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Posted 9/6/2012 7:13 PM (GMT 0)
Please help me if you can,
In April I lifted at work some very heavy items in a bag. Latter that day I could feel pulsing or twitching either side of my head near my ear. Then that nigh I had a sever thundclap headache. I went to hospital. Ct normal, blood normal and spinal tap normal.
Told to go home and rest. Since then I have had an MRI on my brain and neck. The only thing that came up was disc protrusion on discs c4,c5 and c6 on the right hand side. My neurologist discharged me. I am now waiting for physio, rheumatologist and orphapedic surgeon appointment.
These are my syptoms and meds if anyone can help I would be most grateful.
syptoms are swelling bottom right of neck not lymph nodes, which makes the muscles in my neck ache, the muscles in my shoulder ache and even my throat sometimes. I have pain running down my right arm like a numb feeling heavy. I also have pain up my neck past my ear that makes my scalp dip when bad and gives me a bad headache, but if I lie down on my right this goes!
Every step I take on my right foot hurts my shoulder and head and neck area. If I stan upright in one spot it hurts like mad after a few mins.
I am taking amatriptoline for pain 35mg
I am also on an antacid reflux tablet
I also use inhalers for asthma
and I have low vitamin d so i am on 3200iu a day

If you have had something similar or can offer me advice then I would be most grateful.
Thanks N

Forgot to say my eyes water due to over working glands in the eye lids this only started at the same time.

Post Edited (nickinnocent) : 9/6/2012 1:16:04 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 9/7/2012 2:03 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Nikki and welcome to the forum.

We aren't doctors here so really can't give much for medical advice but we can give the benefit of our experience.

I've had a ruptured disk in my neck at C-5 C-6 so I know how painful it can be and I'd imagine 3 of them is 3x the pain so OUCH. I ended up having surgery and it's much much better now.

If you can take Ibuprofen that will help and putting ice on your neck should help (though some use heat). Other than that, just follow your doctor's advice.

This is a great place to talk with people who understand chronic pain and won't judge you, because we're all going through it too. Keep posting! :)
Posted 9/7/2012 3:01 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Nick!

Really weird how all that started just by lifting a heavy bag at work. It sounds so painful. My guess would be like a pulled or torn nerve but wouldn't the doctors be able to see that on a MRI? I really don't know, but whatever it is sounds like it was defiantly all caused by lifting that heavy bag at work.

I just had brain surgery a few months ago and when I woke up from surgery I couldn't raise my right arm. And I still can't. It's very weak. The doctor thinks it was the way I was laying on the operating room table and maybe pulled a nerve or something. They have been running test but can't figure it out.

Anyways, that's why I suggested maybe you tore a nerve somewhere. Mine isn't as painful as yours sounds, but it does hurt because i am always trying to raise it and I use my right hand/arm a lot.

Also, welcome to our group!
Posted 9/7/2012 5:49 PM (GMT 0)
Hi there...Welcome to the boards..We are sorry that you have chronic pain but happy that you found us..

As mentioned, no one here is a medical professional so we can't give any type of medical advice but we can offer support and empathy and ideas to discuss with your Drs.

I have a long history of cervical issues and 3, two-level fusions. My personal recommedation is to find a Board Certified Neurosurgeon to look over your MRI and offer thoughts on treatments.

The reason for this is I was told that they have more experience and training with upper cervical and closer to the brain issues rather than a Board Certified Orthopedic Surgeon...My Ortho is the one who sent me to a Neuro. But it's really about their training and others have had good experiences with either...so make sure they are board certified first...and then ask the Ortho what is his speciality.

The good news is that close to 85% of those with any type of disc/spine issue can be treated successfully with non surgical means..

There is physical therapy, exercise, aqua therapy, injections, steroid treatments, proper posture techniques, acupuncture, massage, ice, heat, traction, TENS unit, etc. To name a few things that they will likely have you do to help.

Were you prescribed the Elavil for your pain issues or for depression based on another diagnosis. Sometimes it is used off label for pain as well but many people with actual disc herniations and problems will be prescribed an actual nerve pain med like Lyrica, Neurontin, or Cymbalta.

Another medication that can be very helpful is for muscle spasms is an actual muscle relaxer. These are either Flexeril, Robaxin, Skelaxin, Soma, or Baclofen.

By using as many modalities as possible to treat your pain...the better chance at having it get better.

I hope that you can find some answers soon with the upcoming Dr. appts so they can start treating you aggressively to relieve the pain.

Keep us posted..
Posted 9/7/2012 5:57 PM (GMT 0)
hello and welcome, nicki

sorry you are in so much neck pain, that's horrible to even read about. glad you found us here at healing well, and hope we can be help for you.

good luck, and hope some of your pain issues can be resolved quickly for you. please keep us posted on you.

david in sc
Posted 9/7/2012 6:08 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks kaely and maryann for your advice and comments, yes it does hurt a lot and the MRI did show protrusion but the neurologist did not think that this accounted for my syptoms and said I should get a second opinion from the surgeon. Still waiting to see them.
I believe that because the pain is so much less lying down that the discs hit/squash the nerve when standing up? But after reading what you have been through and still going through my heart goes out to both you and Oliver Maryann. I pray that your right arm quickly improves and that you are soon clear of brain issues. The fact that you took the time to message me with a reply, tells me that you must be an amazing person! Thanks once more!
Posted 9/8/2012 2:24 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you, that is so nice of you to say. I try to help when I can but I don't understand much about discs problems but it sounds painful. I am one of those people who always say "well maybe you pulled a nerve"? Haha. I don't know what else to think but it defiantly started that day at work for you. See this is why I didn't go to medical school. LOL

And yes thanks I hope my right arm improves soon as well. It's hard to get dressed and pick up things.

Gotta run. Oliver has professional pictures this morning. Yay!
Posted 9/14/2012 4:57 AM (GMT 0)
Since it is your neck that is the culprit. Based on my experience I would try to see a neurosurgeon, instead of orthopedic surgeon unless you a very reputable ortho surgeon.
Posted 9/14/2012 5:57 AM (GMT 0)
Hi, I am new here but have suffered several years with neck and back problems. Herniations, tears, buldges, spurs, stenosis. Mild, medium, moderate, severe, every radiologist has a different verbage and each doc that looks at your MRI may have something else to say. Before my first c6/c7 fusion I saw 10 different doctors from primary care, to nuero, to spine specialist, they all said the same thing in a different way. But for me it wasn't until one doctor took the time to show me what was going on, sit with me and write all over my films on the wall and say the words 'you don't get this surgery done, and keep looking for a better answer, you can end up paralysed' at that moment I realized WOW this is real. They all said I needed the surgery, it was to be my first and I didn't think I needed it. I was wrong;(

So, what I am trying to say is you know your body, you know your pain, you call the shots! The doctors work for YOU do not be intimedated because they have a degree or they talk fast, you need your questions answered and you need to know why you have they symptoms you do and don't stop until you get the answer you are happy with and that you can understand.

Lots of ramble I know., I am so sorry you are going through this I am not a doctor but I know in my personal life when my back is flaring I can be in one position and feel no pain at all move 1/8 of an inch and burst into tears, so if you have a stretched, pinched, or aggrevated nerve you have to listen to your body! Find that spot, use it stretch from it, move around and flex your body but not to cause pain! Lots of ice good 15min every hour or two if you have the time. If it really is a pinched or inflamed nerve heat will aggrevate it ice is best but listen to your bod you will know what feels good. Drink lots of water a herniated disc releases a chemical that actually intensefies pain in nerves water helps flush and hydrate your back and my doc says you can hurt yourself from drinking your 8 to 10 glasses a day so why not just do it!

I hope this helps a bit, stay strong and keep us posted on what the doctors are saying and how you are feeling!

Post Edited (XxSandyxx) : 9/14/2012 12:04:17 AM (GMT-6)

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