pain in the neck

[michele42]

I fractured C-7 in a car accident 27 years ago.  I was extremely lucky and have no paralysis.  I am however now experiencing great pain in my neck and shoulder with numbness in my right thumb. Any advise would be gratly appreciated.  I have an appointment with the neurologist in 3 weeks.  I am also seeing a massage therapist but the massage helps for a little while and then the pain returns.  

[postwoman]

i got into an accident  ten months ago and fractured my c7. I had a spinal fusion from c6 to t1 about 3 months ago and having numbness in my hands now. i didnt have this before the surgery.
i am worried that this may get worst since i came out of the accident in pain at first but it eventually went back to normal. now it feels like the accident all over again.

[spankyandrex]

Hi Michelle, sounds like you and me are going through kind of the same things.  When I was 12 years old (27 years ago), I too was in a very bad car accident. I had severe cervical whiplash.  They diagnosed that by the way I was feeling.  They took no MRI or anything of my neck, no xrays, nothing.  I grew up and throuhout that whole time since I was 12 or 13, I have been seeing chiropractor (same one) for 25 years now I think.  My whole spine is osteoarthritis. My neck is the worse.  My last MRI revealed two herniated disks, one pinching my spinal cord, but no one (two neurologists and one family practitioner) thinks there's anything wrong that needs surgical intervention. I have to live this way apparentally.  It's a VERY VERY long story for me, one that I don't have the time to type out right now, but I would be happy to talk with you sometime. Feel free to PM me through Medhelp if you have any questions.  My first suggestion, get an MRI done as soon as possible.  What you are describing sounds like cervical radiculapathy or myelopathy.  Also, if you can, skip the neurologist and make an appt. right with the neurosurgeon (unless you need a referral - then go see the neurologist).  GOOD LUCK

Sandra