Major pain in neck.... MRI shows Stenosis and enroachment of pinched nerve in 3 places. I'm seeking others with this condition to share with them my experiences. Have already been through most of the advance treatments, Cortisone shots in back of neck, Stellar Ganglon nerve root block, and a host of pain killer meds like Gabapentin, Prednisone, and Narco's.

I'm still working with doctors (Sports Physician, Neurologist, Pain specialist, and Surgeon), and none have yet come up with a long term treatment plan.

I'm living in LA area, very happy with the medical professionals I have met, but I have to see one more top surgeon to get his opinion on how to proceed.

I already looked into and evaluated Endoscopic treatments, I do NOT qualify, due to the severity of spinal cord enroachment.. none of the spurs are actually touching my spinal cord, but there is little room for the spinal cord, and one of the discs (C6 I think) is pushed out too far towards the front, leaving less room for the spinal cord. The problem is, I have THREE places between each disc where the nerves are almost pinched.

The symptoms are major pain in hands and arms, major tingling and numbness in hands, making it almost impossible for me to use keyboard, and now having to use a speech to text program to write things. As a programmer, my days are finished, unless I can find a long term treatment.

With all of the other treatments behind me, like nerve root blocks, cortisone injections and Physical therapy, it's looking more and more like im facing surgery. Has anyone had surgery for this? What is recovery time?

Hi jdcrunchman and welcome to NeuroTalk. Here is the link to our very active RSDS Forum. http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum21.html

I'm glad you've joined us.

Hello,
By RSDS do you mean Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome?
Or Something more spinal related?

Since you mention your programmer occupation & symptoms - Have you read any info on Thoracic outlet syndrome? {TOS}

We have a Spinal forum, RSD forum & a TOS forum { http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum24.html }so any or all of those might be a good place to read more about any of those.

Hello and welcome to NeuroTalk. Happy to see you have come to be with us. Just let us know if we can be of any help.

There are great number of fellow members here to assist as possible. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

Again welcome, looking forward to seeing you around.

Darlene

>I'm glad you've joined us. [/QUOTE]

Should I re-post my initial posting to this group?

Hi
yes, you can either copy and paste your intro here to the forum you feel best meets your needs, or if you prefer, I can copy it over for you as well.

I assume you want the RSD forum? http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum21.html

let me know if you would like me to put a copy of your post there for you
otherwise, feel free to re-post it there