NeuroTalk Support Groups

NeuroTalk Support Groups (https://www.neurotalk.org/)

- Spinal Disorders & Back Pain (https://www.neurotalk.org/spinal-disorders-and-back-pain/)

- - Osteophytes (https://www.neurotalk.org/spinal-disorders-and-back-pain/253113-osteophytes.html)

Newbie - 54 yo female. 35 years working as a dental hygienist - very difficult to keep proper posture. Pain started in 90's and been managed with chiro, physio, massage etc. I get heavy arms, right arm can get cold (occasionally) lots of back pain, sometimes muscular, sometimes bones. Pain comes thru chest at times. Wakes me up at night, not good staying on back. MRI: mild multilevel degenerative disc disease. No compression fracture. Incidental not of several vertebral body hemangioma No significant spinal canal stenosis or neural formaminal narrowing. Mild posterior disc osteophyte complex at T5/T6 causes minor impression on the spinal cord anteriorly.

How common are osteophytes in Thoracic spine
is the minor impression comment meant to read compression?
should I worry about the compression other than the chronic pain?
Surgery?

Might ask Drs for more info about -
Incidental not of several vertebral body hemangioma
Mild posterior disc osteophyte complex at T5/T6 causes minor impression on the spinal cord anteriorly.

Often it comes down to relating your pain & symptoms & locations of them to your dr , and hopefully they can figure it out.

I found this years ago.. https://www.neurotalk.org/members/10...cture5102.html

The ongoing work posture factor could play a large part, PT & DC 2x a week or so can't do enough to offset the continued micro injuries..
Sometimes seeking out more advanced PTs & DCs is beneficial too.
I had many sessions of PT (work comp) and found some were much more helpful & knowledgeable and some just went thru the motions..
Later found a very good DC that did much more hands on work & other modalities like IF stim & Low level laser.. also did top rib mobilisations, and trigger point...

Some of your arm symptoms make me wonder if a bit of Thoracic Outlet Syndrome (TOS) is starting to show up or perhaps a chronic RSI is happening.
You might explore our TOS forum & the sticky threads at top of it to learn more..
https://www.neurotalk.org/forum24/

A good pillow for neck alignment & maybe adding a gel memory foam thick topper if your mattress is getting older might be helpful.. Many of the Gel/mem mattresses that come compressed in a package are affordable and quite nice now days.. There are online reviews and good deals to find compared to the walk in mattress stores..

Thanks for the reply. Bought a new mattress last year, I just cannot be on my back for long periods of time, I then get deep pain between shoulder blades, moving on side better. I just got a large (huge) U shaped pillow where it wedges me on my side. I love it!
I've got a really good physiotherapist, all manual work and trigger points. Need to find a better massage therapist. what is DC?
I've retired from work last year after trying to further reduce my work hours to two days a week, still was in pain every single night with back and headaches.
Sometimes pain feels muscular and other times, feels like bones. I also feel sometimes joints are floating, I don't know if that's in my head but T5/T6 area feels "loose" and it's feels unsettling.

DC (Doctor of Chiropractic)

Past whiplash, upper body hits or falls, concussions can start to show as we age..unfortunately... Then factor in work uses & postures...
Similar to many ageing athletes with all sorts of aches & pains from long past injuries..and playing thru the pain..

Fascia info -- Repetitive Strain Injury Self Care