, ordinary physiotherapy and Bowen's therapy. Bowens worked the best but nothing would give more than a few hours relief from the extreme pain. My husband then hit on the Tens machine and that was the only thing that really helped. I would recommend it without hesitation. I dropped the morphine, which was a bit of nightmare for me anyway, and managed to live with the Tens machine.
Unfortunately my problem rapidly progressed to me losing strength from my arm and from my fingers and a neurologist recommended the dissection and fusion. It is not an easy fix, but to me it saved my life. I went back to work four months after the operation, seven months after first feeling the pain. I could not say I'm as good as new, but the pain has gone. My neck is stiff, gets tired very easily and a bit uncomfortable. I cannot lift, push or pull anything heavy. But I'm here, enjoying my family and grandchildren. I couldn't ask for more. I'm 63 and now feeling my age, that's all.
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I was diagnosed with cervical spondylitis when I was 27 ( had a severe fall when I was 16 yrs old...fell 2 stories), am 48 now and moved to Wales almost 2 yrs ago from South Africa and since being here, my pain has increased in intensity. Used to get steroid injections and am aware that I won't get that here in the U.K. I now suffer extreme nausea due to the pain and can only dry retch, as the valve below the oesophagus was tightened yrs ago and now prevents me from throwing up. I would appreciate if others with this condition could tell me what the maximum dosage of Ibuprofen one can take. Taking the normal dosage (2) does not alleviate the searing pain or spasms.
I am also very confused. After x-rays, all dr,s have said cervical spondylitis and not cervical spondylosis. Been told that I don't have arthritis and yet this is not ankylosing spondylitis, which 1 dr said it was..(he never saw the x-rays)...really confused even after numerous x-rays and dr,s. I am almost on the verge of giving up hope of getting effective painkillers from dr,s here. Do the exercises, use heated neck bags and nothing much helps, especially when I get a flare up.
Need to know if increased dosage of Ibuprofen would help.
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I am 42, was diagnosed with CS at 40. I take painkillers far to regularly due to neck pain and periods of constant headaches. Present one for 4 days! I sleep in a neck collar every night and have medication to help me get off to sleep. I have also been prescribed diazepam which i use when my neck movement is to restricted for me to carry out everyday duties. Luckily this is very rare. My left arm is affected the worse, not helped by nerve damage in my left hand from carpal tunnel syndrome. I don't use my left arm unless i have no option as it normally ends up with things dropped on floor due to weakness. If i rest left arm on table or passenger arm rest in car it will go numb. My consultant was excellent and extremely sympathetic when diagnosed. I have now been discharged with my pills and collar! And they say life begins at 40!
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I've been getting neck pain for some time and over the past 6 months or so it has become considerably worse. I get the usual pain at the back of the head, moving to the front. The change has been noticeable with nausea, dizziness and bed-ridden for usually 2 - 3 days at a time. Pain killers (over the shelf are not doing much for me) the sickness means that fluids and solids do not stay in for long and sleeping is out of the window.
Off tomorrow for a MRI scan hoping that this is going to shed some light on the problem and hopefully a diagnosis that makes sense.
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I have Bilateral Cervical Ribs. I also suffer Cervical headaches. Do the Cervical Headaches always come along with the ribs? Also, is it the Arthritis in the Cervical Ribs that are causing me so much agony? I have pain every single day. It gets so old, and boring. What does it take for them to remove them? I have a Kidney Disease as well, so I'm not able to take many pain meds, and the ones I have taken really don't do much of anything for me. I don't believe I have the TOS....think it would still be possible they would end up removing them WITHOUT having the TOS?
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I have CS in my neck and am in constant chronic (pain for the past three years). I am sick of being in pain.
My first visit to the NHS pain clinic was interesting, as the consultant informed me that I need to have Facet Joint Injections into the top part of my neck, which he plans to do in April !
I asked the consultant if there are any potential dangers from this procedure and he informed me that me that nothing can go wrong !
I got home ran a web search on Facet Joint Injections and am really horrified to read that there are rare - but very serious potential dangers from this procedure ... I feel that the NHS consultant has not explained the potential dangers to me.
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I have suffered with cervical spondylosis since i was 35 i am now 47 and in terrible pain i have physio naproxen co dydramol 500/30 nothing works i have a tens machine. Can not swim now due to severe pain,i get a constant feeling like a electric shock..or something cutting down my spine i have a feeling of unbalanced sometimes when i stand up my eyes are sensitive to the light,and my neck constantly feel to heavy for my shoulders.i get numbness tingling in hands feet hip sometimes and burning like you would not believe...Does anybody else get any of these symptoms ?plus terrible pain in neck and base of skull would love to hear from somebody else who suffers this terrible condition
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I am new to this site and new to the spondylosis. I am 36yrs and I have suffered with my neck since I was 25yrs. I have had physio no needle acupuncture and I am under pain management. Until recently I have never had any diagnosis until a few months ago.
Recently my symptoms have got worse most worrying in the dizziness and loss of balance I am suffering from and pains in my head and the neck pain has got a whole lot worse also.
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I was a raving hypochondriac, have suffered cs for 5 years,had mr scans,ct scans,myelograms and lumbar punctures,see my specialist regularly and just given different medication,vi suffer neck pain, headaches,numbness in arms and hands,but also have severe numbness in legs and feet,my hands and feet are permanently icy while the rest of my body burns up,feel permanently dizzy and nauseous,i have vision problems and incontinence problems,for past few months i have got steadily worse and not able to walk more than few yards,and cant get outdoors without aid of wheelchair,as pain in my joints and muscles is so bad,the nerves that are trapped have moved down my spine which is causing the leg pain,i have seen 3 specialists and a professor of m.s,i have meltdowns every so often as i always have been so active and cs can just bring you to your knees,i find that the specialists i see seem to think i am neurotic,i asked him to have my pain for a week and then come back and tell me how he feels...i feel people just don't understand how debilitating cs is and because outwardly you look ok and you do your hair and put some slap on your face,but walk a mile in my shoes when at 3am im walking the floor counting the hours till can have another pain killer,my last visit to my specialist i was given morphine patches,but suffering from ibs and gall stones was warned by my doctor that they would have adverse effects and they were so addictive.
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