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Experiencing pain in vertebrae

Hi,
It's been a while since I've posted, but I lurk around sometimes. I've been experiencing a new pain in the past month or so. Inconsistent pain where my cervical and thoracic vertebrae meet. It feels as if its directly in the vertebrae. If I accidentally let my head crane forward, bend over, move funny, etc, I get an intense aching pain. Not a screaming pain but a "this does not feel right" pain that kind of carries through my core and makes me sick to my stomach. It lingers around off and on and is uncomfortable enough that I can't hide my expressions when the pain comes.

Are there any common spinal issues among chiarians that this could be? I also have a basilar invagination.
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620923 tn?1452915648
COMMUNITY LEADER

  Make sure to record any new symptoms/issues for the next 3 weeks .....

My fingers are crossed and am hoping for the best for you <3
Helpful - 0
4 Comments
Just following up. I was away from work on vacation for a couple of weeks and the pain has subsided for now. Probably due to moving often and avoiding one position for too long. Xray came back negative. However, the labor of holding my head upright is still extremely uncomfortable. I don't know what to do about this. When I saw Dr insignia, he thought I was a candidate for craniocervical fusion. This is an extreme measure though. I've read to avoid it until the symptoms become unbearable. Trying to look into other long term options to alleviate symptoms like using special pillows at work and home, special chairs, etc. The problem is how expensive all of it is going to be and it's shoot to miss. At what point should one give in and spend time looking for a neurologist that actually cares? What about physiotherapists? I am just SO TIRED of holding my head up.
Hi I know how you feel and understand what you mean.....I too have CCI and was told a fusion was in my future, but I had the PFD first and found that post op my head bobbled all over and I kept on doing the post op exercises I was given and now find my head bobbling is no longer an issue at least for now....not sure how long it may last but I have avoided the fusion since '09...I pray you can do the same.
What kind of exercises?
They are post op exercises given while still in the hospital....ways to move the neck and shoulders in order to keep the muscles from getting tight.
620923 tn?1452915648
COMMUNITY LEADER

  Loss of pain can be an indication of a syrinx....have you had a recent MRI to see if you have one?....It could also be a pinched nerve, due to a bulging disk....or stenosis.....

The NL would do more testing for you.....so I would think the NL would be better then the PCP.

Scar tissue can also be an issue which can cause an obstruction to CSF flow......

There are things beyond the laminectomy and the posterior fossa decompression, but it depends on what is going on.so you need to let your NS and NL know about the new symptoms....after new testing you will have a better idea of what is going on.
Helpful - 0
1 Comments
I am really not looking forward to have another MRI! Well, I'm tied up and can't get to him for at least three weeks. Let's hope for the best.
620923 tn?1452915648
COMMUNITY LEADER

  Hi many of us do have bulging disks, and spinal stenosis....so do have a Dr take a look to see what may be causing this new issue/symptom for you.

Have you not have surgery for BI? moving your head in different positions like that can cause issues since BI compresses the brain stem.
Helpful - 0
1 Comments
I had post fossa decompression and laminectomy. Is there anything beyond that that could be done? Pcp sent me to get an xray before anything else. Also experiencing some loss of pain sensation in my hands. Wondering if I should bypass the pcp and go see my neurologist. (Whom I haven't seen in 4 years!)
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