Severe Neck / Back Arm Pain

[Raygun99]

Woke up 8 weeks ago and had severe neck pain, upper back, and numb left shoulder / arm. VERY Painfull Driving more than 1 mile is out of the question.

Saw my family physician. Perscribed muscle relaxants... No help
Had neck X ray and noted C4-5-6 Stenosis Prescribed PT.. No Help
Back Neck Surgeon. MRI reinforced stenosis-- Possible pinched Nerve-- Perscribed steroid injection. Got relief but only lasted 2 weeks

Getting a second injection tomorrow.
Have a Myelogram CT scheduled 2 weeks later.

Living on Tramadol... Any thoughts?

 

[Yoheadden]

Woke up 8 weeks ago and had severe neck pain, upper back, and numb left shoulder / arm. VERY Painfull Driving more than 1 mile is out of the question.

Saw my family physician. Perscribed muscle relaxants... No help
Had neck X ray and noted C4-5-6 Stenosis Prescribed PT.. No Help
Back Neck Surgeon. MRI reinforced stenosis-- Possible pinched Nerve-- Perscribed steroid injection. Got relief but only lasted 2 weeks

Getting a second injection tomorrow.
Have a Myelogram CT scheduled 2 weeks later.

Living on Tramadol... Any thoughts?

A friend of mine in his 60s was having back pain. He was diagnosed with spinal stenosis. After a few steroid shots that gave him varying time frames of relief, he opted for surgery. I don’t remember the name, but I believe they put “spacers” in the affected areas. He isn’t completely pain free, but much better off than he was.

 

[MissMolly]

I had similar problems years ago, and went through the similar PT, traction, etc. No help. I was unable to sit for more than 1 or 2 minutes. If I did, my arm was on fire from pain. I could only stand or lay down, so I spent my days at the office standing over my desk to do work (this was before the introduction of standing desks). Finally had surgery. What a relief! Wish I had done it sooner.

 

[MrsHaloFIRE]

Quick easy thing to try: thinner pillow. I used the same pillow for years and years. and went round and round with PT/Docs/Meds/xrays/dry needling for neck pain. Switched to thinner pillow. CUred in 2 nights. Worth a shot.

 

[MRG]

I have degenerative disc and this sounds very familiar. The stenosis is causing compression, the pain and numbness can be overwhelming. I was first diagnosed in 1996, had 5 rodeos so far, my empathy.

You need a spinal expert, neurosurgeon or osteopathic surgeon who can operate above the neck. Your treatments so far are exactly what has worked for me in the past. Time can also bring some improvement, gabapentin has been helpful for numbness.
Good luck and best wishes.

 

[Rianne]

Sounds like your pain happened suddenly. Did it get worse over time? I went through something similar that lasted @ 6 months. Shooting pain through my arm, neck, and upper back. I was constantly adjusting positions. The neurosurgeon I saw read the MRI and said don't let anyone talk you into surgery. He said this would take care of itself and it did. Every case is different. I suggest you get several opinions before doing anything drastic.

 

[Dash man]

Woke up 8 weeks ago and had severe neck pain, upper back, and numb left shoulder / arm. VERY Painfull Driving more than 1 mile is out of the question.



Saw my family physician. Perscribed muscle relaxants... No help

Had neck X ray and noted C4-5-6 Stenosis Prescribed PT.. No Help

Back Neck Surgeon. MRI reinforced stenosis-- Possible pinched Nerve-- Perscribed steroid injection. Got relief but only lasted 2 weeks



Getting a second injection tomorrow.

Have a Myelogram CT scheduled 2 weeks later.



Living on Tramadol... Any thoughts?

Welcome to my world.
Cervical epidural injections are a short term relief. My next step was an EMG and MRI for further evaluation and to find the best pain management doctor I could. I then got Facet Joint injections under a fluoroscope. They last a few months. The treatment I get now is nerve ablation in four areas around my spine.
I did have evaluations by three neurosurgeons and an orthopedic surgeon. They all said to keep going the pain management route and surgery would not likely help me.
My priest chose the surgery route. After a year the fusions put pressure on other parts of the spine and he needed another surgery. He’s up to three now.
I spoke in detail to an orthopedic surgeon at my church, and he said 1 in 300 spinal pain issues need surgery, yet many rush to their doctor trying to get it.
It’s been 14 years and I’m managing well.
Best wishes.

 

[John Galt III]

Raygun99, no injury or strain prior to the pain? No change in sleeping arrangement?

 

[timbervest]

2001 pinched nerve left side L4-L5 -- searing sciatica, almost unable to rise from sitting. Tried chiropractor, stretching, epidural (only lasted a few months). Finally opted for surgery (two days after 9/11) -- by New Years was running again and no long term impacts.

19 years later -- pinched nerve right side L4-L5. Similar symptoms, epidural ineffective. Probably will do surgery again although not particularly excited about going to the hospital under the current circumstances.

 

[Chuckanut]

Woke up 8 weeks ago and had severe neck pain, upper back, and numb left shoulder / arm. VERY Painfull Driving more than 1 mile is out of the question.

Saw my family physician. Perscribed muscle relaxants... No help
Had neck X ray and noted C4-5-6 Stenosis Prescribed PT.. No Help
Back Neck Surgeon. MRI reinforced stenosis-- Possible pinched Nerve-- Perscribed steroid injection. Got relief but only lasted 2 weeks

Getting a second injection tomorrow.
Have a Myelogram CT scheduled 2 weeks later.

Living on Tramadol... Any thoughts?

FWIW, a friend of mine had similar symptoms from a pinched nerve in the spine. Getting better took four to five months. The first three were tough. But, she continued to do the movement and stretching exercises recommended by the therapist, and took pain meds when necessary. At five months, she seems to be back to normal. This is just one person's case. Perhaps it can add some perspective to your situation.

 

[CoolChange]

Home Cervical Traction Set

A friend of mine gets relief from one of these Over-The-Door Home Cervical Traction Sets. No idea if it would help but probably worth discussing with your doctors. Good luck.

 

[MRG]

A friend of mine gets relief from one of these Over-The-Door Home Cervical Traction Sets. No idea if it would help but probably worth discussing with your doctors. Good luck.
View attachment 36771

I've used those and they can be very helpful. Consult your specialist.

 

[Amethyst]

I feel for you. Has any physician suggested a physical therapy evaluation? There are all kinds of ways your muscles/skeleton can get out of balance, making things like arthritis feel much worse, and contributing to pinched nerves.

Our modern dependence on a tiny screen which we carry everywhere, stare at all the time with downward head, and manipulate with our thumbs, is wreaking havoc on people's necks and upper bodies.

Woke up 8 weeks ago and had severe neck pain, upper back, and numb left shoulder / arm. VERY Painfull Driving more than 1 mile is out of the question.

Saw my family physician. Perscribed muscle relaxants... No help
Had neck X ray and noted C4-5-6 Stenosis Prescribed PT.. No Help
Back Neck Surgeon. MRI reinforced stenosis-- Possible pinched Nerve-- Perscribed steroid injection. Got relief but only lasted 2 weeks

Getting a second injection tomorrow.
Have a Myelogram CT scheduled 2 weeks later.

Living on Tramadol... Any thoughts?

 

[PatrickA5]

I feel for you. Has any physician suggested a physical therapy evaluation? There are all kinds of ways your muscles/skeleton can get out of balance, making things like arthritis feel much worse, and contributing to pinched nerves.

Our modern dependence on a tiny screen which we carry everywhere, stare at all the time with downward head, and manipulate with our thumbs, is wreaking havoc on people's necks and upper bodies.

I agree. In about 15-20 years there will be huge demand for neck surgeons.

I'm 6 weeks post op from my neck surgery (C4-7). So far, so good.

 

[Bamaman]

When you have back and neck problems and you're insured, be looking for a superstar neurosurgeon. I mean the doctor that other physicians would use if they had the same problem. You're looking for one that does the same type surgery all the time.

What your doctors are doing is putting you through a protocol. Just about every person with your problem goes through the same treatments.

If/when you go through steroid injections, they're only good if done under guidance of a flouroscope. And the injections are best done in series of three a month apart. Often it takes the third injection to put you over the top.

My wife has gone through all these protocols for spinal stenosis, and they finally did a laminectomy on her. That's where they section the bone on your back that's pressing down on the nerves that's causing the problems. The surgery went very well.

The problem is that arthritis and other problems start popping up elsewhere as time goes on. My best suggestion is to find a really good pain management doctor that's an anesthesiologist with a fellowship in pain management. They are experts at giving back injections. And if it takes controlled substances to relieve the pain, go for it.

If the injections quit working, next step is a nerve ablation, and they will last quite awhile. If the ablations quit working, sometimes they implant a Medtronic device in you with wires that go directly to the spot and stimulate the nerves electrically.

Sorry you're having such problems. My wife fights mega-pain all the time. After recent shoulder surgery and a knee replacement, her feet are killing her (arthritis and bone spurs.) She's undergoing fusions 12/31 where they immobilize the bones on top of her feet with plates and screws in order to stop the pain. I expect she'll be off her feet 2-3 months and back to normal in 9 months. Then the other foot needs to have the same treatment/surgery. Otherwise, we keep on truckin' every day with pretty normal lives.

 

[badatmath]

My issue does not match exactly but physical therapy, an injection, time were the solution. A lot more time that you might want to hear actually but it is mostly under control provided I do not aggravate it. I can't sleep on that side anymore.

 

[SecondCor521]

As someone mentioned, every case is different. My Dad had ACDF - anterior cervical discectomy and fusion. They cut out some of the (apparently bulging) discs in his neck and fused C3-C4-C5 (I think) using cadaver bone. Didn't seem to help much, but the fear (put into him by his spine surgeon) was that he'd end up a quadriplegic and he hasn't, so...:shrug:.

The spine surgeon he went to had waved him off from surgery a few times before, so when he recommended it in this case we felt like it was an honest opinion.

 

[2retireearly]

My story...I've had spinal stenosis since in 30's..herniations since then too....always some pain in neck and back...i was very athletic, still am, but do have pain. i'm 62. That's not this story. I had the worst pain I've ever had, around my scapula (back chicken bone bone)....and pain shooting down my arm. I assumed it was a pinched nerve, and I ibuprofenned my way through, as was dealing with helping parents move. My brother, a neurologist, correctly diagnosed it as Parsonage Turner Syndrome. Look it up, as too much to explain. But, If I had gone to a surgeon, most likely, with my history, he'd say, 'well its a pinched nerve, let's operate'. And that is not what it was. I continued to take ibuprofen. I had nerve tinglings..but...it actually fixed itself in a month. Parsonage Turner...maybe that's your issue, too. My brother, has seen quite a few cases of it, and he also, this year, had it.

 

[pjigar]

Sounds like your pain happened suddenly. Did it get worse over time? I went through something similar that lasted @ 6 months. Shooting pain through my arm, neck, and upper back. I was constantly adjusting positions. The neurosurgeon I saw read the MRI and said don't let anyone talk you into surgery. He said this would take care of itself and it did. Every case is different. I suggest you get several opinions before doing anything drastic.

I second that. Try conservative approaches until you loose hope and then start all over again! I had a disk replacement surgery after loosing hope and the situation has not improved all that much after the surgery. YMMV.

 

[pjigar]

My story...I've had spinal stenosis since in 30's..herniations since then too....always some pain in neck and back...i was very athletic, still am, but do have pain. i'm 62. That's not this story. I had the worst pain I've ever had, around my scapula (back chicken bone bone)....and pain shooting down my arm. I assumed it was a pinched nerve, and I ibuprofenned my way through, as was dealing with helping parents move. My brother, a neurologist, correctly diagnosed it as Parsonage Turner Syndrome. Look it up, as too much to explain. But, If I had gone to a surgeon, most likely, with my history, he'd say, 'well its a pinched nerve, let's operate'. And that is not what it was. I continued to take ibuprofen. I had nerve tinglings..but...it actually fixed itself in a month. Parsonage Turner...maybe that's your issue, too. My brother, has seen quite a few cases of it, and he also, this year, had it.

My story is somewhat similar. After a surgery and pain still in the arm, I went to shoulder specialist. His diagnostic is Bursitis of the Shoulder. And guess what, he has a surgical solution to Bursitis of the Shoulder! I am not buying it anymore. I will just live through pain until I can't take it anymore.

 

[Dash man]

I second that. Try conservative approaches until you loose hope and then start all over again! I had a disk replacement surgery after loosing hope and the situation has not improved all that much after the surgery. YMMV.

I agree! Be conservative and don’t jump into surgery. If you find a surgeon that says you need surgery, go for a second opinion. I’ve lived almost 15 years now with my pain and management of it has made my life much better. Surgery is no guarantee of a fix.

 

[aaronc879]

Woke up 8 weeks ago and had severe neck pain, upper back, and numb left shoulder / arm. VERY Painfull Driving more than 1 mile is out of the question.

Saw my family physician. Perscribed muscle relaxants... No help
Had neck X ray and noted C4-5-6 Stenosis Prescribed PT.. No Help
Back Neck Surgeon. MRI reinforced stenosis-- Possible pinched Nerve-- Perscribed steroid injection. Got relief but only lasted 2 weeks

Getting a second injection tomorrow.
Have a Myelogram CT scheduled 2 weeks later.

Living on Tramadol... Any thoughts?

Tramadol is not for extreme pain. When they took me off Oxycodone and gave me Tramadol they may as well just gave me tiktaks. Tramadol is worthless. I hope you get some relief in some other way.

 

[Boho]

I looked up the possible side effects of Oxycodone and Tramdol. Two that stood out are:

Tramdol
Treatment of moderate to moderately severe pain
Slowed breathing

Oxycodone
Treatment of moderate to severe pain
Not being able to breathe

 

[MRG]

Tramadol is not for extreme pain. When they took me off Oxycodone and gave me Tramadol they may as well just gave me tiktaks. Tramadol is worthless. I hope you get some relief in some other way.

+1

Tramadol is not very effective for me. I've had it prescribed for different reasons and it's not any more effective than advil.

 

[gamboolman]

Raygun,

Sorry to hear of your pains.

I am with you.

I lived your symptoms and pain for years. I was to the point of being crippled and could not perform my job.

I had Spinal Fusion on C5, C6, C7 performed using Cadaver Bone on Fri, 13-Mar-09.

I had multiple herniated discs.

It was a truly a miracle for me. The first thing I said upon awakening from the anesthesia was "It does not hurt anymore"

That was near to 12 year ago and I am fine. I do have some loss of flexibility in my Neck, i.e., I can't turn my head as far to look around.
Non issue, ha, insignificant issue.

Go get fixed now !

My sob story pity party is below.....

For years I had massages, multiple Steroid injections in the Spine done in the hospital, prescription pain killers, Acupuncture, etc. All No Joy.

I can truly understand how chronic constant pain can cause folks to become drug addicts, alcoholics or to contemplate suicide. The last 3 years was bad pain that was steadily increasing to the point I was done.

Looking back - I can see now that the symptoms were there for at least 15 years - but it was a slow progression and it is like boiling the frog.....but the last 3 years or so was hell on earth for me....

I remember being offshore Equatorial Guinea on the Zafiro Producer - We flared constantly and it was very very loud, and being awakened with pain so bad that I would get up to walk and try to relieve the pain somewhat. I would go outside on the deck where it was so loud and just scream with the pain - it was loud out there so no one could hear me. Screaming don't help by the way - the GD pain is just there.

It was not long after that - that I finally got the surgery.

The GD 40 hour flight(s) / transit time from EG to Europe to Texas was a trip from hell for me - not proper to cry and moan on a International Flight and all....chin up old boy....

I will be glad to share my surgeons name with you. He is in the The Woodlands and is world renowned. Just DM if your interested.

This will not heal itself.

"Pain Management" and describing your Pain Level on a scale of 1 to 10 and picking what little sad face your pain level is at - is all bullshiite.

Go get fixed. it will not get better. I hope you don't get counseled to wait as long as I did. I should have got the surgery at least one full year before I did.

All the best Raygun

gamboolman....