Help

[lori25]

My primary physician told me to see a pain management doc. because I have been having chronic back and neck pain for a couple years now. I had surgery on my lower back twice L-4 and L-5. The most recent is my neck, I had an MRI  2 years ago and the ortho doc. told me I had a severe herniated disk and did not want to do surgery, a year later I had another MRI and he told me it was better and I just had a slight bulging disk. This is a year later and I have some pain in my neck but my real concern is the numbness in my right hand, its alway there and every morning I wake up with my whole arm and hand numb, and sometimes in my left arm also.
My question is, do you think I should see a pain doc or a neurologist?
I also want to mention that I just completed physical therapy and that helped loosen my neck a little but the numbness is still there. I seems to be getting worse, everytime I lift  my arm up or lay on my side it bothers me.
I don't want to go back to the ortho doc. What do you think I should do?

[Prem Pillay, MD]

I would seek advise from a multidisciplinary team. A person like you would be seen in my practise by a neurosurgeon and a pain specialist working together.

[Zak_Han]

Perhaps you still need see neuro-surgeon as you still have nerves trouble.
But I also suggest you to try acupuncture which is good at relive nerves sensation in the neck.
Good luck!

[JulieAnnaAKA]

Pain managment is another alternative, but I think you should get more options from a NS or two and a new MRI if possible.

Did you have discectomy on your L4L5 twice?

Feel Better & Good Luck,

Julie

[in_chronic_pain]

I had a similar situation, I put off seeing a pain managment specialist for a while. However when I finally did they performed an EMG which I was told can tell if my problem was neurological. The test was a bit painful, but very helpful. I did not have to go on any meds for my symptoms, and I was told that I did not have a neurological problem. Going to pain management may also give you more options for pain relief. Have you tried E-stem? Hope you feel better.