Thank you for your kind response. Your signature made me LOL... My dad would do that very quote during every procedure he underwent during his journey with brain cancer. Thanks for the laugh!

As far as the how, I have no clue, probably an age related thing. I have not been to PT, apparently my surgeon felt I did not need it so he has not sent me to one. I did get sent for nerve testing and it was found there that the burning in my arms and hands are both from Carpal Tunnel and damage from my nerves being impinged for so long. Typically, I am a very active, organized person, but since this pain in the neck (haha) I have slowed waaaayyyyyy down and I don't like it one bit.

I am not familiar with Pain Management facilities. But after today I seriously considered going to a local one here. I am not crazy about going to one of those! My spouse seems to think the Dr's there are just going to write you a script for anything you want and send you on your way. I just want to be able to function again. My two youngest boys are 7 and 3, my 7 year old is autistic and a handful. I will be placing a call with my OSS in the morning just to make sure that my plate has not shifted for some reason.

thanks again for your response and your support.

Hi ~ I have to agree with Dr. Smith. You certainly need Pain Management, and possibly physical therapy when the healing time allows.

Since it's only been 3 months, you are NOT sufficiently healed yet -- the trauma that your body suffered is tremendous, particularly inside! The tissues are undoubtedly still inflamed and very angry! LOL And the nerves are still healing -- nerves heal/grow back at the rate of one INCH per month so it takes a good while for them to recover.

I doubt you're getting much in the area of pain medication as they never seem to think you're in much pain. I wish they could spend a day in our shoes -- just once -- and see how we feel! Then perhaps we MIGHT get proper medication.

Please get a referral to pain management. And take your hubby along if you can. He seems to be very uneducated in pain -- better yet, get a hammer and whack him in the shins. Then maybe he'd know how your BACK feels! LOL Best of luck & God bless. Hugs, Lee

I won't tell you pill mills don't exist, but they are the bane of legitimate pain management and in the minority. For some patients, medication is the best/only alternative, both short and long term, but that is a decision for each patient with the guidance of their physician. Pill mills harm patients in real need because when they do get shut down, those patients get stuck with the stigma of being drug-seekers even though/when they're not.

There are many other therapies for pain management. Some pain management doctors/clinics don't/won't even write prescriptions for pain medications, and those that do often have patients sign a pain contract and submit to periodic testing to ensure compliance. Some options -- alternative medicine -- like accupuncture, myofascial trigger point massage, biofeedback, laser therapy, and others are not offered by western medicine (and may not be covered by insurance) but can be as effective, depending on the patient and the condition.

Maybe the best thing to do would be to google: pain management and learn the facts about the specialty and options available.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pain_management

A couple of other resources are:
http://www.practicalpainmanagement.com/
http://pain-topics.org/

I agree with Leesa to ask for a referral to pain management and take your husband along. Given his misconceptions/misinformation about pain management, I can only speculate about his misconceptions/misinformation about pain medications.
http://health.msn.com/health-topics/...killers?page=1

I'll defer to Leesa and others about healing times and physical therapy, but when the time is right, it can help with residual pain and rehab.

Doc

I continued to use my soft collar while driving for several months after the surgeon said I didn't need it anymore. It served as a reminder not to move inappropriately. If you are having spasm, there is an over the counter rub that just might help. I know that sounds crazy when so many prescript. items aren't doing much but give it a try anyhow. It's Thera Gesic rub. I get it at Krogers grocery as it is cheaper there than even WalMart. I know it is just menthol and Methyl Salicilate so go figure. My brother has a bad spine also........cervical and lumbar. I saw him at a family wedding last month and it was a 250 trip, one way. He was a mess. I gave him a new tube that I intentionally took for him, knowing he would try anything that wouldn't interfere with his ability to drive safely. He said it totally eliminated his neck spasm and actually pulled down some of the radicular leg pain. I had to chuckle as I had been trying to get him to try it for several years. I am just adding this to the great suggestions you have already received. Best wishes.

Last night I slept in my recliner again. I slept better there than on my Tempurpedic mattress! I believe the collar will be going back on as I like many others have a forgetful moment until I turn my head just so..... Youch!

I made an appointment with my OSS and will see him first thing tomorrow.

I wonder, if it is possible that I messed something up in there. Prior to surgery I was a tummy sleeper. The past couple of weeks or so, I have woken up on my stomach, neck killing me. That golf ball feeling in my throat is back and I can almost feel something crunching around in there when I move my shoulders. Im honestly a little freaked out about all of this.

Doc, thank you for the links. I will be INSISTING on PT and Pain Management. Leesa, the Dr. who did my EMG said exactly the same thing - he is the one who put me on Neurontin, which does very little to dull the pain. (it does help with the burning, just not the PAIN) It makes me groggy more than anything.

Is there a drug out there that any of you have had success with that also did not zone you out and you were still able to function through the day? I have two young and very active boys and have to be able to keep up with them.

Thanks again everyone.

That's hard to say because people react to medications differently. ALL medications have side effects, and people react/respond differently to them as well.

Chronic pain is generally considered to be "pain that lasts beyond the term of an injury or painful stimulus," and I'm not sure you're there yet... you're still healing!

That said, most longterm chronic pain patients on opioids that are properly prescribed and taken are able to function at a high level, but there are downsides, and that may not be appropriate for you; that's between you and your doctor(s).

Some patients do fine (without grogginess) on gabapentin or Lyrica.

Some more reading - Google: talk doctor pain for tips on describing your pain to doctors, things to do and not to do. Choice of a particular medication should generally be left up to the doctor, lest the patient be thought a drug-seeker. Once you see a pain management specialist, medication may or may not be the best therapy for you anyway. There are other things they may want to try first; it may take some time to find the best solution/therapy for you.

Doc

Sarah,
Your story and history regarding your cervical spine injury and surgery is very much like mine.
I found a soft cervical collar just by the act of immobilising and supporting my neck would help.
Maybe quit driving for a while too? At least until you get the pain under control.
Also I found Gabapentin to be a great drug with little if any side effects (for me anyway!) and wish I'd been prescribed it sooner than it was.
It helped me sleep and cope with the pain which thankfully went after a few months and now I no longer take Gabapentin or wear a collar .

Know what my PCP would say about that?

"Whatever works!"
(He says that to me a lot. )

Doc

I am at the point where I will try ANYTHING.

Let ya know how it works for me. =)