Thanks so much, everyone. I do have disc issues and have had 2 cervical MRIs and several X-rays, but the doctors don't seem to think its at serious - honestly probably because they see a young face in front of them and my pain isn't visible, so they don't end up thinking it will be worthwhile to spend more than a couple minutes looking at the MRIs. My chiropractor is the best and says I have reversed cervical curvature along with (I think) c4 and c5 bulging.

What is the next step to deal with disc issues, and differentiate them from TOS? I do feel like originally I had much more ulnar nerve and wrist pain, but the index finger/thumb/forearm muscular tension has taken over. Since there doesn't seem like much to do about TOS other than massage/manual self-treatment, I guess it's good news if disc issues are more treatable. But those surgeries sound way more risky than a scalenectomy.

Does anyone else take prescription medications in the categories I mentioned that actually work? Maybe I should just quit everything except the D and magnesium. Kind of scared to find out what would happen without all the antiinflammatories after so long on them, though.

Hi-to deal with disc issues you can get
1.emg/ncv to see if you have nerve injuries
2. You can get facet block injections and or epidurals to see if these help.
3. A good doctor like Dr. Jordan or Donahue maybe Dr. Thompson might be able to help differentiate the 2.
4. A good pt might be able to help determine where your problems are coming from.
5. Surgery for disc issues IS NOT more risky than scalenectomy and scalenectomy should only be used if they are sure your issues are related to the scalenes. Thats why most dr's here do rib resection. You would need to see a good neurosurgeon but there are disectomies where they shave off the bulge and can widen the foramina or you can have a disc fusion. These are both very common!
6. There is alot you can do for TOS but you need a good Dr, or pt who knows wat to do. Rib Mobilization has helped me tremendously. A Scalene Block injection can help determine if your scalenes are involved.Trigger point injections help. Botox can help.
7. Nuerontin has helped my nerve pain and I occaisionally take a flexeril at night for muscle pain and occaisionally a Tramadol during the day. I am not back to work though.

It is a tricky area and you can have both disc issuses and TOS. they call it Double Crush. In my case I have both, but am pretty sure my problems are mostly coming from my ribs. This is only after countless dr's and pt's and knowing my body. The telltale sign is because my pinky and third finger get numb and if you have only c5-6 radiopathy than you thumb and forefinger will get numb. This is according to Dr. Jordan. There still is no conclusive evidence in my case-I was thinking about facet block injections and then an epidural but I have gotten better with just pt/acupunture and trigger point injections and now Neurontin. Now most of my problems are just concentrated in my Scalpula and I think the key is strengthening without hurting.

You havent said where you are located so we can help steer you to good docs and pts

So something that has helped me a lot and which I didn't see as I skimmed through this thread, is traction at home. I decided to kick off a new thread for it:

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/sh....php?p=1018120

Good luck.