3 years and no answers, I need help neck pain etc.

[ChldsPlay]

I was injured about 3 years ago.  First, I believed it was a shoulder injury, but now believe it is a neck injury.  Initially I had a lot of burning pain around my shoulder with some sharp pains as well.  I also had tightness in the muscle from the top of my shoulder up the side of my neck.  Shortly after that I got a pain, like muscles straining going across my chest with sharp or stabbing pains in my armpit.  Eventually I also had pains from my armpit down my ribcage and pain along my back by the shoulder blade in the same direction as the pain in my chest, but the pain had more of a tingle to it.  Occasionally I would have similar pain on my right side.  Medication, injection, and Physical therapy were ineffective.  X-Rays and an MRI showed no damage to my shoulder.  After my condition worsened, particularly the area affecting my neck (it also started to crack/pop severely) a Dr. said it was probably my neck and had an MRI done which showed:

"right eccentric disc bulges at C4-5 and C5-6.  At C6-7, a diffuse disc bulge."  

I got a cervical epidural and more physical therapy, both helped not at all.  I was given more medication, which also didn't help.  Since the MRI (almost 6 months) my pain has increased a ton.  Pressure now builds up at the base of my neck and I get very sharp pains there at times.  Muscles on both sides of the neck are very tight and I have pain going to both shoulders and armpits now.  I get aches that go up the back of my neck and into my head, usually causing a lot of pressure in my head and face, and sometimes some tingling or numbness around the outside of my head.  I have had several instances of waves of numbness going down the middle of my back from my neck, or from the base of my neck out towards both shoulders.  There is also a feeling like an electric current that radiates between my shoulders when the pain/pressure is severe.  The last Dr. I saw just said I had some arthritis and to be more active, which makes it worse.

[Dr_Nassim]

Yes Karen, you can send me to Beirut a burned copy:
this is my mail box adress

Dr Nassim Abi Chahine
Saint George Hospital BOX 238
Rmeil. Beirut
Lebanon


I will answer you as soon as I receive it

[ChldsPlay]

Here are my MRI pictures, no program or anything, just direct links.  One is a side view, one is of c4/c5 (which I used just as a reference for comparing with the next picture) and one is of c5/c6 (at least I think so).

The Side:  http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n114/ChldsPlay/mri.jpg

C4/C5: http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n114/ChldsPlay/mri3.jpg

C5/C6: http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n114/ChldsPlay/mri2.jpg

What do you think?

[Dr_Nassim]

I dont know why I cant see the file you uploaded, please be accurate
thank you
Dr Nassim

[ChldsPlay]

I have uploaded the files for my MRI CD on to a file hosting site.  Included is the MRI and the program to view it.  It's located here:  http://www.mediafire.com/?ujyzqz5zmdt

If you could look at it, and tell me if you feel the same or notice anything else, that'd be great.  Thanks.

[skeetelmore65]

Amen....I think the same way you do. I don't believe what my dr. said either. I really know my body as we all do and the pain I'm experiencing is not just nerve damage. I have this feeling in my neck like a fish bone is there. It is sore all the time and it feels like it is sinking in where the scar is, but is like a hole or something. It is a creepy feeling and it feels like I can feel the screw when I put my finger on it.
     I know I will get to the bottom of this someway...I just hope I last that long. Man, the pain I go through is so horrible.At times, I feel like there's an ax stuck in my back or I have just been stabbed with a knife in the middle of it. Don't get me started on all these crazy sensory feelings I'm having. It can hit anywhere. It's like i can burn in one area, ache in another and then get stabbed all at the same time. My body has got something serious going on. My face has these big lesions on my chin. I could have some kind of internal infection going on.I asked for blood work the other day and my doc said the lab was closed. Okay, and this is around 3:00 in the afternoon. I am going to have to find a new PCP, he I think is afraid to even touch me.These doc.'s that don't talk to you or try to find and answer really tick me off. No offense to all those good docs out there.My skin is so sensitive in many areas. It's sore to touch. I mean sore like I had just scratched the blood out of it. I feel like I am sunburned and after I scratch here comes the burn,plus pain incuded. I am so sorry that I am babbling on. I get started and the venting comes out.I am just tired...beyond tired of this not knowing what exactly is going on. Scared is what I am.I am getting worse, my symptoms are stronger. Maybe, that is due to my meds that I am becoming immune to and to think they are going to want to increase them. I want off. I am scared of them so I don't take them like I should. I don't even like to take motrin for a headache. Speaking of..,I took 5 my hand gives out to. I can't hardly write anymore, I have become ambidextrious(if I spelled that right...give me an A. lol
     I just want to live again,like so many here. I have been wanting my own website, but don't know that much yet. The hand disability gets me down a little, but my drive is still there.I use to sing in Nashville,TN. In a show called Country Music USA. I miss those times and met some people that have made it in the music business. I would like to post all the pic. of all of us together at the park and will someday. I also have a passion for antiques. I have a ton. I used to go w/my mom to estate sales and yard sales. I loved beiong able to go do when I wanted to and felt like it. Someday, I just know I will be able to do the things I still have left to do.
     I have blabbed enough and it is time to give the ole baack a break. My dad calls it his "sack ole riliac". I don't know he's a character to...just like me. Yall all take care now...says this Arkansas girl. See ya on the flip side..Yeah, Yeah ,Yeah......as my grandpa always said.I got to write a song(light bulb went off) and I will record it and trust me all of you all will like it ...I will give you a hint..it's @ going to the doc.....LOL..:)
     I bet most of you think I some kind of nut.NO..not yet.Just a little bubbley...that was my nickname in Nashville...Bubbles. Hey, if one of you guys from there that I haven't talked to in a while happens to read this, I better hear from you..:)...Karen

[ChldsPlay]

The symptoms have definitely persisted and gotten stronger and more consistent in the 6 months since the MRI.  I have in the last week, maybe two had more instances of numbness in my fingertips and/or tingling in my arms below the shoulders.  I wouldn't say it's often, but I do feel it more than I used to.

Is all this something that is possible from an injury from lifting a heavy box overhead?  Particularly if there is continuous wear and tear from more of the same type of lifting as well as other physical activity over a long period of time (2-3 years)?

Can doing work at a computer for long periods also worsen this condition?

[Dr_Nassim]

You dont have any nerve impingment but you have a canalar stenosis on movements. please complete your examinations with a dynamic view cervical x-ray (so called Flexion and Extension views) because when you did the MRI your were lying and not in a dynamic position...
if symptoms persist I strongly encourage an anterior approach C5-C6 discektomy with cage insertion.
Thank you for using medhelp
Dr Nassim

[ChldsPlay]

The last Dr. I saw just said it was genetic (even though I never had any problems until I was injured) and I just need to be more active.  He told me none of my symptoms are consistent with any nerve impingement or anything and that my pain sounded more muscular in nature.  Everything I've read while researching says the opposite of what he told me.

[ChldsPlay]

Thanks for the response.  Just to clarify about the electric feeling to be sure you're talking about the same thing.  It's somewhat like a tingling feeling, only with a sharp and painful edge to it.  It occurs between both my shoulders and is gets stronger the closer it gets to my shoulders.   I suck at describing pain, but it's very uncomfortable.

I got a full report on my MRI (6 months old now) finally and it reads:

Findings:
c2/c3, c3/c4, c4/c5 levels reveal disc desiccation, mild bony endplate spur.

At C5/c6 and c6/c7 levels reveal more prominent shallow broad disc/spur complexes which mild efface the ventral thecal sac, with mild right paracentral effacement of the ventral cord at c5/c6.

Mild facet arthropathy at c7/t1, t1/t2, t2/t3 levels - no disc herniation or stenosis.

Height of cervical vertebral bodies is maintained.  No pathologic bone marrow infilration.  No paraspinal soft tissue mass.  Foraminal encroachment is seen, predominating on the right at c5/c6 and on the left at c6/c7.

Impression:
1.  Chronic foraminal encroachment predominate on the right at c5/c6 and on the left at c6/c7.  The findings suggest the possibility of mild compromise of the foraminal segments of the right c6 and or left c7 nerve roots.
2.  Left foraminal encroachment also identified at c4/c5 with associated Luschka joint arthropathy.
3.  Mild central spinal canal stenosis of chronic character at c5/c6 with associated chronic mild compression of the ventral cord.
4  The cervical spine lacks lordosis and demonstrates reversal of the curvature, a finding which may be seen in conjuction with neck pain, neck injury, degenerative, and or cervical paraspinous muscle spasm.
5.  No evidence of cerebellar tonsilar ectopia.
6.  Multiple small lymph nodes are seen in the soft tissues of the neck, but no matted, confluent or bulky adenopathy is seen in the visualized portions of the soft tissues of the neck.

[skeetelmore65]

Dear Dr.Nassim,
     I am writing you on another forum, I think Neurology. I was just reading other people's symptoms to compare them to mine. I have this electricity, but it seems to be mostly in my hands and usually after a pop or crack. I could reach for something and sometimes I'd feel it. I went to my Neurosurgen,the one who done my surgery. I told him just @ exactly what you just read from childsplay. He told me that my MRI's look good and he thought I had nerve damage. I believe that, but I am not convinced that there is nothing wrong w/my neck. It stays sore all the time,stiff,achey. Where I had my surgery it stays so sore there and it's been three+ yrs. Is that norma?I pop and crack everywhere,especially in my shoulders and my neck. I mean other people can hear it to.My Neuro. told me to go back to a Neurologist, that they could do EMG's, but why didn't he?What is the difference? What if I do need surgery, would I have to then go to a Neurosurgen?Another symptom I thought of and I don't think that I told you. I have this radiating spasm that occurs in the middle of my back. It feels like..you know how it feels to cut your finger and it throbs. That is how it does, in the middle of my back, but stronger.I just know there is something serious going on, but I am not a doc.
    I just hope you got those MRI's, but I don't think that you did.I am thinking @ burning a copy and just sending it to you. Good idea? Let me know.
                                                     Thank You, Karen      

[Dr_Nassim]

the feeling of electricity is named Lermitte sign, this mean that your advanced disc herniation should be better operated.
no big time to wait
the sooner the better
Dr nassim