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Excruciating chronic left side neck pain plus lumbar issues

Spine Health | Last Active: Nov 18, 2023 | Replies (360)
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@ab6540183

Hi willjean19

How are you?

Thank you very much for sharing your experience.

Today I feel very disappointed.

I had an appointment with my pain management doctor this morning. I asked him to explain the MRI and the results of the C7/T1. T1/T2, T2/T3 facet joints cortisone injections.

I also asked him the meaning of "severe right neural compressive foraminal stenosis" but he told me that people may have this and have no symptoms and should not worry about it.

I am trying to understand what is meant by right and left on the MRI report. Is it my rear left/right or my front left/right? @jenniferhunter

I was told by him that my anxiety is increasing the pain. I told him that when the pain increases to astronomical levels, I get anxiety, not the other way around.
When my pain is low I don't complain.

He doesn't think that the facet joints are causing the pain.

According to him, he doesn't know where the pain is coming from yet.

I thought the proper diagnostics would be to test all suspect facets and nerves one by one until the correct source is found.

I can tell you with some certainty that my main pain is between C7-T1. The pain is a burning type causing tingling and numbness going downwards. I also get referred pain in my left trap, shoulder, arm, index/middle fingers from time to time.

Then I asked the doctor what is his plan for me. He told me to keep taking the pain medication (endep, lyrica, diclofenac, clonidine and targin) .

I questioned him: For life?
He answered: Why not?

I am not prepared to take this drugs to mask my pain for ever. I want the problem fixed.

I think that I should be looking for another specialist.

Best regards

Alfred

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Replies to "Hi willjean19 How are you? Thank you very much for sharing your experience. Today I feel..."
jm1 | @jm1 | Jan 10, 2023

Hi
Sounds like you should get another Doctor. Ask them if you can try Gabapentin and get off the other meds that didnt help me at all. Try a steroid injection or dose pack for flare ups.

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Jennifer, Volunteer Mentor | @jenniferhunter | Jan 12, 2023

@ab6540183 Alfred,
You need another doctor. I don't know how your insurance system works in Australia, but this sounds like what we have in the US that sounds like an HMO where you have to see doctors in their network. This is run for profit, and doctors may be getting bonuses for saving money and avoiding surgery, so they can delay care. What are your options for seeking care somewhere else?

Medicine should not be like this. Don't give up. You have to make some noise to be heard. When you get a "non- answer" like other patients have MRIs like yours and do not have pain, that is just a dismissal and they are wasting your time while your condition worsens. They know better and are treating you badly.

You can look up new surgeons at a respected multidisciplinary medical center and see if you can book an appointment. Keep learning about your spine condition so you can ask educated questions. That is the only way you can figure out if the doctors are willing to help you. They also might be considering their reputations above anything else and may not want to take a case that may not have have good results that would lower their statistics of success. You are going to have to advocate for your care, but please find a doctor who wants to help. The more complex the case is, the more difficult it is, and some may not want that risk to their reputations. You need a better surgeon. Your report and your symptoms should not be ignored. I do think your reports suggests that surgery is indicated, however, only a surgeon who examines you can tell you that.

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