magicmike

[magicmike]

6 months ago I had right shoulder pain and assosiated it with old age(44) and because I pitched in baseball till I was 35. Pain started going into my neck,down my entire back and when I took a deep breath my chest killed me.here are results of ct scan.
There is degenerative changes of the cervical spine with marginal spurs. there is narrowing of c6-c7 disk space best appreciated in sagittal reconstruction images. there is a right posterolateral spur at the c2-c3 projecting partially into the right anterolateral spinal canal.
there is mild bilateral foraminal stenosis at the c3-c4 secondary to end plate spurs. There is also mild right foraminal stenosis at the c6-c7 also secondary to endplate spurs.
no central canal spinal stenosis or other foraminal stenosis is seen.
in the reconstruction images the vertebral body heights are preserved. no compression deformities. alignments appears preserved.
IMPRESSION:
1. DEGENERATIVE CHANGES CERVICAL SPINE.
2. RIGHT POSTEROLATERAL OSTEOPHYTE AT C2-C3.
2. MILD BILATERAL FORAMINAL STENOSIS AT THE C3-C4 AND MILD RIGHT FORAMINAL STENOSIS AT THE C6-C7.

The pain I have is way past 10. I had a headache for 2days that almost blew my head off. Dr perscribed Norco and 75ml of Lyrica. headache is better but pain in the neck and back is still at a 10. I have an appointment for epideral steriod shot next week. I just feel he's missing something.

[JainMD]

Hi Mike,
I think your problem is being identified on MRI and I think that is his working diagnosis.
The treatment for your lumbar spine disc pathology is surgery.
But if you are young any neurosurgeon will exhaust his conservative management to recommend you for surgery.
Have you seen a physiotherapist so far?
What exercises are you on?
I think you should try TENS.
You can try a Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulator (TENS), which is an electronic device that produces electrical signals used to stimulate nerves through unbroken skin. The unit is usually connected to the skin using two or more electrodes. TENS works to decrease pain perception and may be used to control acute and chronic pain. It helps in regenerating nerve.
Hope this helps.
Bye.

[magicmike]

I have a very high pain tolerance and I was in his office the other day crying because of the pain and he just had the nurse set up the epidural shot that would be done ten days from then. I had to ask him for some pain meds instead of him just prescibing them. I just feel that the problem is more sever and he's taking a ho hum attitude. I really like this doctor but my pain is off the charts waitng to get these epidural shots. I just feel he the problem he sees dosen't match my pain. Thanks,Mike

[JainMD]

Hi Mike,
I think you have symptoms due to nerve dysfunction. Nerve dysfunction is due to spinal disc pathology.
I think you should be doing physiotherapy to maintain passive range of motion around the cervical vertebrae.
One of the options for decreasing pain is epidural steroid shot.
Why do you feel that he is missing on something?
Do you feel his treatment approach is incorrect or you feel he has missed diagnosis?
I would like to know.
Bye.