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Excruciating chronic left side neck pain plus lumbar issues
Spine Health | Last Active: Nov 18, 2023 | Replies (360)Comment receiving replies
@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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Hi Jennifer,
thanks for your wise words.
I have gotten another referral to see another neurosurgeon in Melbourne last Friday.
All the documentation has been uploaded and am awaiting for an appointment day that I can see him.
I will ring them up on Monday to gate the actual date.
I hope that I don't have to wait too long because I am not coping.
As I said, last Tuesday, 10 Jan 2023 the right side of the neck started to hurt badly around the C6/C7 area I believe. I do not know how this started.
Since this begun, I have been getting bilateral excruciating pain of the neck also exacerbated by my lumbar issues. The pain feels stronger than the left hand side in a different way, it feels a lot sharper. For the last few days I have been experiencing unbearable pain starting from right of neck, then going into right trapezius, shoulder, arm, forearm, wrist, hand and some fingers. My whole right arm is in continuous really bad pain despite me taking the recommended medication comprised of 2 x Endep 10mg, 1 x Lyrica 25mg, 1 x Diclofenac 50mg, 1 x Clonidine50mcg and Targin 10mg/5mg. This morning I woke up at 3AM in excruciating pain in my right arm, the medication is not helping at all.
Last Friday I told the pain management doctor about this new issue which I can't explain and was told by him to keep taking the medication, but it is currently not working.
My body is full of referred pain going everywhere. I tried meditation, but the pain is so bad that I couldn't meditate.
I have been with these neurosurgery group for 2 and half months now (initial pain started in Aug 2022), but I have made little progress except for getting pain medication and 3 cortisone diagnostic injections in C7/T1, T1/T2, T2/T3.
My anxiety has reached astronomical levels, I am not coping. I am totally depressed becuase I am always in pain. I try to sit, lie down, but no position relieves it.
I told them that this is an emergency because the pain is too much.
I am even contemplating to have the cervical spine re-scanned with another MRI to see if anything has changed in the neck.
In Melbourne if I call an ambulance, they will take you to the closest public hospital, settle you with a morphine injection, overnight stay, then they will discharge you the next day.
Yes, we have a truly appalling system here.
Alfred