?? Impingements

Hello,  I need some help, long story short, I've had RA for over five years  now and for the past few months have been having severe headaches, neck pain, shoulder pain, and it's effecting my fingers, hands, arms.  They finally did a MRI on the C-Spine, results are:
Broad based osteophyte and central disc protrusion at C4-C5 level causes moderate impingement on the central aspect of the spinal cord causing some mild flattening, there is no cord signal abnormalities present.  At C5-C6 there is also a small central disc osteophyte complex again causing some mild impingement on the ventral aspect of the spinal cord centrally and just to the left midline.  The remaining disc levels appear unremarkable. The cord signal is normal.  The cord is normal in caliber.  

Impression:  Degenerative changes involving the intervertebral discs at C4-C5 and C5-C6 levels as described. Moderate central cord impingement at both levels is present.  Please correlate clinically to determine the significance of this finding.

They have tried all kinds of  pain meds, all they do is cause me stomach problems and don't really help much with the pain.  I can numb most of the pain if I stay packed in Ice, I sleep this way.  Missing lots of work, sick of the pain.  Can't see pain management till 2 weeks and they are sending my record to Neuro Surgeon for review,   Waiting to have EMG next week.

Can someone tell me what need to be done.

Sorry so long.

Priscilla

[txsilver]

Nerve pain is the worst!  I suffer with it in my foot.  Standard pain meds will not work on nerve pain.  Neorontin and Lyrica are 2 drugs that come immediately to mind as being prescribed for nerve pain.  I am sorry you have to wait to see the pain doc for 2 weeks.  That is an eternity when you are suffering.  You might ask their office to call you if there are any cancellations so you can get in sooner.  Please keep us posted on your progress and if I think of anything else that might help you I will write to you again.  BTW, I sleep with ice frequently too and have to wake up in the middle of the night 2-3 times to change it out.  It's not fun, but at least know you have company.