M
mountainmomma50
Guest
Hi-- I know that going to my doctor is best -but would like some opinions or advice.
I am 50 year old Caucasian woman [who 'outside' seem not to age [look 30-32] but 'inside' tells a different story!
I have had 2 major accidents in my 20's and have suffered stiff neck and pain when overworking for years - with no need for medical intervention.
5 years ago I did not know I re-injured myself doing heavy moving work...but 2 weeks later woke up to what felt like fire and someone knifing me in the right side neck, shoulder and arm.
Primary Dr. prescribed pain meRAB and muscle relaxants.
Long story ....but fast forward to now [ after 2 Primary Drs, 3 neurosurgeons visits [ 2 who said I was NOT a surgical candidate, and one who wanted to operate immediately with spinal fusion] 3 MRI's, and visit to Pain Mgmt Clinic [ last one was for shoulder trigger point injections.]
2nd MRI [ 2-3 years ago] showed a Hemangioma in C7 .... of which a full-body bone scan was done and showed nothing else in bones but that.
My 'new' Primary Dr. [ when he saw the latest MRI done about 6-7 months ago] told me I needed to IMMEDIATELY be operated on...but now acts like I am a drug addict for being able to ONLY get relief from pain meRAB.
I am on Loritab 10/325...take 2 to 2 & 1/2 3-4 x per day now. Been on drug for 3-4 years straight - but not this dose. [Started out on 5/750 then went to 7.5/325 and then to 10/325 does -- part in tolerance to drug and part in deterioration of body/spine/discs. etc.]. Been on current dose for 1-2 years. Prescribed 180 pills per month and always have issue of 'not enough' by last few days of month. They usually last about 25-28 days... hard to be enough for all the pain I have.
Primary Dr. was the one to send me to last [3rd] Neurosurgeon who did not want to operate just for reasons of pain. [He felt he could cause more pain.]
Latest MRI says this: {will not note normal findings]
* Subtle loss of height in C3-4 disk but no evidence of HNP. Cord is surrounded by CSF. Neural foramina visible.
* At C5-6, the disk is markedly degenerated and there is a prominent posterior osteophyte which completely effaces the ventral subarachnoid space. The cord is draped over the osteophyte. On axial T2, there is subtle cord remodeling, without frank compression. There is no CSF, ventral or dorsal to the cord at this level. Bilateral uncovertebral spurring but the neural foramina are still visible.
At C6-7, the disk is degenerated and there is small posterior osteophyte which is eccentrically larger to the left. This does not result in cord compression. The neural foramina are visible.
* On the axial T2 images, there is a speckled configuration in the hemangioma of C7 which occupies most of the traverse diameter of the cervical body. The C7-T1 disk is normal. The neural foramina are patent. The 3 upper thoracic disks are normal.
------------------------------------------------
MY QUESTIONS & CONCERNS.
Since last Neurosurgeon did NOT want to operate [but did not rule it out later on] I have put back to Primary Dr and Physical Therapy [short term] and Pain Mgmt Clinic.
Biggest issue is MORNINGS as I cannot sleep for more than 4 hours without intense pain [no matter HOW I lay, or what expensive cervical pillows I buy]. I believe this is now due to what is known as 'Facet Joint Syndrome'==but no Dr has addressed my lack of sleep concerns. I am sleep-deprivred for several years now and that has affected me, too.
Some days when I wake up it is sooooooo bad, I cannot move nor do anything for many hours - and I often 'lose the whole day' to this pain, weakness, headaches and stiffness.
I have had other sypmtonsd which I canm live with [ nurabness and tingling of 4th and 5th fingers, weakness in arm and grip, etc]
Now they want to do Medial Branch Block and Epidural Injections -- but I fear that this is just a 'band-aid' to cover the pain [and further degeneration] that is going on.
No regular DR takes me serious after awhile [and had several tell me "You don't look sick." -- "or in distress" -- but that is because Pain Med keep me functioning and I have usually taken my morning pills before the Dr's visit.
I KNOW THAT ONLY ADVICE CAN BE GIVEN HERE-- BUT WOUOD LIKE SOME ANYWAY...
I HAVE LOST SO MUCH TIME, MONEY, WORK, RELATIONSHIPS, ETC DUE TO PAIN... At least I have good Insurance to cover all the visits and meRAB....
[AND DO NOT LIKE BEING CALLED AN ADDICT], WHEN CLEARLY ALL OF MY MRI'S SHOW ISSUES THAT CAN AND DO CAUSE PROBLEMS
I am 50 year old Caucasian woman [who 'outside' seem not to age [look 30-32] but 'inside' tells a different story!
I have had 2 major accidents in my 20's and have suffered stiff neck and pain when overworking for years - with no need for medical intervention.
5 years ago I did not know I re-injured myself doing heavy moving work...but 2 weeks later woke up to what felt like fire and someone knifing me in the right side neck, shoulder and arm.
Primary Dr. prescribed pain meRAB and muscle relaxants.
Long story ....but fast forward to now [ after 2 Primary Drs, 3 neurosurgeons visits [ 2 who said I was NOT a surgical candidate, and one who wanted to operate immediately with spinal fusion] 3 MRI's, and visit to Pain Mgmt Clinic [ last one was for shoulder trigger point injections.]
2nd MRI [ 2-3 years ago] showed a Hemangioma in C7 .... of which a full-body bone scan was done and showed nothing else in bones but that.
My 'new' Primary Dr. [ when he saw the latest MRI done about 6-7 months ago] told me I needed to IMMEDIATELY be operated on...but now acts like I am a drug addict for being able to ONLY get relief from pain meRAB.
I am on Loritab 10/325...take 2 to 2 & 1/2 3-4 x per day now. Been on drug for 3-4 years straight - but not this dose. [Started out on 5/750 then went to 7.5/325 and then to 10/325 does -- part in tolerance to drug and part in deterioration of body/spine/discs. etc.]. Been on current dose for 1-2 years. Prescribed 180 pills per month and always have issue of 'not enough' by last few days of month. They usually last about 25-28 days... hard to be enough for all the pain I have.
Primary Dr. was the one to send me to last [3rd] Neurosurgeon who did not want to operate just for reasons of pain. [He felt he could cause more pain.]
Latest MRI says this: {will not note normal findings]
* Subtle loss of height in C3-4 disk but no evidence of HNP. Cord is surrounded by CSF. Neural foramina visible.
* At C5-6, the disk is markedly degenerated and there is a prominent posterior osteophyte which completely effaces the ventral subarachnoid space. The cord is draped over the osteophyte. On axial T2, there is subtle cord remodeling, without frank compression. There is no CSF, ventral or dorsal to the cord at this level. Bilateral uncovertebral spurring but the neural foramina are still visible.
At C6-7, the disk is degenerated and there is small posterior osteophyte which is eccentrically larger to the left. This does not result in cord compression. The neural foramina are visible.
* On the axial T2 images, there is a speckled configuration in the hemangioma of C7 which occupies most of the traverse diameter of the cervical body. The C7-T1 disk is normal. The neural foramina are patent. The 3 upper thoracic disks are normal.
------------------------------------------------
MY QUESTIONS & CONCERNS.
Since last Neurosurgeon did NOT want to operate [but did not rule it out later on] I have put back to Primary Dr and Physical Therapy [short term] and Pain Mgmt Clinic.
Biggest issue is MORNINGS as I cannot sleep for more than 4 hours without intense pain [no matter HOW I lay, or what expensive cervical pillows I buy]. I believe this is now due to what is known as 'Facet Joint Syndrome'==but no Dr has addressed my lack of sleep concerns. I am sleep-deprivred for several years now and that has affected me, too.
Some days when I wake up it is sooooooo bad, I cannot move nor do anything for many hours - and I often 'lose the whole day' to this pain, weakness, headaches and stiffness.
I have had other sypmtonsd which I canm live with [ nurabness and tingling of 4th and 5th fingers, weakness in arm and grip, etc]
Now they want to do Medial Branch Block and Epidural Injections -- but I fear that this is just a 'band-aid' to cover the pain [and further degeneration] that is going on.
No regular DR takes me serious after awhile [and had several tell me "You don't look sick." -- "or in distress" -- but that is because Pain Med keep me functioning and I have usually taken my morning pills before the Dr's visit.
I KNOW THAT ONLY ADVICE CAN BE GIVEN HERE-- BUT WOUOD LIKE SOME ANYWAY...
I HAVE LOST SO MUCH TIME, MONEY, WORK, RELATIONSHIPS, ETC DUE TO PAIN... At least I have good Insurance to cover all the visits and meRAB....
[AND DO NOT LIKE BEING CALLED AN ADDICT], WHEN CLEARLY ALL OF MY MRI'S SHOW ISSUES THAT CAN AND DO CAUSE PROBLEMS