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Old 01-02-2009, 07:39 AM
Kathi49 Kathi49 is offline
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Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 519
15 yr Member
Kathi49 Kathi49 is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 519
15 yr Member
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Jaime,

I am sorry to hear you are still having pain.

I want to ask you. What levels did the CT scan show the OA at it worst? I know you said OA is at every level. That tells me that it is probably facets and/or foraminal narrowing maybe Stenosis? And was the injection a trigger point injection so to speak? And do you have a copy of your CT report? I would try, if warranted, the facet injections based on what you have said. And I know those muscle spasms can be bad! Case in point...last spring it was everything I could do to get the spasms to stop and the sternocleidomastoid muscles were involved. I insisted my PM try trigger point injections at first. But at the time he said it was more than likely the facets. He went ahead and did the trigger points but the relief didn't last long at all. Dummy me! I was back in his office in no time flat and he went ahead and did the C2/C3 level. Well, he was right...I have had relief now for many months.

Over the years he has said many things but one thing he always told me and based on the way my neck is, that the pain would always come back and it did. The other thing was (and he has two fusions; myself as well) that he could never believe how those spasms just come on out of the blue. He now understands because it happens to him. And he kind of laughed at the time...said he has preached for years to stretch. Well, now he knows that sometimes stretching just doesn't get it. In any case, the way it was explained to me is that when the nerves are acting up, the muscles will spasm.

I hope you can get back in to the doc and get some relief. And watch the laptop. I know they are great for sitting and making life a bit easier. But if your head is in a forward posture or you are looking down, it can reallly aggravate things. And no offense intended at all. I talk to many spinal disorders folks who use nothing but laptops. I think I am the only one that uses a desktop instead. But unless my screen is right in front of me (ergonomically correct in other words) and my arms are resting, then I can't use a PC at all. A soft collar might help too. I put mine on when I feel spasms come on and it does help a bit; not a cure all...but reminds me in a way to keep my posture where it should be.
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prairiegirl (01-09-2009)