Have you got a traction unit for home? I really like the one I got, the court is still out on whether it will help or not but I do feel I am better a bit.

I had allllllllllllllllll the injections/treatments. I found that anything they did to my left side caused me to be in pain (like ginnie said for way to long) so that side is not worth doing an injection on. You might find that the other side is better to do the injections on but gosh, I can't say I would recommend any of them. Then again a co-worker had them and her pain went away but I think you know that after the first shot and you seem like your in my category of it doesnt help.

I had the interlaminar (what you had), the transforminal, and a MBB and RFA. The RFA on the right side did make it feel better but it makes in nearly impossible to do excersises to get better on that side, so dont know if that was worth it (the nerves just flat out dont work after the RFA).

Along with starting some medications (maybe trying gaba??) to get the nerves to calm down, you might think about the traction unit, some PT and get ya a spine surgeon in your back pokect in case you want to go that route.

I will be interested in seeing what they tell ya, good luck

joann

PS you might want to get the book “Treat Your Own Neck” by Robin McKenzie

Just as more info:

I had another MRI, this time with contrast. This MRI was more detailed.

I now have proof of my pain, I wasn't crazy when I was telling them the injection on the left side was killing me.

C5-C6 Bulge causing encroachment of anterior spinal canal with some encroachment of left neural foramen.

If anyone has further information on this I would love any thoughts.

Of course you were not crazy. I know this kind of pain. I would avoid that particular injection. Maybe do some homework about what else is available to you. I had katemine infussions, they did not hurt with administering them, nor did I get side effects. I got several months of good pain control. ginnie

Yes.

Get thee on the computer and research the kind of of Doc you need and his credentials (like my spinal surgeon is a North American Spine Fellow.) Then get a second opinion. Or a third.

You may never know why the origional doctos you saw, want to move you to another specility. Get off the merrry-go round-doctors, and get a pain specialist, or neruorologist. Get your records, and you may be able to see what they were thinking on their notes. When you ask for your records, request their notes. Move on to someone who can help with that pain! ginnie

I have to decide on surgery I am scared to death and my BP continues to rise anyone have operation on c/3 &c/4

Welcome to Neuro Talk. I am glad you found this site. We can do alot here to help you through this process of surgery. I am neck woman, having two cervial fusions, so I happen to be one who can help you a bit. I do know how scarry this is. I came to Neruo talk the same way you are doing, frightened, crying, in pain, not knowing what to expect. I do not think I could have gone through my second fusion, without the good folks here. Once I had this done, I stayed with this site, to give back the help I received.
I hope before you have the fusion, that you did all your homework. That means a second opinion in another specility field, such as orthopedic and Neurosurgery. I did not do this for my first cervial fusion. I was too in a hurry to be done with the pain. I paid a big price for that six years later. I wound up with a second even more difficult at C3-7.
That is the reason why I ask if you had that second opinion. Sometimes when the spine is damaged, the verterbre above and below have trouble that is not always evident at first. You want to ask specifically if the rest of your neck looks good, and that you understand your MRI.
The people here can help you if there is something on it that you don't understand.
As far as the pain goes, that is so individual. Do talk to your doctor about pain issues after the surgery, and what pain meds. you wills be allowed at home. I did just fine with C6-7, with good recovery time, and physicial therapy. However my second fusion was much more difficult to get through.
I did need help with meals, and my home for a few weeks with that. I hope you have a good support team to give you a hand. I wore a soft neck collar with both surgeries. I also recommend you try different sleep positions. I use a raised wedge still to this day. I will be here for you. You can PM me at any time and I will try to answer any questions you have. It will be OK. You can get through this. My bp was sky high too, ask for a medication or let your doctor know that this is effecting your BP. I needed help with that too. I wish you all the best in this, and again a warm welcome to Neruo Talk. ginnie