Advice appreciated
 

Hi, I'm a 40 year old female. Two and a half years ago I began having severe pain in my neck, back and left shoulder. MRI revealed a bulging cervical disc. The neurosurgeon I saw kind of treated me like I was an idiot for coming to see him since I didn't have a lot of numbness or weakness at that point. So he didn't feel it needed any real treatment other than pain management. I tried physical therapy, Lyrica, Gabapentin, Tramadol, and spinal injections. Nothing worked. Then he decided part of my problem was an actual shoulder issue. Turned out - I did have shoulder issues. Bursitis, bone spurs, and a torn labrum. The orthopod did surgery on my shoulder last October to fix those issues, but said there was nothing he could do about my neck and back pain.

Over the past two and half years, the pain has only increased. I have had trouble with my left hand/arm - sometimes it hurts, sometimes it's numb, sometimes it burns and itches. (the neck/upper back/shoulder pain is constant - it never goes away) Over the past several months I've also had a lot of dizziness and difficulty keeping my balance (I have tripped and fallen more in the past six months than I've fallen in my life - my husband one night was like "What is your problem? Why do you trip and fall like EVERY DAY!") and have had intermittent left leg and hip pain and numbness/tingling in my left foot. The left side of my back and neck are just a series of hardened knots and tight muscles. (I've seen several massage therapists who just always go "OH MY!" when they start working on my left side.) I can't sleep without sleeping medication and have horrible headaches at least twice a week.

Monday I went and had another MRI done on my cervical spine. I now have two bulging discs (c3-4 & c5-6), spinal and neuroforaminal stenosis (c5-6 & c6-7), osteoarthritis, bone spurs, a straightening of my cervical spine, thinning of the thecal sac, etc. etc. I thought initially the pain in my hip and leg was due to a bursitis, but now am wondering if it is possibly related to the cervical stenosis?? I know leg pain can be common, but not sure how it presents exactly. (I usually have sharp stabbing pain in my hip and the outside and backside of my thigh and calf aches with the heel and arch of my foot hurting or going numb)

My PCP is sending me back to see my neurosurgeon next week with the new MRI results, but from what I understand, especially regarding the neuroforaminal stenosis, surgery is rarely successful in treating this issue (and odds are, he still won't want to surgery anyway, because everything is still in the mild/moderate area and not considered "severe." Thus, I anticipate another "why are you coming to me?" session)

For those who have dealt with these issues... what do you suggest for pain relief? Does fusing the bulging discs reduce the amount of stenosis? Or will that just continue to progress no matter what? Oh, and I can't take advil anymore. My daily consumption has caused a gastric bleed, so no more ibuprofen for me, just Tylenol - which isn't as good as an anti-inflammatory.

Thoughts/advice?

The problem in your hip/leg may be from something lower -- lumbar region. It's not uncommon to have issues at the top & bottom of the spine -- it's part of the price we pay as a species for walking upright.

I have the same problem with NSAIDs. My doc gave me a prescription for meloxicam, which is milder on the gut, and I can take 1 bufferred aspirin on bad days.

For the knots in you back/neck/shoulders, you might look into myofascial trigger point massage/therapy. Once we learned what to do (from a certified therapist), DW & I can help each other when the need arises. It won't help a messed up cervical spine, but the knots are likely from your body defending itself from the pain by tensing up, and things cascade from there, exacerbating everything.

Doc

Thanks for the suggestions. Though isn't meloxicam an NSAID, too?

Yeah, I know the knots are a result of the other issues. Just wishing I could find a way to treat the cause rather than the side-effect/symptom.

It might help if you could find a doc who would prescribe a long-acting opiate. I've had great luck with OpanaER and I take it with Lyrica. With those two meds, it helps alot! I certainly can't say I'm pain FREE, but I'm more comfortable than I have been in years.

I hope you can find some relief! Sounds like you're miserable! :( God bless and please take care. Hugs, Lee

Yes, meloxicam is an NSAID, but like I said, I have the same issues as you (bleeding if I take ibuprofen) but meloxicam (std. dose is one small 15mg pill per day) doesn't cause me to bleed. (Aspirin will if I take non-buffered, or take more than one per day). Just a suggestion to discuss with your doctor.

We'd all like to treat the cause rather than the symptom, but when that's not possible/practical... at least trigger point massage isn't putting yet another pill down the ol' gullet.... YMMV.

Doc