sweetnessa
09-01-2006, 08:54 AM
Hi yall ....Yesterday was a very terriable day for me .....bitter sweet is a better way to put it I got news that i was hoping so badly...to not get :confused: My family Doctor told me that i have a Herniated disk... the upper right side of my neck and shoulder area i am assuming that my doctor came to the conclusion from the CT scan i had a week and a half ago I am saddened to recieve the news though i am also relieved that something can now explain the pain that i have had for nearly 3 months I have lost alot of weight its been very difficult for me to eat swallow pills and even harder to swallow liquids including my own syliva due to things not goin down properly....or alot of times things food and liquids go up my nose :confused:....sorry to be so descriptive:)...Because of the swallowing problem i have seen a E N T and a Neurologist...everything was ok ... i did a barium swallow test and nothing unusual came back from that. My doctor says that some how the not being able swallow is related to my herniated disk :confused: I also get tingling and numbness all the time in my right arm the right side of my head alll the time .. only a few times my neck has been numb and tingly:rolleyes: that was really scary ..... for the record i know that TINGLY is not a word but i had to make my point :) i always on a regular basis get tingling in my right leg from my toes all the way past my scrawny butt. The pain is just way to much for me to handle in my worst moments ...witch has happened quite often especially in the last month, its painful to walk, stand, sit, laydown, sneeze, cough, laugh, cry,talk and even breathing hurts at times i have temporily lost use of my right arm and right leg ....Once again to be descriptive :rolleyes: constapation has become a problem for me its been extremely painful to use the bathroom this has been sooooooo frustrating the pain has dissrupted my sleep i stay up some times for 2 or 3 days at a time in pain unable to sleep or the pain will wake me up in my sleep my doctor has not prescribed any type of pain reliever i can not understand why He has been my family doctor since day 1 He is old school... i have trusted his opinion for many years though in the case of him not prescribing a pain reliever, muscle relaxant or something anything at all has got me scratching my head and wondering what the heck :confused: My family doctor is setting up a M R I for me and he wants me to see a neurosurgeon i am not looking forward to what the future may hold for me
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chebird
09-01-2006, 09:23 AM
I am so sorry you are in so much pain and having such terrible problems. Be hopeful. A neurosurgeon can be your best friend. He may be able to give you your life back. Have you asked your doctor for pain meds? I'ts cruel to let you continue as you are. I would demand something be done, or go to another doctor. Tell him so. Being in that much pain is not healthy. Please keep us posted. You are on my prayer list. God bless, Holly
ICC
09-01-2006, 09:24 AM
i'm so sorry you are having so many problems. the one i can tell you about is the swallowing. i have 3 bulged disks. stneosis, a pinched nerve and a large bon spur in my neck. shoulder, arm, hand pain but the swallowing is the worse. sometime i have aproblem with food but mainly it is just normal allday swallowing of saliva that's hard. have seen the ENT 3xs, had the esophagram and they found nothing. also have an elarged thyroid that hasn't been treated yet. all dr.s 6 of them are ending me elsewhere BUT i have been told that the spur in my neck CAN be causing it. also my thyroid could so i guess until i see the endo on the 11th i won't know for sure. if it's the spur i am probably looking at some sort of neck surgery to remove it but i don't even want to think about it until it's a definite. best of luck. let me know how you make out.:)
webdude
09-01-2006, 10:44 AM
I am so sorry to hear of all your pain..
Your family doctor is not a spine specialist, so he is not sure how to handle it, and also may not realize how painful it really is.. You must insist on getting some pain meds... Perhaps valium or flexeril as a muscle relaxer and percocet for the times where you have really bad pain...
Herniations can heal on their own, however, they do take a long time.. In some cases, if it is not getting better at all, and if it is interfering with your day to day function, you can get an operation where they will remove the heriation and then, physical therapy to strengthen your muscles to support your neck..
Also, if you are getting pain down leg, which is usually a lumbar herniation or bulge, you should ask your doctor if it is from the neck, because if it is, then you could be pushing on the spinal cord.. Not trying to scare you... just make sure you ask and insist on seeing your neurologist soon.. Tell him about the fact that it is affecting your bowel movements too.... He may be an old and trusted family doctor, BUT, he may not be experienced in this area, so please see a spine expert soon..
I pray that all goes well for you.
Mo
Your family doctor is not a spine specialist, so he is not sure how to handle it, and also may not realize how painful it really is.. You must insist on getting some pain meds... Perhaps valium or flexeril as a muscle relaxer and percocet for the times where you have really bad pain...
Herniations can heal on their own, however, they do take a long time.. In some cases, if it is not getting better at all, and if it is interfering with your day to day function, you can get an operation where they will remove the heriation and then, physical therapy to strengthen your muscles to support your neck..
Also, if you are getting pain down leg, which is usually a lumbar herniation or bulge, you should ask your doctor if it is from the neck, because if it is, then you could be pushing on the spinal cord.. Not trying to scare you... just make sure you ask and insist on seeing your neurologist soon.. Tell him about the fact that it is affecting your bowel movements too.... He may be an old and trusted family doctor, BUT, he may not be experienced in this area, so please see a spine expert soon..
I pray that all goes well for you.
Mo
NYD
09-01-2006, 10:39 PM
What part of kanada are you from. I'm from Vancouver and my NS is the best of the best. If you are from BC, let me know and I will give you some info.
Let me know.
C-
Let me know.
C-
nero
09-05-2006, 06:34 PM
There is always an end to the pain, whether that be the type or intensity. I have had 5-6 acdf with own bone and plate in Nov 03 and it was worth it. I had low back microdiscectomy and live on with low back pain shots every three months and that is worth it too. I am now experiencing consistent neck pain and chest which I recognize from before due to an already bulging disc that is herniating due to the stress of the domino effect of the c5 extraction. YOU KNOW WHAT THOUGH :p as scared as I am that I am going down the same road as the first herniated disc that took up my life from april 01 till 03, I have had three years of tolerable pain and a kick at the cat again, and I am sure you can, like me do this whole surgery thing if you have to. So get on the band wagon, advocate for yourself and remind yourself the life you had before the pain is worth fighting for. God only knows how much this hidden, nonvisual pain takes from all our souls. Know this though, I and many vets on this board can attest to the fact that it is a hard hard road but for whatever reason, you are on it and you have to find a way to navigate it. Cry when you need to or scream in the car, take your pills but remember to always speak up in the Dr's office and tell them how painful it is and you want all the help you deserve. I compare having a sore back vs.having a disc herniation, especially if its compressing the spinal cord like getting a shock from a wall socket vs from the main breaker. BIG DARN DIFFERENCE and a gp needs to know that when you attend. So hang in there my sweet...we all love you, we are all rooting for you, but put your foot down :eek: and start making your demands known.
...six years later and still trying....Nearly new,Nero
...six years later and still trying....Nearly new,Nero