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QUESTION:
I've been lurking for about a week and I'm so glad I've found
this group. I've already discovered a ton of information. I wanted
to introduce myself and ask for some advice or just words of wisdom.
I've remembered some slight neck pain with breakthroughs periodically
for the past 6 or so years. When it got bad, I would seek treatment
from my primary. We would do a round of anti-inflammatories and
muscle relaxers. These episodes were at least once each year,
increasing in frequency as time passed. The treatments would ease the
pain, but never take it away completely, and I would just carry on,
figuring that some people just have to live with aches and pains, and
I must be one of them.
Fast forward to this past summer. I am a school teacher and just
before school started, I had an 'episode'... this consists of extreme
neck pain, like a 'crick', that just doesn't let up... nothing makes
it better and many things make it worse. I chalked it up to stress
and managed to get the school year off and running. I had some muscle
relaxers and NSAIDs from previous treatments and took those to *try*
to get through.
It didn't let up and in September, I went to my doctor. Again with
the anti-inflammatories and muscle relaxers. Pain was worse after two
days, so I went back. This time I was given a steroid pack, another
NSAID and amytriptiline. I waited it out, thinking there *had* to be
*some* relief at the end of this course. (I couldn't take the
elavil... I was a zombie the next morning after the first night, so I
went back to Flexeril) So, after I finished this round of meds, I
went back to my primary. He sent me to a chiropractor. (I should add
that primary did x-ray of neck and didn't see anything)
ANSWER:
I have herniations at C4/C5 and it's causing pain in my left
shoulder/forearm and both hands go numb without warning. Due to no
insurance, my only relief so far has been my pain clinic whom I am
currently "at war" with.....
I'm suprised that your Doctor didn't refer you to a Neurosurgeon. Not
to advicate being cut on, however everyone I know personally have had
great results with cervical problems...now backs, that;s another thing!
Pain Doc will more than likely want to perform some "procedures" on you
to alleviate your pain....end thing will be drug therapy.....do your
homework on the pain clinic though before committing to one....it's
hard to change once you "pick" one....
I was surprised, too, that I was referred for pain management before
an (I was expecting) orthopedist.
Any idea what type of 'procedures' are common with pain management
clinics? Would just like to kind of have an idea of what to expect.
I don't know if my primary is trying everything *before* exploring
surgery, or if it's possible that surgery is not an option. Either
way, I'm a little confused at the referral to pain doc before a
surgeon. I don't know if I should request a second opinion or if I'll
see what the pain management doctor says first (I'm leaning towards
the latter, as the pain is getting worse each day!)
I phoned my primary's office today re: the worsening pain. He's told
me to double up on my Lortab. I'll try that and hopefully get *some*
relief. This is so frustrating!!!
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