Hi LakeMurray,
Oh, I do hear you and I do understand the neck pain. I have both neck and back pain. However, I did get my neck pain under control after twenty years of horrible pain. My pain mgt dr did a procedure called Radio Frequency on my neck. What they do by way of using a ultrasound xrays is burning the nerve endings and that stops the signal for pain to the brain. My dr gives you light sedation so you are able to tolerate the procedure. This can last 6 months to a yr, however, I have only needed it on my neck once. I no longer feel like I have soft balls under my shoulder blades. I too suffered with horrible muscle spams and no matter what was done, I could never get them under control until I did this procedure. I have disc herniations at C5-6 & C6-7 and arthritis as well. I do not have stenosis. I do know that a majority of the time people with stenosis whether its in their neck or back have herniated disc being hidden by the stenosis. I would not waste my time on having the series of three epidurals injections done. My own dr says they are a waste of time and money. If you think you hurt now, having ESI 's will really make you hurt. Very few get good results with ESI's. Then, there are a few that have said they have helped with their low back pain.
I happen to have a newer TENS unit from Empi and its the cadillac of TENS Units. I would talk to my dr about the traction one of the others posted about that is offered by Empi.
Recently I took a nasty fall here at home and I am having excruciating low back pain, along with pain on the upper sides of my back. My dr changed me from taking my Zanaflex 4mg to one tablet every 2 hours and that is realy helping with the spasms which is what is causing all of my back pain. In addition he prescribed Baclofen 10mg at bedtime to help me get some rest. It too is a muscle relaxer. It is primarily prescribed for people with MS, for muscle cramping, stiffness and muscle spasms. This along with my Zanaflex has really given me some badly needed relief.
I currently have a Medtronic pain pump implanted and until I had this fall I was doing really well for me. My one big fault is over doing things and knocking myself backwards a few steps,lol. Thats just plain human nature for people who were once very active and then suddenly they cannot keep up at a snails pace.
If you feel your dr is not giving you the ultimate care which you are entitled to, then get a second opinion. One thing you have to watch for in pain drs is many will not prescribe medications and only want to do injections. Well, injections do not always work for everyone. When a dr tries to place us all in one category, its time to move on and kick that dr to the curb.
Hang in there, more people will jump on and offer ideas too. Susie