Hello All,

Newbie Pain in the Neck here. Have had increasing pain in my neck for about/over one year and my doctor finally ordered MRI. Haven't slept through a night in about 6 months because every time I move, the pain wakes me up. I could go on...I'll just stop and say it hurts-a bunch. FYI: 45yo Female

I have the results of my MRI even though I have not heard from the doc yet. Posting this message cuz I'm hoping someone can help to clarify what I have before I talk to him. By clarify I guess I mean stuff like:

How much should this hurt?
I've been telling my doctor (neurologist) about this pain for so long but he seems to poo-poo everything...see him for neuropathy also....and migraines. I take Percoset for migraines. Since nothing else worked for my neck, I started taking the Percoset for that-Advil, Aleve, Muscle Relaxant, Tramadol-all no help. I told the doc about 5-6 months ago that that's what I was taking for my neck but that my prescription was no longer lasting for a month as it used to and could he increase the quantity-he said he didn't want to treat something when he didn't know what he was treating-so, he didn't. No alternatives offered so I continue trying to make 30-5mg percoset last for 30 days.

Is 30 5mg Percoset in a Month excessive for what I have?
If not excessive, what would be a reasonable expectation from my doctor? It's so hard to tell if I'm just being a baby or he's just clueless.

Results: MRI Cervical Spine

c2-3 Canal and foramen are patent.

c3-4 Disc Osteophyte Complex that contacts anterior cord. Canal measures 8mm AP. Mild to Moderate bilateral neuroforaminal narrowing from facet and uncovertebral joint spurs at this level. This is worse on right side because of advanced facet disease. There is exuberant right-sided facet disease at this level.

c4-5 Mild facet disease. Canal and foramen are patent.

c5-6 Small Disc Osteophyte Complex but canal is patent. Mild bilateral neuroforaminal narrowing from degenerative disease.

c6-7 This level intact.
c7-T1 This level intact.

Impression:
Degenerative disease is worse at the C3-4 level. At this level, disc osteophyte complex abuts the anterior cord and causes mild spinal stenosis. There is exuberant right sided facet disease at this level. There is moderate bilateral neuroforaminal narrowing at C3-4.

Anybody?
Justified Pain? Or Crybaby?

Thank you in advance!

Me again.
I have a new question now...been trying to figure this out all day but I give up and hope that someone can enlighten me.
Pretty Please!

I'm new at this stuff....putting my life out there for everyone to see! That was a big step and I spent hours reading through
other people's posts-deciding whether I really wanted to put my medical history on the internet. In the end, I figured whatever
I learned about my neck would be worth the weird feeling of putting my MRI results (and iffy thoughts about my doc)
out there for all to see.

But...with 30'some views, and 0 replies--I'm thinkin' it's not so worth it
Don't get me wrong--I know that nobody is obligated to reply.
I absolutely understand that all answers come from people who just want to help.

Did I do something wrong though...break some unwritten law that I don't know about?
It just seems that the terms used in my MRI are similar to what I read in other posts.
Nobody out there who's had similar results…who can tell me what pain he or she felt?
Or what treatment they had? Anything about this?
My doctor still has not called to tell me the results.

Hi batoodle and welcome to NeuroTalk


often the read numbers correspond to guests reading the forum who are not registered and so cannot reply. being summer and the week after July 4th holiday, the forums are quieter than usual so it could take a little longer for you to get replies from the active members here.

you sure didnt break any rules or do anything wrong.
hopefully you will have some replies soon

all the best
Cheri

Thank you, Cheri!

That makes perfect sense and I feel much better now

I can't compare pain or symptoms with you, but now that the MRI is done your dr should know what he is dealing with now.

I have Osteophyte's @ c 4/5/6 but they don't touch anything like yours does. {osteophyte complex abuts the anterior cord}

Hi Batoodle,

First, I want to say I wrote you a novel yesterday but then I ended up deleting it only because I was in a hurry and it just didn't read right. And, no, you haven't said or done anything wrong and you are most definitely NOT a crybaby.

My C3/C4 was the REAL "bad" level and then also at the same time the C5/C6 was herniated. My journey began 8 years ago and it started off with SEVERE cervicogenic headaches which at first they termed occipital neuralgia. But to me it is all one in the same painwise. Anyway, no pain meds would touch it and I eventually had it fused. My C3/C4 nerve roots were so crushed or obliterated with osteoarthritis that they just couldn't be seen. So, it is no wonder meds wouldn't touch the pain. The ONLY thing that ever stopped the pain before I had any surgery was a shot of Toradol and a shot of Phenergan at the ER. However, when my current PM saw how bad that level was he did do some injections of which I had relief for 3 months each (he did those twice). But as he said, the pain would keep coming back and it did...so off it was to the NS.

So, what I would recommend is to have your Neurologist refer you to either a SPINAL pain management doctor OR a Neurosurgeon. You could also see an OSS. But I will say right now that the C3/C4 is a very serious level because of the phrenic nerve that controls your breathing. And please, this isn't meant to scare you at all. It is just that Neurologists are notorious for wanting to use meds when really you need what I mentioned above.

And don't get me wrong I have a Neurologist too but I do NOT use her or see her for the spinal disorders. My spinal PM and NS handles all of that.

So, if I were you, I would definitely ask for a referral. Evidently, and not to mean, your Neurologist just doesn't know what he or she is treating and SHOULD be sending you to a spine doc based on your MRI. What concerns me besides the facets and stenosis is that it is compressing your spinal cord. And I could lay down $100 that your headaches are really coming from your neck. Sometimes people think they are migraines and it could very well be. But I had two types of headaches going on...the spine docs called it Cervicogenic Headaches WITH Variant Migraines.

Hang in there and I hope you can get a referral to the right doc to help you.

Hi, batoodle! Welcome to NeuroTalk!

Hi Batoodle and Welcome to NT!!!

Please feel freen to roam around and join in anywhere.

I look forward to seeing you around the boards.


Abbie

G'day. An Aussie here as you may be able to tell, but I saw your post and wanted to say Hi, and welcome to NeuroTalk.

I also do not think you're a cry baby and as you now know, guests do come onto the site trying to obtain advice as well, so I'm sorry that you felt neglected.

Any disease of the spinal canal can be painful and that includes foraminal narrowing as shown on your MRI. Unfortunately I don't know a whole lot about the condition, but I do know that much.

I sympathise with you Botoodle, and hope you get the answers that you are seeking before too much longer.