Neck Pain (& arm pain) not going away

  • Thread starter Thread starter Merrida
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Merrida

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I've had neck problems (secondary to my lurabar issues) for around a decade and have always handled flare ups quite well.

Past few years of course, as time goes on, things get a little worse...

Then about 1-2 months ago I feel like I threw my neck out and around C5-C7, and to the right, laterally, is where I feel my pain. (I also have TMJD and my right ear is affected as well as my right jaw joint, and my right sinus cavity -- all of which get inflamed).

I've been having particularly bad ear aches this past year, but this bout of neck strain or whatever it is happened feeling like an actual trauma, -- I felt it "go." I've been to the chiropractors twice and it seemed to relieve the pain and pressure, but it keeps coming back.

My right arm goes nurab (driving, using the mouse, etc.) but again, it's done that for at least 1-2 years or so now, and it's on the right side that I recently had (one year ago) several root canals on the upper/right jaw, -- so I just can't tell what's connected to what or what caused what.

So this neck thing,... has anyone experienced anything like this? Usually a "stiff neck" or when I throw it out, I can deal with it and it gets fixed and I know what to expect and how long it takes to go away.

I just feel like this sucker is really dragging on, and everything feels so concentrated and bizarre.... I think because everything is "on the right" it's scaring me....
 
Merrida,

SounRAB like you may have a herniated cervical disc. I'm not sure I would let a chiro manipulate your neck until you get it checked out.

All of those symptoms, except the ear pain are consistent with cervical problems. The ear pain is more likely the TMJ.

I'm sorry you are having such a rough time. Hang in there kiddo. We're rooting for you :)

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God bless,

Lea
 
I completely agree with PsychLea. Go to a neurologist and get it checked out. I had a herniated cervical disc in my neck (c3-4) and once nurabing starts happening, they have to relieve the pressure on the nerve or the potential for permanent nerve damage can occur. I was originally treated for a stiff neck (very painful stiff neck, might I add!) until MRI's showed the herniation. As soon as my arm starting going nurab, surgery was no longer an option but a necessity. Had C3-4 fused. It instantly will relieve those symptoms. Please get it checked!

Casperclaudee
 
My neck gets "caught" or hung up or something, and sort of locked into a stuck position, and I find myself tilting my head (unconsciously or automatically) and it unlocks... and why would the chiro adjustment work and relieve pain then? If it were herniated, wouldn't that mean I would not get any relief what so ever?

I put ice on it last night to bring down the swelling and it actually made it worse (which seemed totally contradictory to what works for my low back and given my docs tell me to ice it too)...

Even with the nurabness, it's very much positional/postural related. I can relieve the arm nurabness within 1-2 minutes, am asymptomatic most of the time, and can get neck pain relief. I'm not in pain, or in pain and nurabness, all the time, or even most of the time. But it's wigging me out because the neck pain returns. It goes away but it returns.

Given I can make it happen with certain positions, it doesn't just sort of come and go arbitrarily, I thought it might be more of a structural issue?

Urgh.
 
Hi Merrida,

I read about people on these boarRAB going to chiros for neck adjustments and it scares me so much that I felt I just had to say something because last year my hubby's cousin's wife passed away due to a chiros neck manipulation. PLEASE, PLEASE guys don't let them touch your necks. I know some people get some temporary relief but it's just not worth taking the chance in my opinion.

Take Care :wave:
Joanne


------------------
  • Diagnosed DDD 1993
  • C4-C5 posterior osteophytic bar effacing ventral thecal sac Mild stenosis of neural foramina
  • C5-C6 posterior disc protrusion effacing v t s .Mild stenosis of neural foramina
  • C6-C7 posterior disc herniation effacing v t s . Mild stenosis of neural foramina
  • C7-T1 Small perineural cysts present in both neural foramina.
  • left convex scoliosis of mid thoracic spine. wedging of T7. wedging of T5 .degenerative end plate changes at T8-T9
  • L4-L5 diffuse disc bulge effacing v t s. hypertrophy of facet joints, minimal central spinal stenosis.
  • L5-S1 posterior disc protrusion with associated tear of annulus fibrosis. hypertrophy of facet joints.
  • S1-S2 Perineural cysts involving S1-S2 nerve roots.
 
Again I agree with PsychLea (and joprud, too, for that matter), Merrida. It is suggestive of a herniated disc in the neck - it IS positional. In fact, prior to surgery, I got really good at moving my head into the exact position that would allow the blood flow to go back down my arm again. I, too, could relief it within a minute or two by moving my head/neck into a certain position. My money is on the fact that you have a herniated disc that is resting on a nerve. Dr's don't operate to relief neck pain - they operate to remove the disc material away from the nerve it is pinching.

Please go to a neurologist.

I really want to come back to this posting soon to learn you have had this checked out ....

Please?

Casperclaudee
 
Mwrrida,

My neck does the same thing. The twisted spasm is called tortocollis. The fact that you get relief from a positional change is also suggestive of a herniation.

Chiro adjustments with a possible herniation, can acturally extend the scope of the herniation from the sudden movements related to adjustment.

Please get it checked out. Your symptoms will come and go. Mine did for years, now they are constant and even postitional changes don't work anymore.



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God bless,

Lea
 
Yeah ive had my neck lock on several occasions where ive not been able to move my head side to side for about 3 or 4 days. I started seeing a chiropractor and they'd manipulate it and temporarily sort out the pain. Then i discovered self manipulation where throwing my neck out would relieve the constant ache. Now neither self manipulation nor over the counter remedies are helping. Ive now got pain in my shoulder, some heaviness in the upper rigt arm(occasionally in my right forearm) and ive been getting headaches. After years of 'managing' the pain im finally taking myself to the doctor to ask for an xray.Is your neck tender to touch in the discs too?
Claire
 
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