I need help understanding all of this!
 

Ever since I fell 4 years ago, I have had 2 surgeries on my shoulder - debridement and Bankart repair. I continue to have severe pain down the back of my neck and across the back of both of my shoulders, along with a constant headache in the back of my head. I have had 6 cortizone injections and have been put on many, many different medications. Finally they sent me to the spine center. I have had x-rays and an MRI. This is what was found:

1. Deep tendon reflexes are diminished in the upper extremities and 1/4 at knee and ankle.
2. I have a relative loss of my cervical lordosis and some spondylosis with anterior spurring at c5-6 and c6-7.
3. The disk height at c5-6 is reasonably well mainaained, but is definitely narrowed at the c6-7 level
4. Disc osteophyte with small central protrusions at c5-c6 and c6-7, they do not encroach the canal
5. There is evidence f some osteophyte in the region of the foramina bilaterally, most particularly at c6-c7.

I cannot seem to get my doctor to return my call and am confused about the meaning of all of this.

Hi Pache, and welcome to NeuroTalk.

I'm sorry to hear about the troubles that you've been having. You didn't mention if your doctor is a GP, or an Orthopedic specialist. I was wondering because if it is your local doctor who's putting you off, maybe you need to make another appointment to question him/her (nicely) about your results.

Considering the fact that you have cervical involvement, you may even consider asking for a referral to see a neurologist. Just my opinion.

Here a few links to get you started on the board where you might get better advice.....

Here's the link to our Spinal Disorders Forum : http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum22.html

This one is the link to our Chronic Pain Forum: http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum10.html


I hope this is of some assistance for you.

what kind of fall , what happened?
I'm asking mainly to find out how you landed or hit.

Some of the symptoms you describe almost sound like it could be Thoracic Outlet Syndrome {TOS} or a brachial stretch injury of some sort.
Do you have any hand or arm pain? swelling with arm use?

here's a link to our TOS forum useful sticky thread -
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread84.html
{tons of links and info and therapies - some of the treatments would most likely be helpful for any spasms, trigger points or tight muscles}

Hi Pache and welcome to NeuroTalk! I hope you get some answers to your questions and some relief from your pain.

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Hi, Pache! :Wave-Hello: Welcome to NeuroTalk!

I agree that a second opinion from a neurologist may be in order. This sounds like more than a basic owie and you obviously need help to get this under control. I hope you'll find some answers soon. :)

Hello Pache and Welcome to Neurotalk. Glad you found us, so please let us know if we can be of further help.

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Hello, Pache...
 

I would agree that with the nature of your injury and the widespread lingering pain, you should definitely see a neurologist to check for nerve damage. There are times when nerve damage can keep on spreading in a kind of chain-reaction even if the original cause of it is healed or repaired.

I hope you find some answers, Pache. Good luck and best wishes to you.