Tramadol. They are stingy with it. I went through the same thing. Mine was nerve problems/irritation along C5, C6 and C7 due to arthritis and some bulges. it took about 2 months to start feeling better. I still get twinges when I toss and turn at night.

It felt like I had major muscle damage in my shoulder and arm. Muscles in the scapula area of my back made knots. All was nerve related from my neck.

Ice packs on the neck helped some. Very cold and for a long time. Alternate with hot showers.

PT may have helped some but I think time was the biggest factor. Nerves heal slowly.

quote:

Originally posted by c1steve:

quote:

Originally posted by snoris:
I had VERY successful four-level cervical fusion surgery 4 1/2 years ago, and I’m very familiar with both the symptoms that you’re describing and what to expect if therapy and/or medications don’t help.

Best to fix the underlying problem before the spine degrades that far.

For the record I have had two spinal surgeries, the first because I broke L1 into 53 pieces during a mountain bike accident. The second because I did something stupid while working. I also survived two near fatal accidents where a vehicle had hit me, once while walking and the other when I was cycling. I suffered 8 broken bones, plus spent 35 days in the hospital including a few in the ICU.

After all that I ended up being a long distance trail runner and triathlete. Only thing I really have trouble with is running on pavement. I credit my recovery to having C1 correctly adjusted/realigned after each big injury.

You’re absolutely right, c1steve—-fixing the underlying problem first IS the best thing to do. But sometimes the symptoms don’t show up until the structural damage has already been done.

In my case, my symptoms—-foraminal stenosis from C-3 through C-7——were pretty far advanced before I ever felt any pain or weakness. Fortunately for me, I had a great surgeon and a full recovery.

quote:

In my case, my symptoms—-foraminal stenosis from C-3 through C-7——were pretty far advanced before I ever felt any pain or weakness. Fortunately for me, I had a great surgeon and a full recovery.

Snoris is dead on here. Pain is the last thing to come, and the first to go away. Most persons can have a very poor looking neck on x-ray with only mild symptoms. Eventually, though, they will have wished that they were able to address the problem decades earlier.

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Originally posted by RogueJSK:

It's going to be a couple weeks before the EMG, and then probably another couple weeks before I can get in to see the neck specialist.

Is there something I can do in the meantime to help mitigate the pain?

Await the EMG/NCS results, they will reveal any nerve damage. A diagnosis and treatment can begin from there. If there is nerve damage, an MRI of your neck will likely come next.

As for the meantime, if you go with the nerve damage hypothesis, avoid heat on the nerves. You said that you didn't want to take "painkillers". As mentioned previously, opiates don't treat nerve pain. Your FDA approved options for nerve pain are gabapentin, Lyrica, and Cymbalta, with the first 2 being anticonvulsants, the 3rd being an antidepressant. Gabapentin (aka Neurontin aka Morontin) seems to work for most people, with me being an exception. That's what you'll likely be prescribed if you ask for medication for pain. I wouldn't be afraid of it, as you will likely hate it.

Side effects of Neurontin include cognitive issues and weight gain. Does nothing but mask the symptoms. Does not work for everyone. You will have empathy for people who have epilepsy and have to take these drugs to stay seizure free. Tramadol, is addictive but not an opiate. Africa of all places has a huge problem with that drug being abused as it is freely available and dirt cheap.

Not a doc but have BTDT. The symptoms you are describing are very similar to the ones I initially had. I would take it easy with PT and hold off on having anything done by a chiropractor until you see an orthopaedic specialist. You need to have an MRI done so that your doctor can get a look at the type and location of damage you are dealing with. Too much activity, heavy weights, and chiropractic manipulation can make your symptoms worse.

You may also need to have a CT scan done as well. A CT scan showed impingement by bone spurs in addition to herniated discs in my neck at C5/C6. In my case, my pain level worsened from the type of radiculopathy you described to include headaches, a constant feeling of pressure on the left side of my face, and pain behind my left eye.

I tried pt, fluoroscopic epidurals, and medrol dose packs to see if the more conservative treatments had any impact. None of the above really helped. After about a year, I developed bilateral weakness in my hands. At that point, I bit the bullet and had an ACDF done.

Feel free to shoot me an email if you have any questions.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: HKAngusKL,

EMG today revealed no nerve issues below the neck. So it's not an ulnar nerve entrapment in the shoulder, elbow, or wrist.

Still don't know what it is, but at least we know what it ain't.

Next step will be a neck specialist and some more in-depth neck imaging (MRI and/or CT).


I've also been doing some neck stretches with a rolled-up towel, which seems to alleviate the worst of the pain when it flares up: https://www.painreliefwellness.../cervical-neck-roll/

Dude, you just need a hot tub and a couple Swedish blonde stewardesses.

You'll feel much better.

Well, you'll feel much better until your wife whangs your noggin with a flying pan.

Good luck to you, I hope you get it well diagnosed and taken care off.

See a neurologist. I’m have issues with my C4-C7. I went to a Orthopedic Spinal specialist. He told me see a neurologist and then we will talk about what the next step is. After having an MRI and an EMG I was told to see a neurologist surgeon. After many years of migraines and weakness in both my arms, I’m close to some resolution. Get many opinions on this matter. Different specialties get different views.

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Originally posted by Karpteach:
See a neurologist. I’m have issues with my C4-C7. I went to a Orthopedic Spinal specialist. He told me see a neurologist and then we will talk about what the next step is. After having an MRI and an EMG I was told to see a neurologist surgeon. After many years of migraines and weakness in both my arms, I’m close to some resolution. Get many opinions on this matter. Different specialties get different views.

A woman came to me two years ago, with fairly severe neck pain. He father is an attorney and promised to "send her to the best orthopedic surgeons in California". I guess he knows a bunch of them. I realigned atlas, the neck realigned as it should, and healed. Took two adjustments. No scaring or permanent changes from surgery. Orthopedics mostly do surgery or prescribe meds. Neither is likely to fix the underlying problem.

Except for OKCGene, ignore Internet advise and await the test and results of the MRI.

I have had three spinal surgeries, two cervical, with instrumentation. We have come soo far today with addressing spinal issues. I am myself again and stronger than ever. Find a sub-specialist if you can. If you are wanting to travel, my life changing Doc is here in n
Nashville. Contact me. You are in our prayers for relief.