undiagnosed neck,upper back pain

[DebPuskey]

I slipped at work about 16 months ago.  I was first diagnosed with a rhomboid strain.  Since that time I have had increasing pain in the right side of my neck with pain and muscle spasms in my right shoulder blade and right sided headaches that are not migrains, they are shooting pains from the base of my skull into my right temple.  They usually occur after extended use of my right arm.   I have been through 18 weeks of physical therapy, 7 months of chiropractic care, trigger point injections, and a cervical epidural injection since Nov. 2006. My ortopedist suggested cervical surgery as my last option but the neurosurgeon said the disc in my neck do not require surgery.  I have mild bulging discs at c5 & 6 with mild arthritis thruout my neck.  No one seems to be able to pinpoint the cause of these neck and upper back pains.  I also have some numbness and tingling in my right hand, especially in my first and middle fingers.  I have seen two orthopedic doctors, a chiropractor, and a neurosurgeon. I have also had two EMG tests and two MRIs.  The EMG showed some muscle weekness in my right tricep area.  If you have any ideas that could help I feel like im losing my mind and no one beleives Im in pain.

[Prem Pillay, MD]

You do have a complex problem. In our practise someone like yourself would be seen by our mutlidisciplinary team (neurosurgery, orthopaedics,neurology, physical therapy, psychologist etc).
If you have been through our physical therapy program and pain program without significant improvement, it is possible that you could be a candidate for Artificial Disc replacement. Another option before such surgery is plasma nucleoplasty.