Just wanted to comment on this thread since I have some similar issues to Sheri and jakatak.

And its been a long road in figuring some of this out but I feel like I have made some progress.

While I do have some cervical issues with some stenosis and some minor disc bulges and osteophytes or bone spurs at C4/5/6 I always thought the problem was more shoulder related for me.

The docs have come to the conclusion that I have an impinged left shoulder and when everything down there is "getting pinched" (nerves and tendons) it puts a good deal of pressure on my c-spine and pulls it out of alignment. The shoulder locking down also pulls that 1st rib out of alignmetn and puts pressure on the brachial plexus. But then I treat the shoulder and get it to let go and the cervical and even lower back areas feel better. But I will say the headaches are excrutiating.

It really affects my axillary and suprascapular nerves which get crushed when the shoulder locks down. They also suspect but are not sure if I have something like QSS (quadrilateral space syndrome - which is a shoulder syndrome).

Jakatak, I will add that I used the Saunders traction device and it made it even worse because while the cervical nerves are being affected the problem is in my shoulder and pulling the c-spine up and giving it space just impinged the shoulder even more.


I am due to have the shoulder scoped out.

I use a topical on my shoulder when it gets really bad. Its a combo of baclofen, ketoprofin and ketamine. If I put it on only the neck it does not calm doen but if I put it on the shoulder I get relief in other places.

Jakatak I would have a doc just double check your range of motion in your shoulder expecially internal and external rotation. Its worth checking out since if its truly a problem in the shoulder, the neck surgery may not give you all the relief you are looking for. And shoulder surgery is much less serious surgery.

Good luck.

I know that I do have a herniated disc at C5/C6, but for the life of me....and I'm not a radiologist, but I look at my CD and the neck looks fairly normal. I know they describe the average neck as arthritic, stenosis, spurring, bulging this and bulging that.....However, I swear that I have a monstrous trigger point in my shoulder blade, but, I suppose it could also be the nerve coming out of the neck. I see the first neurosurgeon on Tuesday...and the second in a month. I will not allow any scalpel near my neck until I've exhausted all limited options.