Source of my pain.

Oh my-what is your Dr's plan of attack now that you know what you are working with?

Have to go see an Orthopedic Dr on Wednesday.

I have the same thing exact location. I have had to have neck surgery. I have had almost every procedure done so when you decide with your Dr. What you will try I will be glad to share my take on it. Hope you find the best treatment that fits your pain needs. Sorry for you Oh Joy news at the Dr.

Went to Orthopedic Dr yesterday. Disappointing visit. Said what the MRI shows doesn't explain the symptoms I am having or the level of pain that I am in. No surgery necessary at this point. No real advice. Gave me prescription for new medication and physical therapy. Kind of scared at this point.

Do not give up. For 10 years I was told the same thing. They can not always see what they need to on a MRI, if you do not get better ask for a ct scan. go to another Dr. I finally got in to see an arthrisis spec. and got more answers than I got from the orth When meds and workingout not longer worked. I was back at the otho Dr. He took an ex-ray and told me it was only a touch of arthritis 2 weeks later i am back screaming for a 2nd MRI my touch of arthritis was now an unstable neck and needed surgery. I was so mad I changed over to pain management for over a year befor the pain was to much, then had surgery. All Dr's well most will act like you just want pain meds till a test shows them how bad it is. Be your own best Dr. if your Dr will not hear you,fire him, find a dr who will. We spend more time buying a new car than we do own our health management. If you feel something is bad wrong then it is go to another Dr. Tell me some of where your pain is as how it feels. Nerve pain will turn your world upside down. I do not know what meds you take but celebrex and lyrica are great help to me. I have lots of home remodies I use if I know more about your pain i could tell you what works for me.

Find another dr for a second (or third or.....) opinion. I had a huge bulging disc and I requested the top dog doctor in the hospital. I had C 5,6,7 fused and haven't really had any problems since.

There is no shame in firing this doctor and getting a second opinion. I'm not saying find one that says what you want to hear but find one that is going to work with you on this and not just hand out drugs. Call the hospital where you like to go and find out the chief of surgery in that field and request an appointment with him. I wish you the best of luck.

Find another dr for a second (or third or.....) opinion. I had a huge bulging disc and I requested the top dog doctor in the hospital. I had C 5,6,7 fused and haven't really had any problems since.

There is no shame in firing this doctor and getting a second opinion. I'm not saying find one that says what you want to hear but find one that is going to work with you on this and not just hand out drugs. Call the hospital where you like to go and find out the chief of surgery in that field and request an appointment with him. I wish you the best of luck.

Hi Change 2012, I have read your blogs and can sympathize with your pain. I have had chronic thoracic and cervical pain for the past 33 years and in the past 10 years there have been huge advances in spinal procedures. I had a cervical fusion done on C4, 5 and 6 in May of 2000 (before new pain procedures). The fusion solves the problem but only temporarily. My experience with Orthopedic doctors is that they are not tuned into what is best for the patient. They are tuned into what they have been taught to treat spinal pain. Factors like age, level of activity, apparent spinal stenosis, bulging discs, is the joint unstable, can a discetomy be performed, all of these factors should be taken into account. If you are young and active, I would not get a fusion. Orthopedic surgeons want to do one thing, operate and take the disc out and fuse the segment of spine with a bone graft. That is NOT the best way to look at it anymore with the introductions of discetomies where they can go in with a scope and take a small portion of the bulging disc out that is causing the pain or spinal pressure. Then after that procedure, you can have a new procedure called an RF ablation done to the nerve so it will not create a pain signal anymore to your brain. I believe people are under the understanding that the surgery will fix the problem. It doesn’t fix the problem forever; the surgery relieves the pain but changes the makeup of your spine in that area also. The surgeon takes out all the disc material and fills it in with a bone graft and or metal plates. Many people are not aware that after you have a fusion done, that down the road at some time, maybe 5 or 10 years depending on activity levels, the discs and vertabrae above and below the fusion will wear out quicker than they normally would because of the undue stress put on them by the fused vertabrae as they can no longer flex as they originally did.
My suggestion to you is to find yourself a Pain management clinic that deals directly with RF nerve ablations and have a consult with a doctor to determine if he/she can relieve your pain without surgery. I have had 5 RF nerve ablations in the past 8 years and have gotten 100% pain relief from those areas. The non-invasive procedure takes 20 minutes and you will step off of the procedure table pain free. Fusions have their place, but they are old school medicine. Like most replies have stated, get a 2nd and 3rd opinion and weigh all the factors. You have to be your own advocate these days and the internet can provide you with great information. Nerve ablations are the future in pain management. I will have my 6th ablation in 3 weeks as my cervical spine continues to deteriorate. Good luck and I hope you can find a solution to the pain. Pain stinks!!!