Hi Kimmy,

I had no curve in my c-spine, either. My doctor didn't act like it was a big deal, though, for whatever reason. I did have ACDF surgery in December and lo and behold - my curve has returned. He pointed it out in my last x-ray. I'm really not sure how all of that is connected - surgery and curve, but it looks more normal now. I didn't really have any issues from the lack of curve - at least none that I was aware of at the time. I'm doing fine after the surgery, though - for me it was quite easy. One night in the hospital, six weeks off work (excessive, but my surgeron is very conservative) and I am now back at the gym and working with no problems.
good luck,
Kelly

Here's a nice site for some basic stretches and explanations about TOS and carpal tunnel etc.
if you go to the home page there's much more too, but here is the TOS pages -
http://www.bodymindresources.com/car...acictheory.htm

this one is for the heal thyself series page -
http://www.bodymindresources.com/doorways.htm

Kimmy,

I just went and re-read very carefully everything you said. I don't think a straight cervical spine would cause all the numbness, tingling in fingers and dizziness. All of that just tells me there is more going on than just a straight cervical spine. It could be facet arthritis, bone spurs, herniations..whatever. I would definitely try to get into to see a GOOD spinal pain management doctor. They are trained to detect subleties that no other doc can. I found that out fast. And if need be, can refer you to an NS or OSS. But they are GREAT about finding out the source whatever it might be. It sounds to me and of course I know nothing other than what you have stated, that IF there is nerve root irritation or spurs, etc., injections might be very beneficial to diagnose the pain generator(s) and to help relieve some pain and spasms. I will just put it this way...I trust NO ONE other than my own spinal PM to touch my neck. After 3 years of pure you know what...he was the one that saved me from further grief. I wish you well with all of this.

The numbness/tingling could be paresthesia, which can be caused by radiculopathy, nerve root impingement or compressed nerves - C-spine and/or L-spine - from things such as Kathi cited.

If bone spurs, many people get those with time and with age. If removed, chances are greater that more will appear than not. So, it would be a repeat to have them surgically removed. (Only way I'd consider it is, if the procedure is minimally invasive.)

I'll have to re-read after my doc appointment today.

Arthritis runs strongly through my father's family (who I mainly am like...looks, build, etc.). I would say that's a strong possibility now that I'm 44...especially after the two rear-ends? Thanks for mentioning that because it's been lurking in the back of my mind.

I've really been watching myself this last week so I'd have something to report to y'all (you all really amaze me with your knowledge and sharing it). I'm beginning to think it's ALL my posture.

Being a co-admin at two websites, I'm online (especially reading and clicking) alot. With being right-handed, I lean continually on my left elbow so I can manipulate the mouse.

I'll never forget when I worked as a project coordinator at the last firm I worked for. I was on the phone most of my time there. I would write and lean on that left elbow again. I remember dealing with quite a bit of pain there on my left side, and was worried about it. It got better when I had to quit, but then I think I've traded for a new position leaning on that left side!

See I need to get a chair that doesn't have an arm on it and I think that will help me remember my posture. For instance, I pulled a kitchen chair into the livingroom computer and automatically, I don't know how many times, went to lean and nothing there so I adjusted myself another way. I was majorly surprised at how much I do that. When leaning on the arm of the chair, my shoulder gets pushed high up, elbow rests and hand then hangs. Doing this hours a day??? I really think that's it and why it mostly on the right side!

I have to say that I'm very relieved to think it's no so much my neck doing it all.

Now, with the feet...I don't know? It doesn't do it nearly so often, just sometimes when I'm on my feet a long time (i.e. hand washing dishes) on hard floor. Oh, and to walk the mall or something? Sometimes I can spasm so bad that it goes around front to feel like medium labor pains. These things aren't often, though, and are always relieved when I sit down and relax.

I walk alot...walking boys outside, etc. and it's not often that this happens. I've mainly noticed it on certain flooring, so I'm wondering if cushion insoles will help when I know I'm doing those certain things...the kind with shock absorbers and good cushion?

I really, reallyknow little about spine and back because I've been so blessed there. I've always been physically strong, and always taken advantage of that...realizing as I get older and in hindsight.

My husband has horrible issues with herniations, bulges and arthritis (with sciatica involvement), and my daughter has followed him at the tender age of 18 with two herniations and sciatica involvement. I can relate with nerve pain due to the TN, but can't imagine what my baby and her daddy goes through.

I really think my posture, mixed with the fibro, it causing alot of this. I'm going to give a good concerted effort to change my posture when at computer and get back to weightless exercise for the fibro (yoga and swimming).

I really let myself go this last year and a half when daughter was so ill...eating VERY poorly with no vitamins consistenly, very little sleep, extreme anxiety and stress, etc. Combined with that, and my not caring properly for myself, I think I'm paying the price and only I can change that part of it.

Part of that will be to follow-up with the spine doctor (as well as other doctors for checkups, etc.) and check into good computer posture.

I apreciate you guys so much! You helped me realize what I might be doing and have control over to change...feeling empowered is always a good thing...combining that with increased knowledge is great.

I can't thank you enough and will let you know!

KD

PS-If anyone has any information regarding computer posture, etc., please share. Also, knowing that it's such a huge habit, I wouldn't be opposed to buying a special chair or device. I've tried the special keyboards and hate them, but if they're that important, I'll get another one (it sounds like they're really important).

HI KD,

Be sure to try to focus on those abdominals and core too. It will help strengthen the spine overall and take pressure off. I'll look in my water aquatics books to see if there is an exercise.

Google, forward head posture. That is what they call people that get it from their computers.

I think and ergonomic ste-up is important. Maybe its not the lack of arms on the chair but that they were too high. I have an ergo chair with adjustable arms.

Posture is a hard thing. I think I should take a little of my own medecine when it comes to this

You might check to see if you , and family, might be hypermobile.
Years of postures & habits can make subtle changes inthe body and if hypermobile even more so..

Hypermobility
http://hypermobility.org/beighton.php

I've had these for a long time so I hope they are still good links
Ergonomics links:
http://www.working-well.org/index.html
http://www.remedyint.com/ergoanswers/wrist_hand.html
http://www.office-ergo.com/alternat.htm
http://ergo.human.cornell.edu/ErgoTi...tationmain.htm

Kimmydawn,

Yes, please follow up with a spine doc.

I was an IT analyst and I believe Bobbi is as well. I know I asked for special chairs, went to PT, had a new chair purchased at Relax the Back for my home and did everything I could possibly do to improve my posture. I even went so far as getting new glasses because of the dizziness. Now, this was all a long time ago and I still go to PT from time to time. I retired and no longer work.

I forgot to say earlier that the L5/S1 is the dermatome that follows the path you are speaking of in your leg. I have that going on as well.

What my PM told me a few visits back was: tingling and numbness = nerves! So, too can burning sensations but mine were more along the lines of PN and/or Central Pain Syndrome. I don't necessarily believe in Fibro, but that is just me. And I came to that conclusion based on what my PM said. He said pain does not come on without a reason. And I believe it. Besides there is more literature out there now linking Fibro to actually neuro problems which makes a lot more sense to me.

By all means try everything you can posture wise. But do yourself a favor and please speak to a spine doc and rule in or out what may or may not be wrong FIRST. THEN, let them tell you what types of things you should be doing. I say that too because I was doing all kinds of things that I should NOT have been doing. Plus, there were 3 years there that were wasted in chasing myself. Sorry, I do not mean to sound abrupt. And I am NOT speaking of rushing into surgery or anything like that. I just wouldn't try to approach this by myself. I did that and I was soooo wrong about a lot of things. For instance, I didn't need new glasses because of headaches and dizziness; I needed a fusion insead!!!

Oh my gosh! How telling that was!

OK, I don't have *any* hypermobility...anywhere. Thanks for that cause it answered something.

HOWEVER, I went to a couple of "forward head posture" sights and WOWOWOW. I did the thing where they said to stand in mirror (using second mirror) and ear, shoulders, hips and ankles should be aligned??? Ummm...

My ears are forward and hips aligned with them almost and shoulders back and aligned with ankles.

Then I read a bit about some consequences of this and they mentioned tongue! I didn't tell y'all about my tongue because I forgot about it. When I whistle or something similar, it can feel like it's tight...almost charlie horse tight (in the back and close to tonsils). That scares me when that happens, then also my neck/throat can get "muscle sore" in the front there...sometimes "popping" before the soreness.

Wow. Yes, I do need to get to specialist, don't I?

I can't thank you guys enough because I was close to "waiting and seeing" again, but I really don't think I should.

KD

Kimmy,

I am soooo sorry. I didn't mean to scare the cr@@ out of you at all!

All I am really saying is...there could be more going on than what you realize. If you do see a spine specialist, and he or she says there is nothing there or that you MRI looks good, THEN I wouldn't hesitate in trying other things. But let them tell you that. I just hate to see anyone try all kinds of conservative measures on THEIR OWN without really knowing what may or may not be going on. Anyway, I tried everything you can think of besides what I already posted. Traction was one of them and I think it made me worse. Well, I KNOW it did. The thing is and as Bobbi pointed out, IF there is radiculopathy (nerve impingement), etc., you NEED to KNOW that.

And one last thing. I went into PT last summer because my NS thought my shoulder muscles were weak from the last fusion. He was probably right but there was a lot more going on than just that. Anyway, the PT gal, and she was VERY YOUNG, had me doing all kinds of stretches that just tore me up. I ended up at my PM's office and he about had a heart attack. He told me...do not let any PT pull or tug at you like that ever again. I had bursitis and also weak muscles. So, he gave me a shoulder injection which helped a great deal and THEN I was able to do some EASY stretches to get my strength back.

Sooo...I have learned some lessons the hard way. Now I see my PM FIRST before I do anything!

I wish you luck because I know this is difficult to sort out. And there is nothing wrong with trying to correct your posture. Just don't go overboard. Again, let a specialist, preferably a spine doc, take a look see and then proceed.