← Return to Excruciating chronic left side neck pain plus lumbar issues

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@jenniferhunter

@jm1 Julie, that's a great suggestion! The hard collar I had after my spine surgery was my best friend for 3 months. Mine was a Miami J collar, somewhat similar to this one. Even before my spine surgery, I was wrapping my neck with a beaded microwavable heat wrap and tying a scarf around it to support my neck. It helped a lot to stop neck movement especially when there is spinal cord compression.

@ab6540183 I think this may help with your symptoms while you wait. I did see the image you posted from your MRI and it was similar to mine, although mine only involved one level of compression.

I agree with Julie, relax as best you can. You may be aggravating your neck by typing on the computer so much. Listening to music helps a lot if it is something you love. You CAN set your mind to it, and lessen the amount of pain that you feel. I know that may sound crazy, but I did that after a very painful epidural spinal injection that caused the most intense pain I have ever felt, much more pain that going through spine surgery or breaking my leg. I had to talk myself down from that ledge of being in fear and the loss of control to the pain. Believe that the pain will not be there forever. You will get through it. It takes slow deep controlled breathing, hear music in your head even if none is playing, and imagine something pleasant. I imagined an eagle soaring above all of the problems and that I was that eagle up there in the sky free from pain. It worked and I didn't pass out on the table. I regained control with my mind.

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Replies to "@jm1 Julie, that's a great suggestion! The hard collar I had after my spine surgery was..."

Hi Jennifer,

how are you?

Thanks for the info. I will get that collar as recommended.

The last few days I am feeling light headed, short of breath, confused, exhausted, blurred vision, a drifting away sensation, very painful in the left side of the neck and left hand fingers (index and middle fingers). My arms are rather weak currently and every time I lift the sugar container, my right shoulder hurts. Also lots of creaks going through my shoulders and neck when I move them.

I am not sure if it caused by anxiety, the compression of the nerves, the drugs or other.

There is one thing that I didn't mention: for several months I have had stuffy nostrils even though I am not sick and watery fluid leaking out of them from time to time.

I complained to my pain management doctor that medications alone are enough and suggested that he could add physiotherapy as part of the pain management program.

What do you think?

I tried the live relaxation music on YouTube, but the pain is so intense that I am not able to focus on it properly.

Thanks

Alfred