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Neck / back pain symptoms

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No one can seem to tell me whats going on with me. So I will lay out my symptoms and what I've tried and see if anyone can relate. I don't feel my pain is typical and not one specialist has been able to get a bearing on it. Most say it's the disc or its not the disc, but that's it. What else can I try? What does this sound like?

Symptoms started with a stiff neck on 03/05/09
I immediately went a chiropractor, and within 2 weeks of manipulation and massage the stiff neck went away and I was left with the symptoms I have today.
(I really have the feeling that a bad chiropractor made this worse, and it probably would have went away in a week or two as just a stiff neck).

Symptoms / Pain:
1. Constant upper back pain 8 out of 10 days (T3ish T5ish) feels extremely sore, like I just got done doing the most intense workout. Its usually worse in the morning.
2. Constant neck pain 2 out of 10 days (basically when I don't feel the upper back pain). The neck pain is more of a nag then a pain and its across the back of the neck. Just a deep annoying nagging feeling.


Tests:

MRI 1:
1. mild C5/C6 disc herniation causing mild spinal stenosis with NO narrowing of the neural foraminal.

MRI 2:
1. mild C5/C6 disc herniation causing mild spinal stenosis with NO narrowing of the neural foraminal.
2. minimal C4/C5 disc herniation mildly compressing the thecal sac
3. minimal C6/C6 disc herniation.

EMG:
1. Bilateral C5/C6 radiculopathy

Discography C3-C7:
1. C4/C5 very reactive to pain - Cracked disc
2. C5/C6 reactive to pain - Grade 4 + complete disc herniation
3. C6/C7 Nonreactive to pain - Bulging disc, normal disc

Treatment:
1. Chiropractic manipulation, massage, and acupuncture tried pretty constant for 3 months
Result:
i. 1 out of 10 manipulations would help
ii. 1 out of 10 acupuncture sessions would help

2. 2 bouts of physical therapy
- First time 6 weeks of cervical retractions
Result:
No benefit
- Second time 6 weeks of upper back & shoulder strength
Little to no benefit

3. Cervical Epidural
- Result:
No benefit

4. Cervical bilateral facet injection
- Result:
No benefit

5. Cervical nucleoplasty (needle inserted in disc using radio waves to reduce disc herniation)
-Result:
i. C4/C5 disc herniation gone
ii. C5/C6 disc hernation still present
iii. No benefit

6. Lexapro ( incase anxiety played a role) 8 weeks
-Result:
i. No benefit
ii. I weened off

7. Naproxen & Mobic 6 weeks (at separate times)
- No benefit
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replied November 23rd, 2009
Extremely eHealthy
hi pneil...
sorry you are experiencing this discomfort. i too have had troubles like you so i know your frustration. i wouldnt blame the chiropractor although your problems are beyond the scope of what a chiropractor can successfully treat. some studies have shown that manipulation of the neck can bring on strokes.
the most enlightening test you had was the way you reacted to the disc study. you must really have felt the pain. now that you have had these tests you need to know what treatment will help. have you seen a neurosurgeon who specializes on the spine. if not that would be the next step.
you dont want the pressure and pain to continue to the point that permanent damage is done. the neuro spine surgeon is the person to see... one thing that helped me was a course of steroids. that may help ease your symptoms.
when i was in your situation i found resting neck helped. also i found rolling up a small towel and inserting it under neck while sleeping eased the pain. let us know what neurosurgeon says and hopefully something will help....pete
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replied November 23rd, 2009
Thanks pete, I noticed you said "had" troubles like me. What did you end up doing that fixed the problem? I plan on seeing a specilist in a few weeks.

Thanks again
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replied November 23rd, 2009
Extremely eHealthy
hi pneil,
i had a 3 level fusion that added stability to my neck and upper thoracic. i no longer get the pins and needles and aching muscles. i had the surgery in 2004 and i actually have been improving to this day. the surgeon was a neurosurgeon.
last week i sanded a dining room table by hand and refinished it without pain.....
by the way my symptoms started in 1981 with severe headaches. i never got permanent nerve damage so i was fortunate in that regard.....pete
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replied November 24th, 2009
Thanks again Pete, I wish you the best. You've been dealing with this a lot longer than me. I'm only 24 years old and only about 9 months in pain. Luckily I do not have any arm/hand tingling, burning, etc.

I know there are so many of us out there, but I feel utterly alone on this journey to find out whats wrong with me and how Im going to fix it. I am confident that I will fix it, I just need to figure it out.
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