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Excruciating chronic left side neck pain plus lumbar issues
Hi Everyone,
I just joined and this is my first post.
I am a 66 year old male that lives in Melbourne Aus.
Thankfully I found this discussion forum in order to get answers in regards to my deteriorating condition.
For the last 20 years I have been an active sportsman doing long distance bicycle riding and body building, but in the last 9 years I have been hit 3 times (2013,2015,2019) by negligent drivers while riding. These accidents have caused me severe whiplash and a multitude of fractures.
Each time I recovered and went back doing my riding passion.
4 months ago I noticed a pretty strong left sided pain around C6 therefore I went to see physiotherapists and osteopaths. But 4 weeks later at the end of August, this pain got even worse when one night while lying down on my loungeroom carpet, I got up and felt multiple crackles in the spine. It didn't hurt at the time therefore I went to sleep and woke up half hour later in extreme pain going from the left side of my neck, left side of my thoracic spine. I felt as if I was twisted. I was unable to sleep or sit. Standing provided some relief but I couldn't sleep.
Things slightly improved over the next 3 weeks.
I had some MRIs done at the end of August 2022 which showed:
C2/C3:
[No protuberant osteophyte, disc bulging, spinal canal stenosis or
neural foramina stenosis.]
C3/C4:
Minimal broad base central and bilateral lateral disc bulging with
associated minimal right intervertebral foramina stenosis
C4/C5:
Broad-based central and right lateral disc bulging with associated
moderate right intervertebral foraminal stenosis
C5/C6:
Disc bulging resulting in moderate bilateral intervertebral foraminal
stenosis
C6/C7:
Right lateral/foraminal disc bulging resulting in moderate right
intervertebral foramina stenosis
C7/T1:
[No protuberant osteophyte, disc bulging, spinal canal stenosis or
neural foramina stenosis.]
Conclusion:
Multilevel disc bulging and multilevel intervertebral foraminal stenosis. To see the complete reports open the attached PDF.
I contacted TAC which in Australia stands for Transport Accident Commission. They are responsible for paying medical expenses for anyone who has been a victim of a transport accident. Every driver in Victoria pays a premium yearly when they renew their car registration.
I arranged an appointment here to see first and orthopaedic surgeon and then a neurosurgeon. The first specialist told me that I had C6 nerve root impingement and the second specialist reported facet joint syndrome in the neck.
The injury is defined as a mechanical injury.
I noticed a discrepancy between the 2 opinions which left me frustrated. None of the specialists can pin point the exact source of the pain. They both recommended pain management and I am currently on Endep 10, Catapress 100 and Targin 10/5 daily.
Also I was told that no operation for this condition was required and ultimately a fusion, if non invasive, minimally invasive therapies didn't work.
This maybe ok as a temporary solution, but it can't be a life long remedy, because these medicines have side effects and I can't even drive the car to the supermarket when I am drowsy.
In the mean time I had C6 nerve root cortisone injection at the hospital on 1 of DEC 2022, but it didn't work at all after 3 weeks.
I actually have more pain than ever before something like 30% more. I queried the hospital, but they told me that it was done correctly.
Just a few days ago I have had fresh, new MRIs of the cervical/thoracic spine and a bone scan of the whole spine.
Yesterday 23.12.2022, according to the pain management specialist and the neuro surgeon, they couldn't find a lot of difference compared to the previous MRIs taken in August. They were perplexed as to why I feel so much pain. They can't pinpoint the source of the pain.
This is not very re-assuring and I have to keep taking drugs for the next 6 weeks. If I don't take the medication I have extreme, 10 out 10 burning pain that starts around left of neck at C6 going through C7, T1, T2, T3. The pain is also spreading aggressively in the left of my trapezius muscle. I have referred pain in the left shoulder, left scapula, left bicep/triceps and in the little, medium, index finger and left thumb. Referred pain is also felt in the right but not as bad. I also get pain going into my left pec muscle but it is not related to the heart. My cardiologist told that I am fine there even though I can get high blood pressure when I am anxious and stressed out.
To make things worse I have also been getting left/right headaches, left ear ache, left sided head scalp numbness and dizziness from time to time in the last 2 months. Just 2 weeks ago I developed a ringing tone in my right ear which is hypersensitive to sounds. I am a total mess.
The mental depression has been really bad and I have been isolated at home because I am unable to enjoy life like I used to.
Recently when I sit and lie down I feel numbness in my legs and feet. When I stand the problems seems to disappear.
My main frustration is the lack of answers and solutions to fix these problems and two specialists can't agree on a course of action.
I have been doing a lot of research and learned that referred pain can be caused by pressure on neck functional nerves and by facet joints sensory nerves but I don't which one is the culprit. Not even the specialists know.
I am worried that if the compression is not removed in time from those nerves (assuming that it is nerve related) I may get a neuropathy and get paralysis.
My bladder/kidney/liver functions are currently fine.
I don't know if anyone in the Mayo community has come across this and knows something about it.
While searching I found this site which looks promising:
spineconnection org
They can fix a lot of spine related problems.
I haven't received the December MRIs/Bone Scan yet.
Thanks and regards
Alfred
summary of mri xray (summary-of-mri-xray.pdf)
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I am so sorry to hear of your terrible neck pain. I have neck issues as well, and I have been helped immensely by the upper cervical technique called Atlas Orthogonal. This is not a high velocity adjustment. When C1 and C2 are misaligned, it can cause pain throughout the neck and the entire body, impacting both your nervous system and immune system. You could perhaps check these doctors out on globalao.com to see if there is someone near you. I have been receiving this technique for 20 years, and I don't know what I would do without it. I do hope you will be able to find something that will ease your pain.
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2 ReactionsHi Alfred, I'm so sorry to hear of your debilitating neck problems. I have had neck issues of my own and I have found a particular technique to be of great help. You may wish to check out this website: atlasorthogonal.com.au You will see they have several doctors in various parts of Australia. This is upper cervical care that affects the entire neck and spine, as well as the nervous system and immune system. I receive this care myself, and it has helped me tremendously.
Thank you for all this information guidance! It gives me some hope. A big problem is that I have allergy to synthetic opioids and any anesthesia makes my already extreme Central Sensitization Syndrome get permanently worse. I guess I should go ahead with getting an MRI? I haven’t had one since 2018. The rupture happened 12/2022
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1 ReactionIt has been 3 days that my left side of the neck at base is excruciating so badly that the stabbing pain is felt in the neck, the left foot ( I don't know why), then in both ears intermittently, then the top of my skull, in my left biceps, forearm, fingers, in the left eye, the jaw, in the throat, in the left chest. Also feel throbbing on the right hand side of the neck. On top of this I have bilateral tinnitus. I am going crazy.
Sounds like radicular pain from a nerve in your neck. You need an MRI.
Alfred, have you considered trying acupuncture? It has helped me tremendously. I have thoracic spasms that were so bad it pulled a rib out of alignment. Worth a try.
I am in the same boat. I Cannot sleep. My problem is in my Neck, shoulders, down the arms, and now just recently lower back pain. I could not get into position for the Fluoro-Scope Guided Needle procedure, because of the pain. I cannot lay on either side of my shoulders. I am stuck. Looking for another Pain Management Dr. that will work with me, instead of yelling at me to be still! Hoping you find some relief, somehow. This is torture, for all of us in this terrible position.
The doctor you choose should give you the option of having sedation or no sedation for your procedure. I go on Thursday and have already been told I will have that choice. Explain that part of your situation to the doctor in advance so it can be planned for.
I did,and was told by my fired pain Dr. There is no anesthesia, only Ativan, no shot in my shoulder to get into position.
I am leaving her, for another pain specialist, but that's in November!
My bed is like torture to me, everything I try, just doesn't feel right, plus the pain either in my elbows, forearms, and hands.
I have so many issues.
Trigger point shots do help somewhat, but from my shoulders down, no. My nervous system is shot. No circadian rhythm. So stressed out, and hard to break this cycle.
I hope u find peace also.
Haven't slept for.months, 0, 1 or 2 hrs. A night.
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2 ReactionsThe MRI narrative is not qualifying the extent of foraminal or other areas of stenosis. The foramina are tiny holes where the nerves pass through. If they are restricted in any way it will cause a degree of stenosis but your report is so broad it's impossible to know the degree of the impingement for all of C3-TI. Here's an example of what it should read like: ...."cause a reduction in central canal diameter to an estimated 7 mm, a moderate to advanced AP central canal stenosis. Cord compression is present. Neural foraminal stenosis is advanced on the right and mild to moderate on the left." The end end of this is you can't tell which group of nerves are suffering compression nor if the level would require surgical intervention. I believe you should follow up on the mass that could be a nerve sheath tumor as recommended. I am so sorry that your suffering so badly. I just started getting serious neck pain back myself, so I know how awful it can be and how horribly exhausting it is to manage it