heckuva neck - Spinal Cord Disorders Message Board

trychocolate · 04-11-2009, 09:32 AM

I have appreciated all the helpful posts here. I am presently waiting for a full spine MRI, which hopefully will happen before fall. Since I was told that the success rate for my situation is 5%, that I have the neck of a 90 year old, and that I must wait for surgery, I have stayed watching this Boards to fully understand signs and symptoms. A referral to the States is available, but the $100,000+ is not; I will continue to ask questions about it though. I imagine if I could go this route, I would get sent to the best, although wouldn't it be something if they said the same thing?

This time of year when wind chill factors switch over to humidity values, more new and horribly painful things happen. It is sad that I suffer so terribly during the months when the weather is improving, the snow is gone, and everything is so green and lush.

My question is to the neck people as I am not sure if it's neck, the arthritis in the jaw, or both. Understandably, I have, or have had, a myriad of health problems to keep in check. Could the reverse lordosis, the anterior osteophytes etc. be causing incredible shooting pains into the ears? Does this mean upper C's? It subsides to a tolerable level within a minute; if it stayed longer, honestly, I don't think I could take it because it feels like a knife going up the side of the throat where the swallowing problem is and into the ear.

Thank you for helping me isolate these issues; it helps me communicate with the dr. on those rare occasions I see him. At least he keeps up with other testing to make sure the disabling problems are spine and not brain related. Been on waiting list for physiatrist for nearly a year. Trying different therapies for temporary relief. Went on holiday and it helped to go to a hot place and rest/roast the rack of pain that is me.

choc

jennybyc · 04-11-2009, 12:02 PM

The nerve that exits at C3 goes up and around the ears. C2 goes all the way to the top of your head in the back.So it could be the problem at C3. Most of your face is governed by the 12 main nerves that come directly from the brain and trigeminal neuralgia a 3 part nerve with one branch on that area so that is also an option. But I used to get that horrible pain in that same area for a long time and just now I realized it hasn't been back since my surgery. I'm also C3 to T1 and ever since he cleaned up all the osteophytes that pain has been gone. So It may very well be involved.

Good luck and I'm sorry you're waiting. I'm a former Canuck and I know what it's like.

gentle hugs..............Jenny

sammyo1 · 04-12-2009, 06:44 AM

Hi there, I am sorry you are suffering so much. I have had some nasty days with the weather changes myself so I get that. As I am just below you on the map.
When you mentioned the Jaw & ear pain it caught my attention.
I just started PT & have some jaw pain/neck. I know I have aggravated the rest of my problems by clenching. The more pain I am in the more I clench. Hence more pain in the ear area, jaw, neck & so on...As I have been experiancing some ear & jaw pain alot here. I know I have some C4 issues but not sure about further up the spine there, hope not.
MY PT explained how TMJ or clenching can cause the neck, shoulder & other pain to go bonkers. It all ties in. I am having headaches which we think are a combo. between the neck problems & the jaw from clenching. This thing is I did not realize for the longest time how much I was clenching till I started having cracked & chipped teeth. Its common to tense up more when your in pain & alot of people will tense up at that jaw area.
As the PT has been nice enough to work abit in the jaw area & I am had alittle relief. NOt only in that area but the neck also. I am not sure if it will last but I'll take what I can get. She really did emphasize how much the problems can tie in. She said we dont realize how many small muscles & nerves run through that area & how the go into the shoulders & neck & up into the head & how grinding or clenching can set off a huge amount of problems & pain especially if there are already problems else where, such as the cervical or the shoulder area. I think often we dont realize we are doing it & are so focused on the spinal issues we forget there may be other things contributing. I am not sure if this relates to you at all but just in case thought it was worth mentioning. God bless & good luck, Sammy

trychocolate · 04-12-2009, 10:10 AM

Thank you for the info. Jenny. Coincidently, I had gone to a deep tissue ther. and he kept giving me exercises to do that I am unable to do, or caused alot of discomfort and grinding. For example, I cannot hold onto an object, like a strap, and pull at the same time. I just let go--impingement and compression might do that? It was one of those appointments I should have walked out of. You wouldn't believe what he was telling me to do with my head/neck; his theory was that what ROM I have left, I need to strengthen. He was quite stubborn. The one exercise where you place both wrists on top on each other in front of you and then press may have irritated the nerve to ears. It's hard to get thru to idiots that there are clinical reasons why things can't be done. I'll get over it and hopefully those nerves will calm down if I let them to back to sleep, for lack of better way to put it. Hope I haven't started something else now. From your post though, it looks like it can be expected.

Hoping you are well today,
choc

trychocolate · 04-12-2009, 10:19 AM

Thank you for your suggestions, Sammy. I have been clenching and grinding all my life and at the age of 20, a dentist recommended a night appliance to save teeth. I didn't take him seriously but finally got one at 40 and have 4 crowns so far, due to cracked teeth. Another coincidence to have bad neck all my life and arthritic jaw joint. I can crack it like there's no tommorrow.

No one ever said that this habit could be stopped with therapy. Never. I will ask dr. about this. I am speechless. The massage therapists would try to loosen things up there but that was it. Imagine getting some relief in the neck. wow.

What led me off this path was that I went, without a referral, to a TMJ specialist about 4 years ago to make sure that jaw was not a contributing factor to neck. He said no problems at all in that area and seriously questioned why I was there. Another idiot.

Maybe I am just crabby cause I broke my good glasses last night and things are looking a bittle lurry. -- lol

Thanks again,
choc