Wellness

[June Lands]

do you have it? What were your symptoms? Did you have neck, shoulder, arm pain? What was the protocol of tests they used to diagnose you? .... And, what was the choice of therapy used to help you? Thanks for sharing!

[Danielle46]

Yes, I have had it for years. I go to the gym and work out, do pilates just about everything. When it acts up, I use moist heating pads, anti inflammatory meds (for a week) or go to Physical Therapy for 6 weeks. An MTI is what I had done and is what they usually do. BTW, I also have herniated discs in both my neck & lower back with arthritis and degenerative disc disease in both place.

Once in a while I will get a flare up but I have lived with it for over 15 years without being on drugs and leading a very healthy lifestyle i.e. eating healthy, keeping my weight where it should be for my height and lots of exercise.

[sfnative]

I've been hit by 4 d-runk drivers over the years. During the course of being struck from behind the force of the hit goes to the C5-6 joint. About 5 years after the last of these accidents, I started having pain down the under side of my right arm (ulnar nerve pain). Then it progressed to trap pain and spasm on the right side, then to muscle spasm in my neck to the point where my range of motion was extremely limited, then finally I started having weakness in my thumb and forefinger, so had difficulty picking things up. That's when I went to a neurosurgeon for my second visit.

I would never had gone to a gym knowing that I had DDD.

I did have limited PT, as at the time I was the Administrator of a PT clinic. However, the clinical director said my neck was too acute and he wanted no one laying hands on my neck due to extreme loss of motion.

At the neurosurgeon, whom I had seen the previous year, he said it was time to get an MRI. This was all-telling. I had severe nerve compression on the right and had surgery 2 weeks later. My neck is so good now it's wonderful. I had 17 years of a really nasty neck and would not want to go through that again.

The best to you in your quest. I would recommend a head and neck surgeon, should you get to that point.

[hckynut]

I've had 3 crushed vertebrae in my neck since the early 1980's and it has caused different pains over many years. There were times I could not lift my head off a pillow without using my hand and arm. There were times when it was referred nerve pain in my trap muscle area and under my shoulder blade.

Have had it looked at by both of my Orthopod friends and at this point they told me it was 50-50 that surgery would make it any better. That ain't good enough odds for me so I will go with the bad times when they come. Both looked at the same MRI that was done in the office of my Spinal Surgeon as his had the stronger of the magnets and they both decided it was best to have it done there.

For many years another friend of mine, who is now deceased, was a Chiropractor and his adjustments were the best thing to have done when I had real painful issues caused by this cervical problem.

This type of pain, like lower back issues, can be very debilitating and makes it very hard to go about ones daily life. My job required lifting heavy reels of wire and this certainly did not help my problems. With an aspirin now and again and an adjustment from my friend the Chiropractor, I got through some pretty rough times.

Since I never quit working out, I had/have my own huge gym, I only consulted with a PT friend of one of my doctors, and he gave me some exercises with more specificity for my neck injury. When able I worked diligently on strengthening my neck muscles and this help immensely over time.

My suggestion is to go to a Orthopedic Doctor that specializes in the Neck and/or Spine and see if they recommend having an MRI.

Best to you as I understand fully this type of pain.

[June Lands]

Thankyou for your honest replies! It sounds like all of you have had it difficult and dealt with it. It sounds like this is something you deal with... just like any other constant pain that is never ending.... One more chapter to add to my book of life I guess. I am use to pain and dealing with it while still trying to keep positive and happy... maybe with some physical therapy and determination this too will be do-able. Best to each of you and your journey!

[gailcoco]

I have a bad neck also. What helps me is cervical traction and using 'My Pillow' and pain pills.

My MRI showed a degenerative cervical spondylosis C4/5 and C5/6 with anterolisthesis of C3 on C4 whatever the heck that means - besides pain.

The neurosurgeon sent me to PT where the physical therapist set me up with the cervical traction and my insurance covered my home equipment. Good luck. Gail

[151949]

I was having pain and constant itching in my left neck and shoulder. The neuro doctor ordered an MRI and said he felt that I degenerative disc disease in my neck. Which is another way to say arthritis in my neck. He ordered me PT with traction and that took care of it completely. That was 5 years ago. occasionally the constant itching returns and I see the chiropractor and he helps that a lot. The itching is caused when there is pressure on the nerve but not bad enough to cause pain. The itching is because there are layers in the nerve and itching is pressure on the outer layer. It is very irritating, though. Like having 100 mosquito bites in the same area.

[sinut]

Yes, have cervical spinal disease. Have had two surgeries within one year. One anterior and one posterior. I had chronic constant arm pain, neck pain, shoulder area. I am on social security disability as the surgeries were not successful. I did not have any accidents that contributed to this. Best of luck to anyone who has this.

[RinaRina]

On 12/1/2014 AnnaBella said: do you have it? Did you have neck, shoulder, arm pain? What was the protocol of tests they used to diagnose you? .... And, what was the choice of therapy used to help you? Thanks for sharing!

#1-Yes #2-Yes #3-Yes #4-Xrays, MRI, Cat-scan with contrast #5-Inversion Table

I've also had 3 surgeries.

[Tyak]

I was diagnosed 9 years ago. woke up one morning with what felt like a very stiff neck, progressing in a week to headaches and numbness to the wrist. I was sent to a doctor who said nothing could be done except surgery so I decided that wasn't going to happen except as a last resort. I went back to my pcp and he then sent me to physical therapy for more than a few months as I remember it. They worked miracles with me and now when it starts to flare up, which isn't very often, I do the exercises I was taught to do and in a day or two, all pain is gone. I have not seen a doctor about it in the past 9 years. Do not hurry into surgery!