Neck injury puzzle

I have gone through about 4 months of tests, symptoms started as extreme fatigue, and aching joints all over my body,  I have a clean bill of health as to blood work, blood pressure ect.  As to the aching joints and fatigue I was refered to a Specialist who spealizes in Musculoskeletal Disorders.She thought I may have Rheumetoid Arthritis but my R factor was low .  then I was told it may be infammatory Arthritis I take antiinflammatories and pain medication. I recently had a neck CT scan as most of my pain radiates from there. I was told today that my C2 and C3 have fused together.  I have never had surgery but about 18 months ago I suffered a neck injury at work, when I went to the hospital I was given anti inflammatories and a muscle relaxants as I was told i pulled a muscle, and told to take 3 days off.  I did not have any x-rays, or follow up from WCB, I went back to work, in freight delivery. I managed to work for abotu 1 year thinking that my pains and fatigue were due to the heavy labor  My question is could this injury at work have been mis-treated and allowed the c2 and c3 to fuse together on their own? Anything would be helpful.... thanks

[Nassim Abi Chahine, MD]

NO
neck fractures and subequent vertebral nonsurgical fusion are nonreaslitic and fictive phenomenon, so let us be more realistic and let go for the spondylotic arthritis option.
brucella infection can immitate this pain but its occurence is also much sharp and abrupt so can change your life in just two days

[Kelly1966]

2 questions

1. Could an x-ray, at the time of injury have shown a herniated disc, hairline fracutre or a broken neck?
2. Due do the nature of my job (heavy labor) is it possible that my neck muscles, ligaments, tendons be stong enough to support a broken neck?

[Nassim Abi Chahine, MD]

1. no an x-ray is not sufficient to see a disc herniation, but yes you can diagnose a neck fracture

2.yes maybe your overtrained mucles were very helpful in supporting just the pain but never enough to be day and night like a cervical collar cardinal for effective neck fixation