The doctors have found a new way to treat the pain in my neck. They want to give me shots to deaden the nerves for a short time frame to see if it will cure the neck and arm pain. Then if that helps, they want to do some type of electronic nerve shot to kill the nerve endings in the neck. Since my second neck surgery has not helped much, they think this may. My hope is to get the pain around a 4 or 5 out of 10 scale. And to get my arms back working correctly.

Has anybody heard of this type of procudure and if so, did it help? I am a little scared of needles going into my neck. They have to go through the back side because my plate is in the front side. My first plate gave me great cell phone reception. With my second plate, being that it is larger, I now get wireless TV showing up in my glasses. Cool.

Tom

 

Tom, I must say that you DO have a sense of humor.

I haven't heard of the therapy that you are about to try, but, if it will give you some relief, GO FOR IT!!!!

When I injured my neck, I woulda done anything to get rid of the pain.

Are you seeing an orthopedic surgeon, or a neurosurgeon??

My neuro-guy said that the difference is that the ortho-guy works on the bones, and the neuro-guy does the same thing, but, protects the nerves.

My neurosurgeon calls an ortho-guy a "Bone-crusher." (Go figure.)

IF you get some relief from the therapy. . . . by all means, do it.

EDIT: Which disks are you having pain with???

 

I have heard of that treatment before. A guy I used to work with was having horrible pain in his arm and was to the point where it was hurting him so bad he would go to his knee's. He had the treatment done and it ended his pain. I have not seen him in about a year but I could look him up for you and see if he is still pain free. Let me know.

 

Hey id love to get rid of the pain in my neck, its been there almost 19 months now. If the treatment works let us all know. Althought my attorney told me only a divorce will cure my pain. But hey ill try anything 3x.

 

Jupiter ... look him up and let us know. There's more than Tom who has pain issues because of spinal problems. The posts, so far, have been interesting. My back is so messed up that the "bone crusher" I talked with after my last MRI, told me he'd probably fuze the lower 4 discs if he did anything at all. Yeah... then I'd have less mobility than I currently have and it'd be no guarantee I'd be out of pain. Doctors.... ..... arghhh.

 

I'll see if I can track him down on Wed. and see what the specifics were. I'll post as soon as I contact him.

 

I had two back surgeries years ago where they cut away the discs in L4 and L5 and were going to fuse them but decided not to. I'm glad they didn't. Other guys I know who have had their backs fused might be in less pain but some can barely if not at all twist around to clean themselves on the toilet. Some have to go in and get cortisone shots every few months. One of them is still in a lot of pain and walks with a cane now. My first one was in 84 and the other was in 90. I guess I lucked out cause mine doesn't bother me unless I do a lot of walking or lifting. I got that way being in the trucking business for a number of years.

 

If I can't laugh at myself, then I often wonder why other people are laughing when around me. Could be my looks! Humor is one of the ways to deal with this.

Had some bone removed and replaced with some from a dead body. I was hoping it was somebody with some smarts, but it didn't work out that way. First surgery (May 21, 2002) fused C5 and C6. That helped with some neck pain and very little arm pain. Was off work for 8 weeks and then went back. Installing security systems pulling cable through buildings and all. The arms only got worse and the headaches got to where I would have to pull over while driving. I covered the State of Montana, worked in Idaho, Washington and Canada. So I drove alot. The second surgery (March 29, 2004) fused C6 and C7. It did not do anything for me. Except add wireless TV.

My arms are so bad now that it is hard to do any computer work. The fingers just don't want to respond when told to. It has effected many other area's that I won't mention. The wreck was in Dec 31, 2001. This has been going on a long time. One of the bad things is that we own 2 ATV's and I am a board member of the local ATV club. So my ride time is limited.

Since this is a Work Comp case, I have been told to be careful as to which Doctor's I see. I have requested a second opinon and they sent me to this pain specialist. He feels that there is still some problems in the neck. My neurosurgeon told me that from the MRI and MRA the the neck should be completely fused, but at my (young) age it would really limit me. I don't want that. I really hate needles, and to have them stuck in my neck. I just can't wait. You all will hear me yell no matter where you live.

bdjupiter, thanks. That would be great to know.

Tom

 

Tom:


Believe me. . . I FEEL your pain!
When I broke my neck in 2001, my C6-7 was affected.
When I finally got to see this neurosurgeon, the first thing he asked was IF I was losing control of bodily functions. (No, thank heaven!!! He said that would be a sign of C3-4 or C4-5, if I'm thinking right.)
He was describing which disk/vertabrae problem affected what part of the body.
You said C5 & C6. That's gotta be the left arm, if I remember correctly.

The only 'problem' remaining from my neck is (other than lack of mobility) is that the tip of my right index finger is sensitive to cold, and it is still fairly 'tingly'. At times, it hurts like 'Heck.'

The neuro said that the nerve was like a garden hose that has had a BIG truck sitting on it. When the truck moves, the hose MIGHT or might NOT re-inflate, completely.

Again, if this therapy will give you some relief, do it.

I swear by my neurosurgeon and his partners. They gave me my 'life' back.

 

tom
i for one have had the shots in my neck and lower back due to degenertive disc problems and it helped for about 8 months then i went back and had a second round helped a little longer. it's worth a try rather then a knife.
dick
check around they now have aproved a artifical disc. i'm not 100% sure but think they are for the lumbar area. i have my ortho doc. looking into them for me as working as a mechanic is a killer . my right arm only lifts 1/2 way and my right leg is always pins a needles. its hard when you have 11 bads ones .
good luck to you both . i know how you feel. 1st hand

 

this a link to an artificial disc I looked into last year. http://www.charitedisc.com/

 

thank you percey

 

You're welcome Captain

 

I am still trying to get ahold of the guy I had mentioned, he is on vacation and out of town. Didn't want you all to think I had forgot!

 

Not sure if it's the same thing but my doctor offered "nerve root injections" to relieve pain and as a diagnostic tool to find out where my pain came from. I have a bad left leg, 3 herniated disks (from L3-4 to L5-S1), spinal stenosis, dessicated disk in the neck and nerve damage.

WOW, when I see it in print it looks really bad LOL. Personally I will try just about anything other than going under the knife. I've been on pain meds for the past 2.5 years and it has worked pretty good. The key is to find a doc that will listen and work with you.

Best of luck to all you "pain in the neck" people