Facet Joint/Myofascial Syndrome

[Tyler019]

HELP!!! I was in an auto accident in Deceraber 1, 2008. My upper back and neck were seriously injured, although the pain was not felt untill 3+ hours after the accident. Since then I have seen several doctors including : orthopedics, neurologist, chiropractor, and pain management specialist. The pain management doctor diagnosed me with Facet Joint Syndrome and Myofascial Syndrome. He assigned me 3% permanent disabilty in my neck, and also put me on 6 rescriction such as weight limit and work activity etc..... I have been on at least 10 different medications for this. The most recent that have been some what helping are tramadol 50mg 4x a day and soma compound 2x a day. I have been to the ER 2x because the pain was so unbearable. Xrays were taken 2/09 and 9/09. The ones taken in 2/09 showed a possible vertebrae fracture. There was also an MRI taken 3/09 and they said they could not see any fracture on the vertebrae. On the MRI to me it looked like the discs were slightly bulged into the spinal cord but no enough for the radiologist to say anything. He did say there was a mild straightening of the cervical spine which is due to muscle spasms. We do have a lawyer for this as the accident was 100% the other parties fault and also because I have not been able to work for more than 2 months without being in total agony. As some points it gets to a point where the pain killers don't touch it. The pain has gotten worse over time and it is now not only in my neck but in my upper back and it seems as time goes on it begins to go farther and farther down my back. Is it possible that the doctor has wrongfully diagnosed me? If so what do you think it could be? Also the lawyer stated that the insurance company is going to want some kind of proof that there is a problem in my back. What kind of medical images would show what is going on in my back? Should I get another MRI because the one that we have no was taken so long ago and the new one could show something that was no visible at that time but has no progressed to a point where it is visible. Also what about a CT/PET scan? Would either one of those help? Please anyone any kind of input.

 

[Mazzieb]

Ok, ok, ok....your discs are bulging into your spinal cord and the radiologist didn't think it was necessary to say anything? Must be an insurance issue...greedy punks (I really want to use a bad word but I won't) I have Chronic myofascial pain, so I know exactly how bad your feel. If the tramadol is working for you, stick with it. However, please don't be afraid to tell your doctor if you need something stronger. The muscle knots caused from the trauma of your accidents have made your fascia, the thin net that runs continuously from your head to your toes) bunch up and entrap nerves, which is why its so painful. The knots themselves can be hard as rocks and you can often mistake them for bones. As far as the bulging discs go, that is pressing on your nerves as well. I have known people to correct that with chiropractic unless it becomes chronic, then it may require surgery. Definitely get these issues under control NOW so you don't have to suffer for 12+ years like I have. I am 34 and got into a car accident at 17, but didn't have pain until I was almost 22. Now I have scar tissue in my neck, 40+ knots in my neck, back, and hips, can't sleep, have to seriously think about doing even the simplest things in life because I know I'll pay the next day. So please...go to a chiropractic neuroligist, a myofascial pain trigger point specialist, and a radiologist who is willing to look at your MRI. Good luck...You are in my prayers

 

[feelbad]

i would first seek out the opinion of an actual neurosurgeon for HIS actual read of your MRI films himself, and possibly get another comparritve MRI done even before you seek out the referral to that NS too but also done WITH an actual contrasting agent for the best way to really see certain findings? your primary can actually refer you for this MRI with no problem, or one of the others? but honestly, getting ONLY the neurologists impressions of this type of thing really is NOT anywhere near as good as from an actual neurosurgeon who just knows by looking at your films what really IS and is not an actual issue/damage there? they just are the ones who actually have to go inside of peoples spinal areas and do just have that level of expertise that ologist simply do NOT have. you just do need the NS level opinion,esp if it does appear that ANYTHING has been 'pushed' towarRAB that spinal cord?
radiologists too only have their own levels of real experience of doing reaRAB to go by here and depending upon just how much real actual read experience THEY have at all will dictate what they even may see or not see as a real solid finding on anyones MRIs? it DOES matter, trust me.

what you have going on up there can very very easily be from even partly the initial trauma and is continuing to be fed from the c spine issues. what mazzie just explained about fascia IS true and very much can create some insane levels of pain from muscles that are bascially being held 'hostage" from what just happens to that fascia once really angry nerve signals get sent out to the muslces from ANY level of spinal damage or out right inflammation. i too have myofascial crap from alot of c spine problems and damage to the muscles from a surgery done on my spinal cord where they had to simply cut thru all that nice solid muscle then sew it all back up? nightmare, let me tell ya. my fascia gets released thru an amazing therepy called myofascial release? been doing this now for about three years and it has actually allowed me to stay on the exact same dose of oxycontin i have been on now for five years. it would definitely not been possible if i had not just taken the suggestion and referral from my pain clinic to this one therepist who they are connected with who does this specific type of therepy. no more solid huge nasty trigger points like i had when i started. just something for the both of you actually that could really really help in releasing the overall muscle crap in you. and defintiely reducing that hellish type of pain.

have you actually read thru your own MRI report? do you have a copy? did you only 'speak with" the rad who read your films somhow or did your primary tell you what was and was not actually even IN that report? just wondering,but at any rate, i would obtain a copy of this and ANY other types of testing you may also need from here on out so you can keep your very own medical files at home. i do this with EVERY type of scan or test i have ever had done and they do come in very handy at times. this also allows you to actually read thru your own reports as well which IS crucial with some docs, usually the specialists who simply DO NOT always even tell you what was really a solid finding IN that report at all. they just do this really stupid and sick stuff. but i would obtain that comparritive MRI with contrast just to really see the changes that do come along with time. if there actually IS anything pushing towarRAB your cord in that other MRI, it is even more crucial to really just see where that one finding actually is at this point too. and if this is going to be a legal issue, then you definitely need to seek out a really good neurosurgeon for the best overall opinion/impression and hanRAB on evaluation from someone who really really knows what tests to do that just would show any levels of neuro impairment and whether or not you DO actually have ANY possible cord level issues too.

but DO get that new MRI done as soon as possible and get to a good NS. did that other report actually mention ANY herniations or nerve root impingement? like i said if you do not yet have a copy of that MRI report, get one and read thru it now. please do keep us posted on what gets found out this time around and get a copy of this one as well. good luck with this, marcia