Back and Neck Pain - Diffuse posterior disc protrusion at c5/c6

I have a history of seronegative arthritis with recurrent neck pain and stiffness since my teenage. I am male and 42 years of age.

I suffered diarrhea in mid 2007 which was not treated for almost one week. After one weeks I was placed onto antibiotics but I continued to pass stool starting with 7-8 times daily to approx. 4-5 times even after 10 weeks with severe abdominal pain. Colitis of the large intestine has been feared but never confirmed.

In approx. two weeks after the onset of diarrhea I started feeling pain in my joints like back of knee, armpits, left and right side of the groin neck and shoulders. Soon it became impossible to even walk for 50 meters. The diagnosis was reactive arthritis. Initially i was placed on cortisone (Deltacortil) but after six to seven days as the medicines quantity started to taper off the pain started to come back. I was then asked to take Sulfasalazine 500mgx2 twice daily and Celebrex 100 mg twice daily. Gradually over 12 months the condition improved but the pain has never gone away it continues even at present and all the time around my lower back and upper back, the left and the right side of the groin, pain in the palm of my hands and hand fingers. In addition to reactive arthritis I have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia and myotosis.

As of today I am taking Sulfasalazine 500mgx2+500+500mgx2, Vitaman D 600mg twice daily, Nortriptylene, Lyrica 75mg twice daily, methotrexate 10mg once weekly and Celbrex as needed.

Around late 2008 the neck pain which I have had since my 30s (as long as I remember) started to get worse. Then I started to feel numbness in my legs, and feet and hands and body started to tremble and weakness in my hands and legs. The pain in the neck is sometimes very severe. It radiates into my shoulders. Almost once every two months I end up with a frozen/stiff neck. The MRI report of my upper spine says as under:

"Upper thoracic kyphosis and compensatory lordosis of the cervical spine. Diffuse posterior disc protrusion at C5/C6 level, encroaching on the anterior subarachnold space and just indenting the anterior aspect of the spinal cord with no significant myelopathic changes. No other abnormalities of the cervical spine.

Conclusion
Upper thoracic kyphosis. Diffuse posterior disc protrusion at C5/C6"

I have come to a point that I feel I cant live with this pain any more. Its constant and now affects my daily life. I would really appreciate any advice on who to visit and what are options on possible treatments.

[skeetelmore65]

Dear majamal,
     I have had the same thing and I can tell u one thing don't get ACD & F Spinal Fusion. That is where they use titanium plates and fuse. I have hurt ever since. If I were u I would check on those new disc that rotate. They are new and I have heard the best. With what I have you are limited w/mobillity and you have a lot of stiffness. I wish I had had another opinion and I had two. It doesn't hurt to have at least three to be safe. Please whatever u do check and make sure you also have the best doc(Neurosurgen that u can find,for it is very crucial b4 u have such a serious surgery.) It is because it is so close to spinal cord and now they say I have DDD, Spinal Stenosis, Cerviacalgia, Spondylosis, I just don't want anyone to hurt like I am. My doc(Neuro.)thought I had a good one since a friend referred me to him,but noooo..He even left a T3-T4 compressed fracture in me in which I think now is causing me more pain than I was in b4 surgery. I hope the best 4 u..get back to me if I can help in any way...Take Care and always...GOD BLESS
P.S. My petrusion was also in C5-C6 so be careful..very tricky location to mess with.