What can I do? - Arthritis Message Board

Katycat · 09-02-2008, 07:14 AM

I have arthritis in both hands and my neck but hadn't really sought serious help until the sensory symptoms started - tingling, pins and needles, numbness etc.
I finally got a GP to refer me to muscular/skeletal department who sent me for an MRI scan. This resulted in a referral to a neuro surgeon last week. He showed me the scan pictures on the computer screen and then told me that bone spurs were present at almost every part of my spine and that they were pressing on my spinal cord. It was too widespread to be helped surgically so he has referred me on to get some pain management , physio and possibly some steroid injections. What I need to know is - what now? Will it continue to progress? Can it be halted? What is going to happen to me? Has anybody else got this situation and can you tell me what will happen please?

Baybreeze · 09-04-2008, 05:45 PM

Hi,

I'm so sorry you have that diagnosis, I've had similar problems, but in my lumbar spine. However, as of late, I am getting pins & needles, numbness, etc in my hands and upper body as well, so I have a feeling I have the same going on in my cervical spine.

If you have spurs jutting into your spinal cord in your neck area, that could end up being something very serious!!! There is no way to predict if it will get worse over time, but other than surgery, there is no way to get rid of the spurs. If you're having nerve symptoms related to it, it's not a good sign. I had a co-worker who developed pins & needles, then numbness in her right hand. They first thought it was diabetic neuropathy or carpal tunnel....the treatments for those did not work, her hand just got worse to the point it was useless. Then she started having problems with her legs and other things..Long story short, after several months, she was finally sent for a whole spine MRI and other tests, and she just had one large disc herniation pressing into her canal. If she had no treatment, she could have ended up paralyzed & losing control of bowel and urine. I don't want to scare you, but it's possible the same thing could end up happening with spurs.

I just don't understand why your doc says there is nothing that can be done!! I know one woman who was so bad, she had to have her entire spine cleaned up and fused b/c she waited to long. Perhaps they do things differently in the UK? I don't know. It might be quite a project to clean up all the spurs if it's in your entire spine, but...it may be that not all the spurs are causing problems. I personally would just be worried if your symptoms progress and get worse.

Is it possible that you can get a second opinion?

Katycat · 09-05-2008, 02:23 AM

Baybreeze thank you for your reply to my post and for your frankness. Why is it that doctors can never tell you what is going on? At present the tingling and pins and needles are everywhere but manageable if you know what I mean. All except for the ones that wake me from my sleep early every morning. They are the sole reason that I asked for help and it has taken 2 years to get a GP to refer me on to a consultant to have it investigated.
The consultant showed me pictures of my 'heart shaped' spinal column and said it was too widespread for surgical intervention. Yes I do live in the UK and maybe the technology hasn't arrived here yet. Lol! I feel quite low about all this but at least I have been referred on to someone else who might be able to help me slow the progression down. I am sorry that you are having similar problems and it's comforting to know I am not alone. I would love to hear from you again with your news and progress. Take care and thanks again for taking the time to answer my question.

Baybreeze · 09-05-2008, 07:00 AM

Oh wow, I can't believe you've been waiting 2 years for that!! Again, not to scare you, but it worries me that if you've had those nerve symptoms for that long now, that you don't end up having any permanent nerve damage.
At least you said you do have a referral to another doctor, which is great. I sure hope you don't have to wait as long for that one! And I do hope that another doctor might be able to give you some better answers and help you somehow!! I feel bad for you that you're being told there's nothing they can do.

As for myself, I'm not doing too bad right now due to all the medications I'm taking. However, I only have one week's worth left of most and will be out of luck for a while because I already met my yearly cap on my prescription plan, which was only $500/year..but I met that in a little over 2 months. So I cannot afford to pay for my meds now. I am applying for prescription assistance, though...but it takes several weeks to hear back from them if I'm approved or not. So I am praying that my pain, spasms, and nerve symptoms do not erupt out of control again.

Katycat · 09-06-2008, 04:57 AM

Hi Baybreeze and thanks for your reply. I may have been waiting for 2 years for a referral but not to be able to get medication is awful. I am at least thankful for the NHS in that regard. Our treatment is free at the point of use (though everyone pays National Insurance) and prescription prices are £7 + per item. I buy a yearly pre payment card and then can have any amount of medication for that year. I have spoken to many US residents on similar boards and they have almost all said they can't afford tests and drugs etc and I feel so bad for you all. I hope very much that you get help with your prescriptions soon - it isn't right that people should suffer pain for the want of drugs in the 21st century!!.
I'm so glad of these boards though. I feel quite scared of what is happening to me and to be able to talk to others in a similar position is so therapeutic and calming. Thank you for taking the time and I hope so much that you can get the help you need very soon. Blessings and hugs
KatyK