Excruciating chronic left side neck pain plus lumbar issues

Hi Jennifer,

thanks again for your advice.

Two weeks ago I was managing my pain ok, then I did acupuncture and osteo thinking that this would be good for me.

After this, I started feeling a massive stab that I never experienced before under the C7 vertebra to left. I do not know what brought this on. Feels like nerve pain due to something pressing on it.

Last night I was under the effect of Targin, Amitriptyline, Pregabalin, Clonidine, Baclofen but I could feel the burning and the numbness in the neck, upper thoracic, lumbar, legs, feet, toes, traps, shoulders, scapula, arms, hands and fingers. My arms are weaker than before.
I am feeling as if my nerves are deteriorating and don't know why my doctors haven't advised doing electromyography to check the nerves.

I get referred pain in my left chest muscle, the pain increases my blood pressure. Also feeling throbbing in my right shoulder on and off.

Today while I was standing in the bathroom and could feel the left lower back very tight causing me muscle pain.

I already cancelled C6 nerve root injection last week because I can't get relief from the drugs.
It is really deep inside. If it is an impingement I suppose that it has to be removed surgically.

I did buy the Aspen collar as recommended. When I wear it, it sort of presses in the back of the neck where the sore spots are located, causing me pain from time to time.
My neck is so inflamed that even a gentle touch can cause pain.

I do have a psychologist that has been working with me, but his sessions aren't frequent enough.

Bye for now.

Alfred

Thank you. I found a person vertices to do this so have an appt Tomorrow.

In the last 2 weeks I did acupuncture and osteopathy to relieve the pain but made my it worse. I have been suffering from high anxiety, blood pressure, feeling faint, nerve throbbing, unable to sleep for days. Even the opioids aren't helping much. I am feeling breathless, fogged as if I am falling apart. We called the ambulance the other day but was advised to stay home because the hospitals were so packed. I am really feeling strange, I feel exhausted, nerves are burning and going numb, I am going nuts. I am not focusing on the pain but I am listening to relax music. These feeling are coming and going throughout the day.

@jenniferhunter

Hi Jennifer,

I have not slept for 6 days due to the extreme pain despite taking strong pain medication. I feel strong pain and numbness on both sides of the neck spreading towards the thoracic spine, then in my lower back, legs and feet, arms, hands, fingers, cervicogenic pain in throat and ear. My right shoulder is killing me and feels as if something is vibrating inside, like an electric current that comes on and off. I think that the nerves are getting damaged slowly. My anxiety has shot through the roof. I tried to listen to music and breathe slowly but the pain was overwhelming. I have a zoom appointment with the pain doctor today to explain what is happening. I fear for my health and my life because I don't understand what is happening. My doctors have only provided pain management medication in the last 4 months and some cortisone injections. I made the doctors aware that I am not feeling well.
I am getting pain in the left pec muscle, my pressure was 166/105 at 4am. It maybe related to the cervical pain, I don't know,

I am loosing hope.

Alfred

@ab6540183
Alfred,

Do you have any new information from your doctors? Did you have a video conference?

Would you reach out to your psychologist to talk? Remember, you're not alone. You probably need a face to face discussion to help you cope. You are welcome here too, but a therapist in person can help so much more.

Right now you don't have information, so try not to worry about what you don't know. I know that is easier said than done. Just take it day by day and think about those kids. If you can think about gratitude for people or things you love, it helps push the fear away. That was part of my game plan too, and I made a point of thanking my surgeon before I went into spine surgery. I know you are waiting for an appointment, but you could think about the new surgeon and be grateful that you will be seeing him in a couple weeks. You could celebrate each day as a count down to that appointment. I used to look at a photo of my surgeon and say good morning everyday. That may sound silly, but anything that puts a smile on your face can help.

You might like this discussion about facing fear.
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/how-can-i-defeat-my-anxiety-about-medical-tests-and-surgery/
I also liked this post and thought you might want to see it.
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/comment/819785/
Jennifer

Hello @ab6540183. Dealing with ongoing pain is so mentally draining, on top of the physical toll it takes. I think what @jenniferhunter shared is so true in that it may be helpful to consider tending to your mental health by way of a psychologist to talk through your fears and also your reality of pain. Is there a way for you to reach out to a professional to make that connection?

I have a family member who has intense neuropathy pain and none of the typical Rxs you'd think of for pain even touch it. He has been using Epsom salt baths, topical arnica cream, massage, and the occasional CBD gummy (1/4 to 1/2 of one) to get rest. Rest happens to be really critical for him, personally, and with the amount of pain on a daily basis, that can be challenging as you well know.

Have you tried anything on top of the pain medicine and breathing (which is really a wonderful addition to any pain management protocol)?

Thank you Amanda.

I have a phycologist that is helping me but I only get a session once a month because he is too busy.
Last night I took my regime of 1 endep 10mg , 1 pregabaline 25mg , cloninine 50mcg, diclofenac 50mg, 1 x targin 10/5 and somehow I slept.

But when I got up this morning I felt breathless which I am still feeling. Blood pressure is nearly always equal to 150/90. My hands are sweaty, I feel clammy, pain has returned. I feel it in both sides of the neck and further down.

My hip joints are excruciating, my right shoulder has deep pain and my right arm. I can hardly lift a dinner plate. Walking is difficult and muscles are tensed.

I told this to my pain management doctor yesterday on my zoom appointment, but he skipped the answers telling me to increase the pain medication,

Life is a daily struggle because it is difficult to sleep, distract yourself. The tinnitus is loud in both of my ears.
When I move I feel creaks in my neck, shoulders, hip joints etc.

I don't know what to do anymore.

The solitude is high, friends, family don 't call and close family get upset when I mention unbearable pain. Currently feeling very drowsy, fatigued and breathless on top of pain. I noticed that these symptoms increase automatically with increased pain.

Last evening I did a short walk but with difficulty due to the lumbar pain.

Currently not able to drive myself to see friend or doctors because I have to really on either family or taxis.

Next Monday the radiology place will do a CT spect and bone scan for cervical, thoracic spine.

Best regards

Alfred

Than you Jennifer.

Yesterday I had a zoom appointment with the pain management specialist where I explained all my issues which were unanswered. His only solution was to increase the meds which are currently not helping a lot after the latest osteopath neck adjustment that made me a lot worse. I don't know if he has stretched the nerves or even made the existing bulging worse. All I know that I had pain before but no as bad as to what I have now after his adjustment. I can only see the psychologist one a month because he is very booked out.
I felt the pain management sounded fedup listening to me because I always complain about increased pain. With pain it is hard to tell whether it is nerve, muscle, tendon or ligament pain.

I am waiting eagerly for the 22 of March to see what the new neurosurgeon has to say about my conditions.

I desperately need a solution because it is too hard to live like this.

Don’t lose hope Alfred, it’s all we have. I have been dealing with pain for 8 years and went through chemo for lymphoma. Love and hope got me through. I am left with residual pain where they removed a tumor next to my sacrum, spinal stenosis and severe neuropathy.
But I am thankful that it was me at 63 than one of my children and grandchildren.
Distraction and movement have been the best pain relief for me: Hot Epson salt baths. Walking through landscapes, upbeat music
And hope that one day the pain will just go away

Hi Jennifer,

How are you?

It is early on Sunday morning in Melbourne and my left side has flared up enormously, really bad.

I have extreme pain, numbness, tightness shooting shooting from the left of my neck, down the groin, leg and foot.
I can't manage it with the meds because it is too strong

I feel that my neck, thoracic spine should be scanned again.

Tonight for the first time I felt as if there were cob webs on my head, face. It scared me.
Is this being caused by the nerves?

I feel pins and needles in the face, head, knee, elbow, arms that come and go.

Are my nerves slowly dyeing?

My doctor told my on Friday to increase the dose of targin from 10mg to 20mg.

It may remove the symptoms but the nerves are still being compressed.

Best regards

Alfred