maybe something like this would help-
http://www.healiohealth.com/tek9.asp...cific=jrpofpp8

took me awhile to find it , couldn't recall the name of the thing.

also i really liked the books by Pete Egoscue
in libraries - and his site -
http://www.egoscue.com/painfree/painfree.php


If you decide to see any PT or DC request a "get to know you" or eval visit before any treatment - tell them of your concerns due to the from previous care.

Oooo Jo I like that Helio thing!

The thing my chiro uses is below. Called the posture pump. Slowly uses inflated pillows over time at different levels to get the curve back.

http://www.promedproducts.com/s.nl/s...FRwbagodAQYgcg

Sorry have to run. Am showing someone around L.A. today

Kimmydawn,

OMG! And oh he@@ no don't let a Chiro touch your neck at all! I am sorry if I am so abrupt but it never ceases to amaze me when people have Chiro's adjust their necks. That is something you NEVER, EVER want to do!!! Hey, I have been through this cervical spine stuff for 8 years now and also have no curve in my cervical spine either. I do have two fusions though. I tried traction too in the very beginning. Bad move and bad mistake! All it did was to create more pain and more spasms. Oh, boy, if my PM could read this thread he would be blasting away about ANY form of manipulations. If anything, get thyself to a GOOD SPINAL pain management doctor. They can at least help you maybe through injections and with muscle relaxers, etc. THEN you could perhaps go into rehab or PT of a sort to help with your neck. My point is really...until you know PRECISELY what might be going on besides no curve, don't do anything that might aggravate it and that includes PT. If it is just muscular in nature then the PM can tell you as much. In the meantime yes of course watch the posture, etc. And even wearing a soft collar could help with spasms. It might help too if you go over to Braintalk and post this same message. There are plenty of seasoned veterans over there that could tell you the same thing I just did. Just NO MANIPULATIONS until you KNOW EXACTLY what is going on. I do agree with massage therapy as long as it is light. That is something else that the docs have warned me about....just to go very, very easy.

Hi

I have been active in the TOS forum as I have been diagnosed with bilateral TOS and recently had surgery on the right side which no doubt conirmed it. All nerve roots were compressed. I am having a rough time recovering and things are not going well for me.

I saw a chiro who thought he could "cure me". He still thinks he can. All he wanted to do was spinal adjustments and he didn't look at any tests or order any. He adjusted my neck a few times and OH MY IT HURT! He said "I was stuck". My problems just kept getting worse and I started having dizziness and ringing in the ears along with everything else. I stopped going to the Chiro and ended up having the surgery.

I also had cervical spine issues but nobody gave it much weight. My symptoms were so severe and they thought it was all due to TOS. Well now I still have the same symptoms and then some. I've been worse than I was. I have such bad headaches that I can't open my eyes. I can't even sit up anymore. I feel like my head is way to heavy for my body. My neck (spine) just BURNS and I feel like throwing up because it hurts so bad. I have numbness and tingling down arms and left leg. I have trouble now going to the bathroom, trouble walking, and my thumbs are killing me. That's a few the worst symptoms. I can't stand it!

I was sent for another MRI Thursday night and I almost couldn't handle it. It took forever because they couldn't get me comfortable (still sore from TOS surgery) then to top everything off....the machine broke and they told me to lay still til they fixed it..YEAH RIGHT! It took them 30 min! What a night. by the time I was done I was SICK!

Anyways...I have no curve at all. I have spondylosis, disc herniation C4-C6, degenerative hypertrophy and they are still looking to see how severe this all is as to whether I will need surgery. There were signs of all this on 2 previous MRI's but it has been getting worse. I don't know why. Everyone keeps asking me what's wrong with me and why is this happening. I truly don't get it.

I am scared and I dont know if I can withstand another surgery. I'd like to hear and learn more about spinal fusion surgery. I believe I need to prepare myself for this. I cry every day when I look at my neck from the TOS surgery and it is so painful. I just don't know if I will have any other choices at this point. I am on so much meds and it doesn't work.

I have been told none of this is "normal" ok...why and no what?

Good night all

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.

Kimmydawn,

I just wanted to say that I have read through this thread briefly....I agree with the advice that Bobbi and Kathi have given you...I think you can see by my signature that I have a cervical fusion at C 4/5,5/6,and 6/7...I always get just a little nervous when people recommend chriopractic care to people with cervical problems without first sending them to either an OSS or NSS...Had I gone to a chiro first I might be paralyzed from the neck down..There are good and bad chiropractors...and... If I had gone to a chiro that did not know enough not to do an adjustment he could have done a lot more harm than good......My cervical problems were so bad though that with just one adjustment he could have caused irrepabable harm...so please see a medical doc first...My OSS doc warned very, very strongly about staying away from a chiro...Some people are helped by a chiro...but it depends on the problem and only a doctor can determine that.