Neck Ache

[Christine]

For the past few weeks I've been experiencing intermittent discomfort in the back of my neck  (I'm a 36 y/o female).  It is always on the right side of my spinal cord.  It starts out gradually as a dull ache.  It feels muscular to me as I will often "catch" myself trying to massage the tendon(?) that runs along side of the spinal chord.  At its best it does not progress from the dull ache.  At its worst, the dull ache will migrate further up into my head area and give me a quite intense headache on the right side.  I do not usually get headaches but, when pregnant, I did experience migraines during my second trimester.  During the time that my neck acts up, the pain in my head will come close to feeling like a migraine.  Taking 200 mg of Motrin does NOT seem to help and the duration of this ache can last anywhere from 30 minutes to the full day.  But commonly, it lasts for several hours and then just magically disappears.  I vaguely remember maybe having very isolated incidences of this in the past; however, it has now happened several times in the last month and it is becoming annoying.  My gut tells me it is some type of muscle spasm, but the hypochondriac in me screams "CANCER!!"  Can you give your opinion.  Thanks.  by the way, it never seems to happen at night when I'm in bed, but happens most often at work when I'm at my desk or if I'm at home doing more physical things.
Christine

[CCF Neuro[P] MD, RPS]

Dear Candy:

There may be several things to think about.  One is collagen vascular disease.  circulation that varies for unknown reasons can often be due to things like raynaud's or other autoimmune diseases.  I would pay a visit to a rheumatologist.

CCF Neuro MD

[candy]

I am a 26 year old female. I have alot of weird things going on. My hands and feet are constantly ice cold and my capillary refill time (I'm a nurse) is about 4-5 seconds. Sometimes my hands turn white. I have a stiff neck and it "pops" when i move it in any direction. I also tend to run low grade fevers throughout the day and I have intense shoulder pain. Lately I have had weakness in my legs and arms and had an episode where all th muscles in my shoulders and neck tensed up and felt like they were burning. Most of this has been going on for 6 months and then 1 week ago all the glands in the left side of my neck have swollen up and they are still swollen, with no sx of illness. I have been to many doctors and heard Rheumatoid arthritis (my rh factor is like 7) and ms. Any suggestions or comments would be wonderful. Thank You.

[L. Langer]

What are he best exercises for a pinched nerve in the neck due degenerative disk and compression of the nerves???

[michele]

my husband recently got his results back from his mri and they are really confusing to us and his dr. has suggest we meet with a neuro.surgeon.This is what was said in the mri.
fairly diffuse, chronic degenerative disc disease and degenerative arthritis with varying degrees of degenerative neural foraminal encroachment, particularily at C4-C5 on the right...And PT isn't working is surgery his next step, we are really worried he is only 38.
Any advise would greatly help.

[michele]

my husband recently got his results back from his mri and they are really confusing to us and his dr. has suggest we meet with a neuro.surgeon.This is what was said in the mri.
fairly diffuse, chronic degenerative disc disease and degenerative arthritis with varying degrees of degenerative neural foraminal encroachment, particularily at C4-C5 on the right...And PT isn't working is surgery his next step, we are really worried he is only 38.
Any advise would greatly help.

[Shirlee W]

I am a 54 year old female that has been diagnosed with Syringomyelia.  I live in a rural community in Montana and finding a doctor that specializes in this disease seems impossible.  Can you tell me where to turn for help.  My arms and legs are very numb, balance is terrible and I fall almost daily. I feel electrical shocks up and down my arms and legs. My hands are clumsy, using utensils is very difficult. My neck always feels like I have a "crick."  I feel as though I am getting weaker.  Loss of bowel and bladder control is extremely embarrassing.  Is there help?

[CCF Neuro[P] MD, RPS]

Dear Charlene:

I think that with all your questions, maybe you ought to sit down and talk with the neurosurgeon before the surgery.  It does seem like your in the dark about what is to be done and the consequences of the surgery.  Since he/she knows what needs to be done and the extent of the operation, a better explanation will come from him/her.

Sincerely,

CCF Neuro MD

[Charlene Bearden]

I am a registered nurse who will soon be having a corpectomy. C4 and C5 will be removed and bone will be taken from my hip to re-
place the vertebra in my neck.  Has anyone out there had this surgery? If so, what were the results?  How long is this surgery? Also the neurosurgeon told me both hips would be cut open in case more bone is needed.  I was also told by him that a
cadaver bone doesn't heal quite as well at times and with me being a diabetic, he doesn't want to take chances. So he wants to use my own bone. Also tell me the risks involved. Thanks! Do
answer soon as the surgery will probably be scheduled this week.

[David Hall]

several years diagnosed M.S . My eyes
sensative to flouresent light. Info
needed to locate total UV protection
visor. Flouresent triggers severe
trigeminal neuritis.Dark glasses with
UV shield used,but do not fit tight.
    Flouresent light should be BANED.
Cheaper is NOT better! Any information
greatly appreciated,                                             David Hall
                        

[CCF Neuro[P] MD, RPS]

Dear David Hall:

I am sorry, but I would not know what else to recommend.  I wish I could add more.

Sincerely,

CCF Neuro MD

[CCF Neuro[P] MD, RPS]

Dear Christine:

I would believe the gut reaction, but not necessarily a muscle spasm.  It may be a muscle pull or a muscle strain.  A nerve problem does not cause upward pain, but would run down your body.  The dose of motrin you taking is very, very small, unless you weigh less than 80 lbs.  I would up the dose of motrin or aleve to about 600 mg to be taken every 6 hours.  This does not sound migrainous, since you do not describe nausea, photo or phono phobia, aura, vascular pounding etc.  It sounds more like a tension type headache.

Sincerely,

CCF Neuro MD