Chronic Neck Pain Ruling My Life

[wonderdov2001]

Below are the results of MRI’s I have had since May. 2004 and MY Story.  

Please don’t pass me up, I am begging for your help.

MRIs Done:

05/2004 Normal

10/2005
Showed Prominent fat pad of the soft tissues, Mild Spondylosis and 2mm disc bulges at the c3-4, c5-6, c6-7 (posterior)-no evidence of spinal stenosis or encroachments

08/07/2007
There is straightening of the normal cervical lordosis without significant listthesis.  Vertebral body heights are maintained. There is eveidence of disc degeneration from c3 through c7. At c2-c3, no central canal or foraminal stenosis. At c3-c4, no cord compression or forminal stenosis. At c5-c6, mild diffuse disc bulge effaces the anterior CSF space but does not compress the cord.  Right uncovertabral process hypertrophy causes mild right formaminal stenosis.  No left foraminal narrowing. At c6-c7, centraldisc osteophyte complex effaces the anterior CSF space but does not compress the cord.  Bilateral uncovertebral process hypertrophy causes only minimal foraminal narrowing. At C7-T1, no cord compression or forminal stenosis.
Impression: Minimal disc degeneration without cord compression

WE ARE BEING TOLD THESE ARE NORMAL RESULTS FOR A MAN OF 25 YEARS OLD.

[mike1105]

i've been through a 2 1/2 year version of what you've gone through . So I know how you feel and I can tell you are fed up.i had surgeries that did squat and MRIs like yours---some findings but nothing jumped out. I fixed the problem myself over a 4-6 month period of painful triggerpoint work, stretching routines, ice, heat and posture correction. The problem I had, (and the tendency I may very well always have) is called UPPER CROSSED SYNDROME. N one of my docttors ever heard of it !!! (And believe me I had many) A pt I went to who is now the Detroit Piston Trainer told me I had it.; It is caused by forward head posture. Simply put-- your head is too far forward and not balance over the spine. Many people have this "rounded" posture but not everyone suffers from it. If your spine cant hold up your head, your muscles have to do it!!!Your head is heavier than a professional bowling ball !!! That is alot of work for the finger sized scalene muscles and the upper traps. Other muscles Also hurt in this syndrome, nerves get compresses AWAY from the spine etc etc-- it is horrible. I

[Stephen Ryu, MD]

I am sorry that you are having such a difficult time. However, neck and back pain are one of the most difficult disorders that a surgeon faces because most people DON'T need surgery. That does not mean that they do not have pain, it just means that there is no surgery that will be able to successfully address the problem.

In your case, the MRI scan report do not appear to signify that there is a specific lesions that explains your problems. It describes degeneration of the neck - the amount described can be found in people as young as you or not found in much older people. It seems to be a function of age, genes, lifestyle, and job.

Surgery is all about correlating an anatomic lesion with a symptom, so that correcting the anatomy will lead to improvement. In your case, the anatomy is not clearly abnormal but more of an issue is that your symptoms don't correlate. Neck pain can be a result of work, stress, degeneration, or other things. Headaches might be related to neck issues, but not necessarily. Shoulder and arm pain might be related to the neck, but you don't have any pinched nerves. The ear symptoms cannot be explained.

It would seem that you would be best with a referral to a Pain Specialist or a physiatrist for further evaluation and long-term treatment.

[wonderdov2001]

25yr old male in Severe DAILY Pain for 5+ years at back of neck, daily severe headaches, moderate pain in shoulders and moderate to severe pain in shoulder blades, redness/purple discoloration of ears and side of neck below ears towards end of day(worse on right side).  

Can only go to work and come home and lay down as the pain is so severe by the end of the day.

Has missed a lot of work in the last 6 months due to pain/headaches.  

Recently detoxed self off lortab 5/500 4xdy and duragesic 50mcg every 48hours.  Desperate need of answers as to what this pain is from and possible resolutions/opinions to resolve it.  

Concern is what appears to be major changes that have taken place in such a short period of time per the 3 MRI’s done during that period.  Should my discs be degenerating at this level when I am only 25 years old?

Has been to neourologists, spine specialists, had EMG that was negative.

I look so forward to hearing your opinion and so need to get better so I can enjoy my wife, our 2 year old daughter.  My poor wife has been through (well, you know) with me being sick all the time (5 years!) and it makes for a pretty boring life for her...I am in too much pain most of the time to think of doing anything, I can barely function at work, let alone at home.

I do not drink alcohol nor do any drugs other than what is prescribed.  

I am from a great family and have very supportive parents who are very worried and trying to help us get answers.

Yes, I detoxed myself with the help of my family...something is very wrong and being kept doped up has now caused my employer to lay me off until I get this resolved...without hard drugs like duragesic 50mcg and sometimes 75mcg every 48hours. (was on this dangerous med for 8 months with lortab 4 times daily, it became so debilitating that my parents had to bring my meds to me to make sure that I didn’t OD on them as I could not keep track of anything.)  I am a Wire Tech and it is just too dangerous for my employer to allow me to work in my condition, they say…and, well, I see their point completely.  They said I was not alert enough and they were afraid something was going to happen.  How embarrassing for me, but they know what I have been going through and so I truly think they do understand.  They are willing to hold my job but I have to find answers.  

I just want to get better and they keep saying there is nothing wrong when I can FEEL and SEE (my ears turn red/purple by end of the day) that something is wrong...the MRI's show problems in the area I am feeling the pain...PLEASE BE ABLE TO HELP ME.  

On top of it all, I have no insurance – they refuse to insure me - and all these things have to be done with upfront payment...I need a better answer so I can do the things that are going to get the answers we need to fix it and stop wasting money on things that won’t.  I have tried to get 2 different private insurances in the last year and after the premiums of 3 months they denied anything that involved my neck/shoulder pain.

I am a good husband, I love my family, I love working and wish I could play basketball again…that is what my dad and I always did until this started 5 years ago.  It seems to only get worse with time – I get scared about that, how long before I won’t be able to take care of my family?  How can that happen?  They need me!

I have had doctors say I just don’t want to work but that is NOT true, I am NOT a slacker...I am in PAIN!  The MRI’s do show something is wrong.  

I am begging for your opinion and if you need copies of my records I can email them to you.


CURRENT MEDICATIONS:
Dicloflenac 1 twice daily
Phenergan PRN every 6 hours
Cymbalta 60mg once daily
Multi-Vitamin 1daily
B-6 1daily
Magnesium 250mg 1daily
Potassium 99mg 1daily
Magnesium and Potassium 250mg ea tabs 1daily
L-Tyrosine 1000mg daily (this one will be stopped in a few weeks...it is part of the withdrawal therapy)

Thank you for taking the time to help me.