Re: Neck question--Long read

September 2, 2000

Kim,

Sorry you are in so much pain. It's hard to deal with such severe neck

pain. My husband ruptured discs in his lower back last week, and they are

using traction on him with great success. I don't know if it is an option

for you, but it may be worth asking. I hope the injections help you.

I've never taken morphine or methadone except post surgical, so I can't

offer any advise. I have talked to chronic pain people that have been

helped a great deal by these drugs. You have to find something to relieve

the pain, so if this option is available, it may be worth trying. I sure

hope you find relief and SOON!

a

----- Original Message -----

From: Kim <kim@...>

Sent: Saturday, September 02, 2000 12:52 AM

Subject: [ ] Neck question--Long read

>

> I am looking for information on the cervical spine. I thought I

remembered a real good note coming out a while back, but I misplaced it. I

have also checked out the web-site Spine Times and have signed up for the

email list. Sorry I haven't posted lately, but I've tried to keep up on

reading as much as I can.

>

> Here's what's going on with me, lately, and my question...(Same

story--second verse....and third verse....and fourth....LOL!) Short

version: Neck pain off and on for years. Last Wednesday (9 days ago)

excruciating pain in neck and down left shoulder and arm when I raised my

arms to shower. Since then, severe pain in neck, shoulder, and arm.

Tingling in left hand fingers. Tried Soma before results of MRI came back.

Soma no help. Tried PT, TENS helped a little. Woe is me, but this is

pretty much the worst pain I've ever been in. This includes kidney stones

and ALL my replacement surgeries.

>

> MRI Report: 1) There is a prominent lateral focal disc protrusion to the

left at C5-C6 (explained by anesthesiologist as herniated disc.) This does

not produce spinal stenosis of the thecal sac but does encroach upon the

exiting left nerve root at this level. 2) There is mild degenerative disc

changes at C6-C7, described as a central disc bulge. However, no nerve root

encroachment or spinal stenosis is identified.

>

> I had an epidural steroid injection today. I was told the prognosis is 1)

if the injection works...great! I just bought a lot of time. 2) injection

partially works, in which case could get another one in 2 weeks to hopefully

see more results, 3) injection does not work at all so next step is a

surgeon. I didn't ask many questions about surgery because I was too

over-whelmed and am reallly hoping the injections work.

>

> So finally, my question is for anyone who has had any experience with this

and the different success rates for the 2 treatement options. To me, " just

wait it out " is not an option for any extended period of time, as the pain

is so great that I am literally only getting 1-2 hours sleep per day...the

kind of sleepless nights where you literally have to get out of bed and try

a new position, a chair, ice, heat, or something to try and make the pain a

little better. I'm sorry for sounding so cry-baby, here, but I am about to

the end of my rope with pain, and this is one group that I know can always

understand and make me feel so much better just with your words.

>

> BTW, the anesthesiologist who did the epidural is also a pain management

doctor, and he suggested that morphine or ?methadone? might be an option for

trying to manage the pain if I can get it to a level that CAN be controlled

without surgery. Anybody got experience with these (outside of post-op?)

>

> Thanks so much for making it this far with this long read. You guys have

no idea how much comfort I have while even writing this note, just knowing

the caring and compassionate responses I will get from people who have been

there. My family is the best, but when it comes to " our kind " of pain, they

have no idea. Thanks again for listening.

>

> Kim

>

September 2, 2000

Kim,

likes the tens unit too. They are talking about giving him one to

wear when he goes back to work. He's been out for 6 weeks, and was hoping

to go back next week, but his therapist said no way. Yes, it was

excruciating for him the first few weeks, but he is getting better. It is a

slow process.

I can sympathize with the neck pain. I used to have a lot of problems, and

therapy taught me NOT to use a shoulder bag, and straighten out a few other

problems. Sorry the traction is not an option, especially when it helps

so much. Hopefully they will find something else to relieve your pain

without causing damage. I'll look up that spine site and send it to you.

Thanks for the prayers, you will be in mine too.

a

----- Original Message -----

From: Kim <kim@...>

< egroups>

Sent: Saturday, September 02, 2000 1:23 AM

Subject: Re: [ ] Neck question--Long read

>

> a,

>

> Thanks for responding so quickly. I'm sorry to hear about your husband's

back

> injuries, but glad the traction is helping. My ortho prescribed " mild "

> traction, which I have done and it has helped. Mild, in my case, means

with the

> PT's hands only. She showed me in some PT manual how the " machine-type "

> traction devices are absolutely contraindicated in RA due to the

instability of

> our soft tissues and the possibipility that if bone lesions already exist,

they

> could do further damage. I think there were more reasons, but at the time

she

> showed me, I was convinced she was right by what I saw.

>

> When she does it by hand it feels great, but she only does it about 15

minutes.

> I could use it all day! We have discussed getting a TENS unit for home

which I

> could wear all day long. My ortho wanted to wait until Tuesday to see how

the

> injection worked, and then I may get one. The 2 times I used one at PT it

was

> wonderful. The most peaceful 20 minutes I'd had in a week.

>

> You said discs (plural) about your husband's back. I can't imagine more

than

> one. He will be in my thoughts and prayers. Thanks again for your

response.

>

> Kim

>

> Our websites: http://rheumatoid.arthritis.freehosting.net/

> http://www.rasupport.webprovider.com/

> Our chat room: www.delphi.com/RheumatoidArth1/start

>

September 2, 2000

a,

Thanks for responding so quickly. I'm sorry to hear about your husband's back

injuries, but glad the traction is helping. My ortho prescribed " mild "

traction, which I have done and it has helped. Mild, in my case, means with the

PT's hands only. She showed me in some PT manual how the " machine-type "

traction devices are absolutely contraindicated in RA due to the instability of

our soft tissues and the possibipility that if bone lesions already exist, they

could do further damage. I think there were more reasons, but at the time she

showed me, I was convinced she was right by what I saw.

When she does it by hand it feels great, but she only does it about 15 minutes.

I could use it all day! We have discussed getting a TENS unit for home which I

could wear all day long. My ortho wanted to wait until Tuesday to see how the

injection worked, and then I may get one. The 2 times I used one at PT it was

wonderful. The most peaceful 20 minutes I'd had in a week.

You said discs (plural) about your husband's back. I can't imagine more than

one. He will be in my thoughts and prayers. Thanks again for your response.

Kim

September 2, 2000

Kim,

I am, by no means an expert on any of this stuff, however, I too suffer with

cervical pain (not as severe as you though) and found this to be a small

relief. I got one of those cervical collars fitted to my neck size so that

it holds the weight of my own head off of my neck. (Like I'd be able to hold

someone else's head along with my own! HA, HA!) It does not stop the pain

but might just bring a tiny bit of relief. The collar prevents the weight of

the head from resting on the vertebrae (think about the gravitational force

being placed on your cervical spine). Hope this works for you. Let me know.

Regards,

Sylvia

September 3, 2000

Kim, sure hope the epidural steriod injection works for you. As you may

remember Esther had cervical neck fusion done twice .........first time

front of neck.....second time back of neck. The difference between you

and her is that she was diagnosed with spinal stenosis. Did you go to

a Neuro-Surgeon? She too had tingling and pain in hand plus dropping

things. We certainly feel for you and want to give you a *gentle hug*.

Esther also has had experience with tens unit for pain and it worked pretty

well........(but didn't have it done for the neck pain) Also, she had been

on

Demerol and also Methadone for pain before. They worked pretty well. She

also had been on the Duragesic Patch for pain and that too was effective.

Sure hope your pain in the neck goes away!!!!!!!!!!

*Hugs*

~ Esther & Carol ~