Does anyone have any suggestions for relief? I have severe pain shooting from the base of my neck through my shoulder blade. I am using NSAIDS, muscle relaxants and even hydrocodone when it gets bad. It gets worse when I use the computer or anything with my left hand. It is a pinching, burning pain that makes me want to go to the ER. I had lumbar laminectomy a few months ago which was totally successful for my sciatica and leg numbness. Recently I took up the violin again after many years and it flared up into this condition. I've looked everything up on the internet, and my family has a history of both lumbar and cervical stenosis with successful surgeries. Do you think I should go bug my neurosurgeon or try to medicate. I sure don't want to get hooked.

Help! I hurt so bad!

Ermine in Texas

Hello Ermine and welcome to NeuroTalk.

I am very sorry your in so much pain, unfortunately I have no advise to give but hopefully someone will be along shortly who can help.

Thank you for replying to my lenghthy pitty potty email. I am curious as to how you have managed to deal with your chronic condition without, as you said, non disease modifying treatment? I apparently have a chronic condition I am just going to have to get used to. Right now I have burning pain in my neck and shoulder and am just soldiering through it.

What do you do to keep from being depressed about a condition that just won't go away?

Thanks again for replying

Hi, ermine! Welcome to NeuroTalk!

Take a look at our meds forum, you may find some answers there.

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forumdisplay.php?f=72

Your symptoms suggest possible cervical spinal stenosis, which can be improved by surgery, so maybe you should bug your neurosurgeon or else see a neurologist and try to get an MRI of your neck. If the pain gets worse in your neck and shoulder when you use your hand, that's kind of a tell-tale sign, though it should also be likely that your neck problems would radiate to your hand(s) and arm(s). The worse the cervical stenosis gets, the further down your body the pain creeps.

I've had surgery for cervical spinal stenosis, with fusion of C4, C5, and C6, but mine had gotten really, really bad to the point that I had every symptom you can get, short of total paralysis, and even since my surgery I've had pain, but at least my arms and hands have regained their function.

I know your pain is very bad, but if it's stenosis it's rather limited in scope, compared to how bad it can get (and believe me you do not want to "go there."). Maybe cortisone shots and physical therapy would help, in your case. Some antidepressants also help control pain, especially Cymbalta. Ice packs and heating pads also help a bit. NSAIDS probably help control inflammation, but they don't always help with the pain itself. In my experience, Hydrocodone combined with muscle relaxants helps for a while, Oxycontin helps a lot, NSAIDS don't work, and Darvocet is like taking half an aspirin. I don't know about you, but all I can get is Darvocet, and this is very frustrating to me.

You definitely should see a doctor and try whatever they suggest.

NOTE -- I am convinced I also have lumbar spinal stenosis (not yet diagnosed or treated). I have low back pain that radiates to my hips, in particular, and I cannot stand for very long or walk very far. Sitting helps ease the pain, but not completely. I can't find much information about it, but I guess a person can have spinal stenosis in both the neck and back, and maybe that's your problem, as well as mine.

THT MED REALLY WORKS