[nikmcjo]

Hello, all!

I'm sorry I've been absent for so long...four years maybe? Anyway, I hope everyone is doing as well as to be expected.

I have a question for anyone who is willing to read it and give advice. Any and all responses are appreciated

With my rsd, I've always had chest pain and intermittent numbness in my arms in addition to the other rsd symptoms. Sometimes it's not as frequent, and other times it's more frequent. Anyway, the doctors have basically said it's rsd related, nothing wrong with my heart, etc etc. About a year ago, my primary doctor - whom I absolutely love! - was doing some tests to make sure that there was nothing she was missing with my rsd that she could find out before putting my on a treatment plan and such. She scheduled an MRI of my brain and neck, both with and without the dye. After the results came in, she discovered that my C3 and C4 discs are torn and bulging. In an MRI I had two years prior to this, there was no sign of tearing or bulging. With this region of my neck, the symptoms include intermittent arm numbness and weakness (C3) and chest pain (C4). I know these symptoms are also involved with rsd. However, these symptoms have intensified and become more frequent and severe within the last few months. I know I've been under a lot of stress with school and work, so I know this can definitely have an impact on this from the rsd perspective. Also, I don't sleep all that well (shocker...lol). On the other side of things, I know that my neck can also contribute to these symptoms.

I guess my question is this...I am scheduled to visit my primary doctor in about a month or two, but should I consider scheduling a visit with the neurosurgeon with whom I met with after the MRI results first? My chest pain and numbness have definitely intensified, but I know I can deal with it I guess (though I am unsure if this is necessarily the right thing to do for my health or not). I know when I visit my doctor, I'll bring up the worsening symptoms, but yeah. I don't like missing my college classes, but I know that my health should come first and that I do have some afternoons off and a few classes I can miss if absolutely necessary.

Thanks!