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Avatar universal

What a pain in the neck

I am 32. I had a laminectomy from t5-t9 10 years ago to drain epidural abscess from t3-L5

I have a cervical kyphosis with wedging of c6 (per x-rays 3 years ago)

I have arthritis in my neck

I have mild central canal stenosis and bilateral foraminal stenosis at l4/l5 with periodic sciatic symptoms and now similar pain in left arm along with muscle twitches in left hand when arm is held in a certain position.

I woke with loss of speech 1 week ago-massive headache-flashy lights-told it was migraine-ct of brain normal. Found complete relief of all symptoms when I applied upward force to the base of skull and jaw (like traction)
3 months ago I injured my neck somehow(don't remember how) and my head felt extremely unstable on my neck for 3 weeks-couldn't tip it in any direction without it feeling like it would fall off (no I'm not kidding) constant muscle spasms since then.

Can't go to chiropractor- they refuse to adjust my neck because I get dizzy when I look over my shoulder/ look up etc.

waiting on neck x-rays results (5 views taken friday)

any insight- suggestions?
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Avatar universal
Thanks for taking the time....some days all I hear is an old country song playing "I'm much too young to feel this **** old" lol
I used to be so flexible!
I can still bend in a lot of ways most people can't. But now I hurt all the time.
physical therapy starts friday...wish me luck and have a good day!

oh, and in case you are curious...the epidural abscess was after an epidural for childbirth....I also found out I had mitral valve prolapse then because I got endocarditis at the same time.

shutting up now....lol     :-)
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
You are pretty young to have these things going on!

You also have lots of things going on that seem unrelated.

epidural abscess- very unusual for someone so young, but should be resolved now.
cervical kyphosis - old x-ray - finding of a wedged C6
arthritis in neck - pretty young to have it too bad
L4-5 stenosis - again pretty young to have it too bad
arm pain twitching - not from the back obviously - something in the neck?
Loss of speech/flashy light - this is from the brain - don't know why the jaw traction helped
neck injury - whiplash can cause pretty severe neck spasms for weeks
dizziness looking around - could be normal, but if you complain about it no one will touch you - they will send you to a neurologist
Burning in heels - isolated burning is unusual

If your arms and legs are bothering you, they should probably get new MRIs to see what is going on and rule in or out anything that needs to be done. Xrays don't usually show much.

You have lots of complaints but nothing the really tie things together.
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Avatar universal
x-rays show nothing that concerns my doc. She mentioned maybe fibromyalgia-referring me for physical therapy
Now my sciatica is acting up again in my right leg as usual.
and something new: woke up this morning with burning-tingling on bottom of both heels and tight Achilles tendons. both ankles. making it uncomfortable to put heel down either way.

can any of these things be related?
I need something to go on.
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