neck pain

i had a fusion done on my neck at c2 c3. that was 7years ago. I am worse than i was before. I have musel spasams all the time in my neck tightness in my head and back of my neck.every minte of the day. They told me i had narrowing of the rest of my vertbre. I carnt live with this much longer i carnt stand living knowing when i get up everyday its there twenty four seven. PLEASE SOME ONE HELP ME.

[selmaS]

Hi and welcome to the back and neck support forum.

I am so sorry u r going thru so much pain.When we have pain it rules our lives and it consumes who we r.

Unfortunately I can not speak from experience on a fusion as I have not experienced it.

I would suggest u ask ur dr if there is some form of PT, or accupuncture that may help.
My NL suggested taking a look at my posture to help with overall heath and feeling better.I do have back and spine issues , so I can relate to the pain.

I pray u find ur answers
Please keep us posted
"selma"

[popy552]

IHi thanks for your replie.;I have tryed everthing you name it and iv tryed it. I have spent hundreds. Looks like am stuck with it cos docters just dont do anything for me they just say take painkillers. But they dont understand painkillers dont take the spasams away or the feeling my head is going to burst.  And the choking feelin i get. Hope somthing changes some day but i dowt it.

[selmaS]

Hi ....I am sorry u feel like u have exhausted all ur options...

...may I ask have u had ur back MRI'd?


"selma"

[popy552]

i have had a MRi and they justs said i had stnoses and narowing of all 7 vertbra.









yes had MRI they said i had cronic (chronic) stnoses and narowing of the 7 vertabr in my neck. Sorry about spelling its not my strong point as you can see. They just told me what i have told you and sent me home and that was that. I just dont understand that they can let me live with this knowing i must be in a lot of pain every day. THANKS AGAIN FOR GETTING IN TOUCH.






















































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[selmaS]

Hi.....I also have back issues, one being cervical stinosis......I was told yrs ago and never had nething done for it...I do know, that PT and accupuncture can give some relief.


U may want to get a second opinion.

Please keep me posted

"selma"

[noneck]

Google Spinal Disc Decompression and Cold Laser Therapy. Seven montha ago they removed the bones in the back of my neck and replaced it with rods and 18 screws. That was my 8th neck nurgery and am fused from C3 thru T2, now that my neck is totaly fused my pain is pretty much gone after 25 years, so it can still be fixed don't give up. Keep me posted, been there done that.

noneck

[popy552]

HI thanks for your input sm so pleased that someone knows what i am talking about. I would like to no how u got someone to lisn to you about what u were going though. I just carnt get anyone to do anything. I no it sounds bad but i think i would be better off being dead. As you will no its not living like this its just going though the mosions. THANK FOR TELLING ME.

[popy552]

Sorry i forgot to ask you can you still turn your head. And do you think it was worth it, Just thought you wouldnt be able to turn your head at all if its all fused together.Hope to here back from you soon.

[noneck]

I also didn't want to live like this anymore, but there is hope. I have been accused of faking it and manipulating the medical system for financial gain by the surgeon who operated on 5 F'n times. I guess he operates on fakers for financial gain, so when I told him that, he told me to leave his office, but I fired him before he got the words out!!!! Yes, I can still turn my head the top two vertebrae are the ones that turn you head, but need to turn my body to look further. Looking up is out if the question. This is not a problem but is noticable to people. What is you age? Mine started at 30 years old but I was a union electrician and that didn't help matters. This has been a 25 year journey and finally after this last surgery I'm much better. Start Social Security Disability A.S.A.P. and file a Workers Comp. claim. I don't know your profession but this condition can be a cumulative problem from any job there is. Soma and Valium are the best muscle relaxers, are you prescribed any meds? if so what? When we have problems like yours and mine traveling to a large city is necessary. If you are anywhere near central California go see Dr. Aryan, draryan.com has good info. The picture of the x-ray on the first page is like mine but not all the way to the skull. Also go to gotpaindocs.com he is my pain Dr. and has good info also. Find a good Therapist who has a Cold Laser Machine and is trained in soft tissue manipulation. Don't give up it still can be fixed when you find someone who will treat you as a person instead of just another x-ray. From what you describe you probably need a total neck reconstruction like I just had. I asked about fusing my whole neck after my second surgery and they wouldn't do it and 15 years I finally had it done and am fixed, go figure. Call you insurance co. and ask if they can direct you to a good Dr. for your condition. If you get an accepted workers comp. claim you have more choices of Drs. and they will even intervene to get you fixed as soon as possible. Please don't give up and get aggressive if you need to you are your best advocate. I do understand, keep me posted I'll check on your thread every day!  Also you can find me at dbbobbittatsbcglobal.net

noneck

[Stacia718]

I can't take much more of this.  I was up until 2:30am last night crying in pain!  I am having anxiety like crazy and can't concentrate to save my life at my overly boring job!  I had a fusion at C3-C4 in 2003 and now have issues with C5-C6 & C6-C7 as well as having a birth defect in my lumbar region in which the right side 2 levels are fused congenitally, I also have a 6th lumbar disc and vertebrae...which the issues I have are with L5-L6 and L6-S1.  I feel like I am going insane!  Sitting at my computer brings on headaches and intense burning pain in the thoracic region up to the base of my skull which then creates a headache...feels like my eyes will explode from my head and my jaw hurts and then my teeth hurt.  Am I nuts?  I wake at night with both hand numb, tingling, and in intense pain and it takes 10 to 30 minutes for it to stop enough to go back to sleep.  Is there anyone out there that understands?

[popy552]

Thanks for getting back to me again. I am 56 and i live in england, I dont work i havent worked since 1992 i was in a very bad car crash.My family were told that i wasnt gona live but i shocked them all and i pulled though. I was left with a lot of things wrong with me i had 3 vertaba broke at the bottom of my back my pelvis was broke my femer chest bone foot and my lungs were damaged and thats what i can rember the is other things but carnt think of at the moment. So dont no if anyone will do anything for me on the NHS. I am going to see my docter on the 26th may have u any advise on what i should say to him.I have learnd to live with all the other things wrong with me but this is the worst thing anyone could live with as you no. I am just hopeing someone will help me because as i said carnt stand much more.

[popy552]

HI i no what you are going though i have had the same for 8 years. Got a fusion done 7 years ago and i am worse than i was before. I carnt sleep either all the sme things happen to me. I carnt give you any advise as i am trying to get something done about it myself. The only yhing i can say is i no how u are feeling and just letting you no the is someone else out there like you. I WISH YOU GOOD LUCK THAT YOU FIND SOMEONE TO HELP.

[noneck]

Poppy- ask about a total neck reconstruction with rods and screws in the back of your neck and fusing the body of the vertabrae in the front. Seek a therapist for the muscle spasm and trigger points that is probably what is making you miserable. it was for me!

Stacia718- The same goes for you, you seem to be there also. Answer the same questions that I asked for poppy552. get back to me.

Go to my page and maybe it will help you with how much I have been through, if you are anywhere near my area let me know.

Wishing you both luck keep in touch.
noneck

[Stacia718]

In answer to your questions:
What is you age?  34 (started with a car accident in 1999)

are you prescribed any meds? Yes
if so what?  Xanex, Soma, Norco, Fioricet

I live outside of Orlando in Merritt Island, FL....

I have been through it all...when I opted to have the fusion...they didn't know the disc had literally exploded (it was in like 10 pieces).  I had been told..."go to the gym", nothing that bad is wrong with you...umm yeah..ok I got rear-ended, but I was stopped and the person was going between 35 & 45..I had an old car with bench seats, so no head rest..my head snapped back and hit my back..I am pretty sure I passed out cuz the cops are not as responsive as being there as soon as I looked in my side mirror)...what a crock!!!  I actually think the chiro may have exploded my disc...I have tried ESI's (bad reations) and think the first guy caused damage to an area where I had no problems (thoracic area where he did a catheter ESI to my neck)!!!  I am just soo freaking tired right now...work is hell...sitting at a computer all day 8+ hours...no sleep from the pain...I am on FIRE!!!!...have a headache and at this point now and the pain has spread to my jaw and teeth...I feel it encircle my head like a vice!!!  Have a call in to my doc for a stronger pain med...mine is soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo not cutting it....  I seem to have a very high tolerance, which is so not easy to talk to a doc about.... but before and after the 2003 surgery I had been on Morphine & that Fentenyl Patch and all kinds of stuff...I have been sticking it out with the curret array of meds for about a year now...which for me is pretty good.....but they no longer do the job!!  

After the fusion in 2003, by 2004 I was off meds totally...it was awesome, but short lived!!!  I got fed up with the meds, the pain doc, the feeling they give you when you tell them you hurt too much...I don't trust them and I've been to 3 pain docs...they have no feelings...(well one was ok...she at least believe there was an issue with my lower back and proved it!)....maybe I should find her again..I don't know...I'd rather see my family doc (D.O.) that I trust and can talk to....anyways that is my story!

[noneck]

I've been there with the auto accidents and SSDI and W/C. Good pain docs are hard to find. This may turn into a W/C claim if you need to. I'm not sure about Florida but in California if a condition causes you to not be able to do your job description, then it's W/C. I know how tired you are but don't give up, you live in probably the best state for this. Google- Cold Laser Therapy, Spinal Decompression, and Soft Tissue Manipulation. I'm sure if you can relieve the muscle spasm and trigger points you can feel a lot better. Florida is a good state for these therapies and they are helpful. I've been dependent on opiates five times and love the fact that I'm off them now, so I know how you felt when you were. Opiates are not the answer for long term chronic pain, they stop working and you just need more and more and your still in pain. I have taken all the meds you are plus oxycontin and methadone. Don't ever take methadone! I know it's hard because I also believe some practitioners have hurt me. Try to not think about who hurt you or what hurt you, concentrate on getting better. I know it's easier said than done but I did and it helped. I really think a good therapist who can relax the muscles, and trigger points it will make the jaw relax and the headaches will get better. Not to mention the rest of your body. My doctor is a D.O. also, have you asked him for someone who he knows is a good therapist like I'm describing. Actually my therapist is a Chiro who works out of my pain docs office, I'm going to ask him if he can recommend anybody near you in Florida like him, who knows maybe he can help. This all started for me at age 32 and by 38 I was disabled from my electrical union, SSDI and settled W/C four years later. If none of that works then your going to have to think about finding another surgeon. This time try to find one who is a specialist in total neck reconstruction or difficult cases, there out there. Keep me informed

Hope I'm Helping
noneck

[bev62]

I know exactly how you feel. I am a 46 year old female. I had a ACDF (C5-C7)  two years ago.  I have been in constant pain since the surgery. I have pain in both of my arms and weakness in both hands.My neck and shoulders hurt and I have terrible headaches everyday. I have been seeing a  pain management doctor for a year and a half.  I've had several epidural injections, nerve blocks, PT and I am on Duragesic patches 100mcg and Oxycontin, and I'm still in unbearable pain. My doctor says that I couldn't have a spinal cord stimulator because my spinal canal is to narrow from the fusion. He says that he is up against a wall and does not have any more treatment plans other than medication. I've not slept in a bed since I had surgery due to the pain and both arms and hands being completely numb. I may get 2 or 3 hours a night sleeping in the recliner.   I recently had another MRI and it said that the disks above and below the fusion are buldging. I also have DDD, but my surgeon says that surgery would not benefit me at this time.

I have been to the point to where I was ready to blow my brains out. I've been seeing a mental health therapist for about 6 months, but the antidepressants or the therapy are not helping.  I have not worked since before the surgery, nor will I ever be able to work in this kind of pain. I finally was approved for SSD. I have two young children and I can not even care for them. I depend on my husband and family to do everything for me.

I am suppose to have Botox injections put in my neck next week for muscle spasms.  I've tried everything else and nothing has helped so far, but I guess it's worth a try. It's hard for people to understand what it's like to be in pain 24/7 if they haven't been thru it.  Has your doctor mentioned trying Botox?  I'll let you know how it goes.  

[Stacia718]

Thank you so much for all of the information you are helping and giving me piece of mind as well!!!  I too have been on methadone..what a crock that junk is...I am rather fortunate in that I do not seem to develop a dependency on any of the pain meds I take....and I don't seem to go through withdrawals either...I got so fed up with the monthly visits and the jackass pain doc that I took myself off of my Kadian(morphine) (which we had been weening down) in a week...dealt with serious pain for a month and then felt great for about a year or so...I have had massage therapy...the last therapist I went to was in tears after working on my back/neck...I felt so bad I didn't go back to her...it really upset her...that kinda made me realize I wasn't loosing it!!!  I have heard about the spinal decompression and I actually have one of those tables that tilt you upside down and can be adjusted to various angles if you don't want to be fully inverted...that's great but....The worst part of all of this is the time I miss from work...the emails about managing my sick leave and ****...trying to work extra hours to make up time...8 hours is torture enough...I can barely make it through that...drives me nuts!!  It is 10:45 am and I am already on fire...then again..it never stopped...I think I may have gotten 3 or 4 hours total of sleep last night...I am feeling rather umm, what's the word, energetic after not really sleeping for 4 days...strangest feeling....yesterday I couldn't keep my eyes open....I have never heard of the cold laser therapy and will check that out!!!  I never thought of this being a W/C issue...but I am going through hell daily trying to perform my job...I hate to be a umm..I don't know...but you know my job is the key problem...that is one of the biggest pain inducers I have in my life....I knew in the back of my mind that someday I would need SSDI and have been lucky to drastically increase my salary the past few years to put more money into it so it will pay the bills (I hope) as right now I am the primary money maker since my hubby had to start his career over due to this economy...I have to give him kudos!! He met shortly after my accident and has had to deal with all my pain for the past 9 years and that is just really awesome!...I am going to the doc tomorrow morning to discuss my meds...and I may see if she will take me out of work for a week or two so I can get this pain under control again...but I am sure that will be yet another issue to deal with at work...I am very interested in whether or not your chio can recommend someone near me....Is your chiro specialized or anything?  I had found one (of which I guess there are only about 2,000 in the country) who does not "crack" you...he does more of a pressure point thing and adjusts your atlas...he helped...but I moved a good distance from him and I hate driving!!! (I know...I am gunna probably have to do that again...to find good docs...but..UGH....between work and doc apts I will go insane!) Anyways...Thank you truly and deeply from the bottom of my heart for the info, the advice, and for listening and understanding!!! I truly appreciate it!!!

[Stacia718]

I so understand how you are feeling!!!  I will be very curious to know how the Botox goes... I have been rather hesitant of even considering that!  As noneck has told me...be positive... and yeah I know that can be hard, especially after 10 years of pain and as of now 1 surgery to fuse C3-C4...and knowing that C5-C6 and C6-C7 are going now because of the C3-C4 fusion...I thought I might get 10 years outta that surgery before I had more issues...guess not...I already know that I have moderate nerve damage in my legs due to the 2 lumbar discs that are going so I dunno...All I can say is I do my best to put a smile on my face and head to work...that is quite an accomplishment for me lately.  I wish you the best of luck with the Botox and would love to hear how it goes!!!

[noneck]

Stacia718-- I go see my therapist who is one of those Chiro's you mentioned he is also specialized in pressure point and not cracking but will when needed. The secret to the pressure point treatment is when he is pushing on it and it hurts like hell and you want to scream, relax the muscle he is pusing, on it's hard but when you do it will relax. thats the secret.

Als to everyone yes botox can help alot I was going to try it until I got better, Botox can help wide spred muscle spasm of the neck.

You sound so much like me I can't believe it but remember I gave up. So don't give up and try things that didn't work before and try them again.

All of you are where I have been and it can still get better keep trying. It only took me 25 years and 10 surgeries to feel better.

Let me see what my therapist say's and I'll write back soon.

To bev62 where do you live?

Hope I'm Helping
noneck

[bev62]

I live in east Tn, about 45 minutes from Knoxville.