Neck pain-Disc herniation and bulge
 

Hello,

Kind of coming to my wits end and thought I would try this forum for help and information.
Had a head on car accident almost a year ago. Had neck and back pain from accident. Neck pain became worse as time went by. Had headache 24/7 that aspirin only dulled(3 large bottles over 3 month period-Excedrin maximum strentgth) and did not touch actual neck pain. 5 months after accident had MRI that showed "c5-6 small to moderate sized left paracentral dorsal disc herniation with minimal spinal cord compression." and "c6-7 a broad based dorsal disc bulge with dorsally projecting osteophytes extending to both exiting neural foramina. There is mild spinal cord impingement and mild bilateral exiting neural foraminal stenosis." I have tried physical therapy, chiropractic, yoga, and 3 nerve blocks in 3 different areas. Last nerve block relieved symptoms for 3-4 hours stopping headache and lessening neck pain some. But after 3-4 hours the pain came back and actual neck pain is worse than ever, even though headaches are about 80% of the severity before but they are gradually getting worse as well and they are still 24/7. Losing more sleep than before last nerve block and I am not sure what to do next. Any suggestions? Scared of fusion but I am thinking of considering disc replacement, at both levels, which is not FDA approved yet. I am 50 years old and starting to think this in not going to get better by just waiting. I have limited movement and lifting altogether. I do not have symptoms of radiculitis yet but my left shoulder has become painful to movement recently. My orthopedist said surgery would be a consideration after the last nerve block. Should I get second opinion from neurologist? If moving on to surgery: Neurologist or Orthopedic surgeon? Any input will be appreciated. Thanks.

Rico,

I had the headaches 24/7 and very severe for 3 years! So, I have been pretty much where you are at. To answer you though...see a Neurosurgeon or Orthopedic Spinal Surgeon (OSS). And it is not automatic that you would receive an ADR. It actually depends on what is going on. AND...you have to be a candidate for one. But an NS or OSS could explain that to you. Good luck and I hope you can find a good NS and/or OSS.

Sounds a lot like my neck, but not the same course of events.

I had symptoms in both arms as well as the neck pain. My pain doc went right to ESI - epidural steroid injections.

I had first consulted a neuro surgeon and he wanted to do ACDF. I said no. I knew there had to be less invasive things I could try first.

So then,, 2 ESIs in '04. I was fine (well, I had neck pain, but the arm sx were fine) until Jan 07.

Last Nov/Dec, I had 2 more ESIs. I am still having the sx - weakness pain, loss of use of both arms. The steroids helped with the inflamation, but I think I let it go on for too long this time for it to really help as much.

I'm going to try facet joint diagnostic, and if that is positive, I'll do the FJ injection.

Ask your pain clinic (I'm guessing that's where you had your treatments) about these options and if they might help in your case. They may come up with things I don't know about, too.

OTC meds, IMHO, are not enough to deal with this kind of pain situation. And a pain clinic may RX something for you, but generally after thay have tried a few other things. I'd exhaust every trick in their bag before surgery unless you start losing function. But that's how I play, you know?

:o

Good luck.

Same story
 

Hello
5 years headaches just getting worse, had first round of three injections for stenosis all in the neck. Nothing happened, for a short period I thought is was worse. Take meds and percocet for pain and headache, only way for me to survive. Anyway wens the 27th I go for the first of three in the facet area. Pain Mangt. doc swears this one will help. I pray he is right this time. Anyone have any side effects?
Good luck to you:cool:

Well.... I feel so much better afterwards that I race around trying to catch up for the previous 2 months, and overdo it. Still need a little medication most days, but just a fraction. No adverse side effects.

Hi,
 

You might want to check out the TOS forum. It sounds like you could be dealing with thoracic outlet syndrome. It messes with the arms and hands and often comes after an auto accident.

Hope you don't have it but it might be something you want to check into.

Ada