Comment from: cookie, 45-54 Female (Patient)Published: April 15
I started out with terrible neck pain that moved down to my shoulders and then into my arm and my hand. Doctors tried spinal injections, then neck injections, physical therapy, and, of course, tons of painkillers. A brain and spine specialist finally offered an experimental surgery option to me to replace my collapsed c6-7 discs with stainless steel discs. It was an implant made by Medtronic and the surgery is called a cervical arthroplasty. When I awoke from surgery, I had absolutely no pain, and refused to take even an aspirin from the recovery room nurse. It was a lifesaver. I couldn't have lived with the constant pain that I had. If you have cervical disc problems ask your doctor about the procedure.
Comment from: 35-44 Female (Caregiver)Published: April 01
This may sound odd, but you may want to consider Lyme disease. This often-misunderstood disease can cause so many symptoms almost anywhere in/on your body, since the bacteria (spirochetes) are cork-screw shaped and can "get" through any cell wall in your body. My husband has been ill with Lyme for at least 3 years (that we know of) and he has had many of your symptoms. Good luck finding a Lyme-literate doctor. Most doctors still think that a 2 or 3 week course of antibiotics "cure" Lyme, but if you've had it for awhile, it may take a year or more. The testing for Lyme is quite inaccurate, with over 60% false-negatives. I don't want to scare you, but do some research maybe not just the regular clinic sites, but dig deeper. Also, contrary to what experts say, Lyme can and has been found in every state and overseas.
Comment from: Sandy, 55-64 Female (Patient)Published: March 31
I had my second neck surgery last July. I had a herniated disc, and a bone spur pushing on my spinal cord, narrowing the nerve hole. The first one I had in 1993 was a piece of cake. I had no problems at all. I was 42 at the time. This time, I was 57. I have had pain ever since. My throat feels like a golf ball with spines on it. I can manage that with nerve medications, but now I have horrid headaches and inner ear pain. My regular doctor was unavailable, and I had to go to urgent care. The doctor said she thinks it is my neck. I have a plate with screws in it. I have to wait to go to my doctor and have another X-ray. This last surgery was quite a bit more involved than the first, and when they go through the front with the incision, they move all your things in there with a retractor than can cause nerve damage. At least I don't pass out when I move my head back or forward anymore.
Comment from: adrienne69, 45-54 Female (Patient)Published: March 10
I had an injury in August while using an electric hedge-trimmer. It started as inflammation in my right forearm and then proceeded up my arm, onto my shoulder, up my neck to the base of my head. My PCP gave me muscle relaxers and naproxen.
I also had an EMG and nerve conduction test done as my right forearm was constantly tingling. After trying physical therapy, which made it worse, and other conservative measures, I finally had an MRI that diagnosed a herniated cervical disc at my C6-C7 vertebrae. My neck and shoulder are in constant, excruciating pain which gets worse after working for a few days and when I turn in different positions. Some days I wake up and the entire right side of my body is numb. I bought a new memory foam mattress and have tried 4 different types of pillows. I am finally getting my 1st Epidural Steroid Injection next month. Hoping for relief! Until then, I get by on muscle relaxers, Valium and Percocet. Wondering if anyone has had success with injections. I'm having a few of them over a 6 week period.
Comment from: texas, 45-54 Female (Patient)Published: January 22
A year ago, I sustained an injury resulting in a C6 bulging disk. I was treated with an injection which only helped to relieve the pain very little. In the meantime, I developed severe headaches along with increasing pain in my neck spreading throughout my shoulders and arms. I have had two MRI's performed, one for the disk in the beginning, and then later for the shoulder pain. I'm in therapy for a second time for the shoulder. The center of the pain is my neck which radiates down the middle of my back and throughout my shoulder. The doctor has diagnosed me with Fibromyalgia, but I'm somewhat skeptical. I have been on pain medication for a year now with little or no relief at all. It makes me wonder how it seems like just over night almost, you suddenly develop all these symptoms and no one can actually fix it.
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A pinched nerve can be caused of a variety of conditions, for example, carpal tunnel syndrome, herniated disc, sciatica, arthritis, spinal stenosis, trauma, and more. Common symptoms of a pinched nerve include pain, numbness, tingling, and weakness. Treatment of a pinched nerve depends on the cause of the pinched nerve.
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that causes chronic inflammation of the joints, the tissue around the joints, as well as other organs in the body. Because it can affect multiple other organs of the body, rheumatoid arthritis is referred to as a systemic illness and is sometimes called rheumatoid disease.
Headaches can be divided into two categories: primary headaches and secondary headaches. Migraine headaches, tension headaches, and cluster headaches are considered primary headaches. Secondary headaches are caused by disease. Headache symptoms vary with the headache type. Over-the-counter pain relievers provide short-term relief for most headaches.
Dizziness is a symptom that is often applies to a variety of sensations including lightheadedness and vertigo. Causes of dizziness include low blood pressure, heart problems, anemia, dehydration, and more. Treatment of dizziness depends on the cause.
Lymph nodes help the body's immune system fight infections. Causes of swollen lymph nodes (glands) may include infection (viral, bacterial, fungal, parasites). Symptoms of swollen lymph nodes vary greatly. They can sometimes be tender, painful or disfiguring. The treatment of swollen lymph nodes depends upon the cause.
Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria. Symptoms include weakness, fever, weight loss, night sweats and in worse cases, chest pain, shortness of breath, and coughing up blood. A person with an active infection (a positive TB skin test, abnormal chest x-ray and TB bacteria in their sputum) requires treatment with izoniazid, rifampin, ethambutol and pyrazinaide.
Fibromyalgia, formerly
known as fibrositis, causes chronic pain, stiffness, and
tenderness of muscles, tendons, and joints without detectable inflammation. Fibromyalgia patients have an unusually low pain threshold. Symptoms of fibromyalgia include fatigue, abnormal sleep, mental/emotional disturbances, abdominal pain, migraine and tension headaches, and irritable bladder. Treatment of fibromyalgia involves patient education, medication, exercise, and stress reduction.
Osteoarthritis is a type of arthritis caused by inflammation, breakdown, and eventual loss of
cartilage in the joints. Also known as degenerative arthritis. Osteoarthritis
can be caused by aging, heredity, and injury from trauma or disease.
Ankylosing spondylitis is a type of arthritis that causes chronic inflammation of the spine. The tendency to develop ankylosing spondylitis is genetically inherited.
A herniated disc may be caused by injury or degeneration from age. Symptoms depend on the location of the herniation and whether nerve tissue is being irritated. An MRI or CT scan is performed to diagnose a herniated disc. Treatment may involve physical therapy, cortisone injection, pain medications, antiinflammatory medications, muscle relaxants, and surgery.
Dysphagia or difficulty in swallowing, swallowing problems. Dysphagia is due to problems in nerve or muscle control. It is common, for example, after a stroke. Dysphagia compromises nutrition and hydration and may lead to aspiration pneumonia and dehydration.
Degenerative disc disease makes the disc more susceptible to herniation (rupture) which can lead to localized or radiating pain. The pain from degenerative disc or joint disease of the spine is usually treated conservatively with intermittent heat, rest, rehabilitative exercises and medications to relieve pain, muscle spasm and inflammation.
Whiplash is a common injury to a person's neck following a car accident (in most cases). Symptoms include: headache, neck pain, neck and shoulder stiffness, shoulder pain, fatigue, dizziness, jaw pain, arm pain, weakness of the arm(s), visual disturbances, and tinnitus. Diagnosis is generally with a physical exam, x-rays, or possibly an MRI. Treatment generally includes physical therapy and time.
Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) is a disorder of the muscles and joints that causes pain and stiffness in the arms, neck, shoulders, and buttocks. Treatment for polymyalgia rheumatica aims to reduce inflammation with aspirin, ibuprofen and low doses of cortisone medications. Giant cell arteritis, inflammation of blood vessel walls, affects 10-15 percent of polymyalgia rheumatica patients. Symptoms of giant cell arteritis include fatigue, weight loss, low-grade fever, jaw pain when chewing, scalp tenderness, and headaches. High doses of cortisone medications are used to treat giant cell arteritis.
Pain management and treatment can be simple or complex, according to its cause. There are two basic types of pain, nociceptive pain and neuropathic pain. Some causes of neuropathic pain includes: complex regional pain syndrome, interstitial cystitis, and irritable bowel syndrome. There are a variety of methods to treat chronic pain, which are dependant on the type of pain experienced.
Encephalitis is a brain inflammation that causes sudden fever, vomiting, headache, light sensitivity, stiff neck and back, drowsiness, and irritability. Meningitis is an infection that causes inflammation of the meninges that surround the brain and spinal cord. Symptoms of meningitis include high fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, and stiff neck.
An injury to a ligament is called a sprain, and an injury to muscle or tendon is called a strain. Sprains and strains may be caused by repetitive movements or a single stressful incident. Symptoms include pain and swelling. Though treatment depends upon the extent and location of the injury, rest, ice, compression, and elevation are key elements of treatment.
Chronic pain is pain (an unpleasant sense of discomfort) that persists or progresses over a long period of time. In contrast to acute pain that arises suddenly in response to a specific injury and is usually treatable, chronic pain persists over time and is often resistant to medical treatments.
Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH or Forestier's disease) is a form of degenerative arthritis. It is characterized by calcification along the sides of the vertebrae of the spine. Symptoms include stiffness and pain in the upper and lower back. Anti-inflammatory medications are used to treat DISH.
Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are prescribed medications for the treatment of inflammatory conditions. Examples of NSAIDs include aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen, and more. One common side effect of NSAIDs is peptic ulcer (ulcers of the esophagus, stomach, or duodenum). Side effects, drug interactions, warnings and precautions, and patient safety information should be reviewed prior to taking NSAIDs.
DISH is characterized by unique, flowing calcification along the sides of the contiguous vertebrae of the spine.
Symptoms of DISH include intermittent pains and stiffness in the areas of the bony changes of the spine and inflamed tendons.
DISH is diagnosed when the characteristic flowing calcifications are detected with images of the spine, such as in plain film
X-ray methods.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) can be helpful in both relieving pain and inflammation of DISH.
What is diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis?
Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH) is considered a form of degenerative arthritis or osteoarthritis. However, DISH is characterized by unique, flowing calcification along the sides of the
contiguous vertebrae of the spine. And, very unlike typical degenerative arthritis, it's also common...
If you think you have a medical emergency, call your doctor or 911 immediately.
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I started out with terrible neck pain that moved down to my shoulders and then into my arm and my hand. Doctors tried spinal injections, then neck injections, physical therapy, and, of course, tons of painkillers. A brain and spine specialist finally offered an experimental surgery option to me to replace my collapsed c6-7 discs with stainless steel discs. It was an implant made by Medtronic and the surgery is called a cervical arthroplasty. When I awoke from surgery, I had absolutely no pain, and refused to take even an aspirin from the recovery room nurse. It was a lifesaver. I couldn't have lived with the constant pain that I had. If you have cervical disc problems ask your doctor about the procedure.
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