I know that many of us have dual diagnosises. I got my x-ray results back from after my car accident and it shows DDD, which my GP insists upon calling DJD (degenerative joint disease) and arthritis in the neck. This would explain why my flare-ups are so bone-sawing painful and triggered by weather. Here's what it says:

"The cervical spine is adequately visualized to the level of T1. Multiple views show the cervical bodies are normal in appearance and alignment. There is multilevel degenerative disc disease in particular at C4-C5, C5-C6 and C6-C7. Anterior osteophyte formation is present. There is loss of normal cervical lordosis. No fractures are identified. Oblique views demonstrate normally patent neural foramina. The perevertebral soft tissues appear unremarkable."

Funny how the reading has no mention of missing 1st ribs!! I'll post this over in the spiney forum too, but was wondering if anyone here had an idea of what DJD encompasses? Is this why my shoulders crackle and have broken vessels around the shoulder joint? Should I have a Rhumey workup? And what is osteophyte formation - deteriorated bone? 'Caust that's what it looked like on the x-ray.

At least I know I'm not going to get better and I can moderate my activity accordingly. No whipping my head around, or thinking 'if I had just worked harder'... but what I worry about is my last c-spine x-ray in 2000 was clean. This had to start developing after my surgeries, which means it's rapidly progressed.

On the up-side, I just faxed 23 pages to Emory's Pain Mgmt. Clinic and have an appt for an interview next Monday. I'm hoping they will accept me, that they have the expertise to treat me, and do it within medicare. A tall order for sure.

Wish me luck, family!
Anne

Anne,
This is exactly what I've been dealing with since I had a severe whiplash in 1975. I don't think anybody else understands it unless they're dealing with it. According to my drs. it's a totally separate "animal" from TOS and many people tend to dismiss it since it's not TOS and therefore "shouldn't" be as bad. The pain is horrible and I hurt every day and that's no exaggeration. I hate to say that we get used to it because I doubt we really "get used to it" but for me, pain has become the norm and if by chance I do have a somewhat painfree day it seems like that's abnormal- I wonder to myself "what the hell is going on?!"- because, I'm not hurting....Sad, but true. I accepted long ago that this is the way it's going to be, unless medicine comes up with something that they don't seem to have now. So, since my TOS symptoms don't bother me as much, pain wise, as they do you, it's harder for me to realize what dealing with that would do to you with having this other issue now. If you want to PM me I'll be glad to share with you whatever I can that might help although you may be already doing pretty much the same thing I am. BTW, your radiology report sounds exactly like all of the ones I've been getting for over 10 yrs.- DDD, loss of lordotic curve, and cervical dystonia thrown in for good measure. And yes, that's why you creak, crake, and pop. You should hear my neck when I move it- pretty gross!

thanks red - yeah, I'm mostly trying to seperate the TOS pains from the neck pains. I'm coping OK with the day-to-day pains and limitations... but the flare-up are particularly scary. I just want to train someone locally to deal with me, so that I don't have to fear being hurt by ER docs if I was ever to be unconcious. The new dx hasn't changed anything - but may explain some things.

((((((((gentle hugs)))))))