Hi jm1,
thanks for your reply.
When I said no one cares, I wasn't referring to the Mayo Clinic Forum mentors and helpers, but to my situation here in Melbourne Australia where my current doctors are not making progress with my condition. It is taking a long time to identify the source of the pain. I feel most pain between the left of C6 to T1.
Also the public hospital system in Australia is terrible. Basically when you call emergency due to excruciating pain, the ambulance will come to take you to the closest hospital. While in the ambulance they will give you a shot of morphine, then land you in a hospital bed overnight. The next people are discharged without any further investigation into the problem.

I have been told that if a nerve is compressed for too long it can get damaged and you may get paralysis.

Currently I feel a continuous left sharp stab between C6 and T1 that feels as if someone has placed a needle inside.

To make things worse my lumbar issues amplify the overall pain.

Best regards

Alfred

I read about the fusion problems after surgery, but have also read about procedures such as laminoplasty and ultrasonic type surgery where they preserve the spine structure.
Unfortunately I can't find any such procedures here in Australia.

I have been using ice but I do not notice any improvement.

For pain management I have been taking Endep 10mg, Lyrica 25 mg, Clonidine 50mcg, Diclofenac 50mg and Targin 10/5mg.

It doesn't always work even though it makes me really drowsy. At times I still feel the pain.