Wellness

[Stella Dallas]

On 3/22/2015 Sassenach1 said:

I'll preface this by saying, yes, I am seeing an MD and have had PT for several months. Pain in my neck has been off and on for years. It centers in the area between neck and shoulder. About a year ago, it became horrible. X ray showed some arthritis and degeneration of disc. I did Naproxen and PT for a few months and it became much more manageable. In November, it got bad again and I have done PT since. PT helps. But, anything can trigger the pain back again: plane flights (weekly) kill me, sitting with a mouse at a desk is horrible, for example.

I went back to the doc this week and she ordered an MRI.

I have mixed feelings about the MRI. What if it shows nothing and what if it shows something? !!

Anyone have experience with this? Thank you.

Oh you poor thing! I could have written this post myself so I truly understand and sympathize with what you're going through.

I had just about every treatment available, including a neurotomy: it's a procedure in which the nerve carrying pain to and from the neck is killed off by cauterization (done under local anesthesia). It actually hurts worse for a few week till the nerve dies off but then you have relief till it grows back--anywhere from 6 months to a year. When the nerve regenerates, you "just" get it cauterized again and again. Small price to pay if it works.

Unfortunately it didn't work for me so I'm taking pain meds and seeing a chiropractor. I'm starting to feel better despite my wary distrust of chiros; after a while, you'll try anything. As I said, I've had every treatment for this there is so please don't start in on me about taking pain medication.

And, yes, do have an MRI; it might not show anything but maybe it will. In either case, you'll have the information to make an informed decision about what to do next. And please do let us know how you're doing; I really do care.