Last Thursday morning I woke up in very bad pain in my neck and head. It eased up later in the day enough that I could go get a scheduled bone density test done but by the time I got home it was it was back to being very bad. That night it became severe. I was up all night in complete agony. I've had 2 kids, one naturally, and the pain from this was worse than anything I have ever gone through. The pain spread from the neck head area, down my arms, into my hips down through my legs. My hubby took off work to take me the doctor on Friday and the doctor sent me to the ER where they shot me up with narcotics, anti-inflammatories, muscle relaxers and anti-nausea, as the pain itself was making me vomit. It's better now but I'm starting to be able to tell when it's getting ready to go. I've had pain for a year in my neck down into my hand but kept procrastinating in doing much more for it except ice and heat and tylenol. Can't really do the anti-inflammatory thing very well as I have a gastric ulcer.
I get an MRI done tomorrow but I'm not really sure what MRI's can find.
Anyone had one and/or have suggestions of ways to cope, ie, best positions for body to get relief, etc? I've got to get this fixed before golfing season starts.
Any suggestions from fellow back problem sufferers?
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vbhoutex
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Sounds l ike a pinched nerve or possibly a bulging or ruptured disc in your neck area. What you experienced is called Sciatica which is usually caused by the nerve(s)that run along the spine being pinched or pushed on by bulging discs. At least that is what it sounds like to me and I have had plenty of back problems. Best thing to do is get the tests done so they can determine what caused/is causing it. Sometimes lying flat on your back on the hard floor will ease the pain.
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Skywarn, C.E.R.T.
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Miss Mary
Azsnowman/Dennis has had lots of experience with back pain. He's avoiding surgery at all costs, from past posts he's made. Right now he's back taking college classes part-time so I'm sure he's checking the boards. But PM him anyway. Perhaps he'll see it and give you some good advice Tazzy.
Mary
Mary
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i have 3 ruptured discs in my neck - the pain is horrendous. i am having to take pain meds, muscle relaxers and a pill to deal with the nerve injuries. I had surgery on one which helped alot. The nerve pain can be the worse. the mri should - but not always - pick up the problem. they saw most of mine on film but then when they went in found another one as well as a huge bone spur - the largest the dr. had ever seen! and he does this surgery 3 days a week! anyway - even if the mri does not show anything and the problem continues - see if they can't give you injections in your neck or an epidural - these can help alot. they last anywhere from 6 wks to 3 or 4 months. a neurologist can do a nerve conduction test to see if their is a nerve being pinched.
good luck and if you have any questions feel free to contact me via pm. i've gone through this for years as a result of several car accidents. (none my fault i swear)lol
good luck and if you have any questions feel free to contact me via pm. i've gone through this for years as a result of several car accidents. (none my fault i swear)lol
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stormchazer
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Drugs....lots of drugs. 
I sleep on a firm bed.
I sleep on a firm bed.
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TCVN is a weighted averaged
Opinions my own.
Ouch! I have had some similar problems, but not nearly as severe. I hate the meds my regular doctor insists on prescribing. It eases the discomfort, but makes me loopy - loopier than normal I should say 
A few suggestions:
Sleep on you back on a firm, but not hard mattress.
Sleep with a small rolled up towel under your neck. Just big enough to keep you chin from dropping.
Prop pillows on your sides to keep you from rolling over as you sleep.
When sitting at the computer, put you back all the way against the chair so you sit straight and raise the monitor so that you look directly at it or slightly up instead of bending your neck downward. Also, get up every 15 minutes or so and stretch.
Consider a chiropractor. But be careful and make certain it is a reputable one. I've had good luck with one and a horible experience with another.
A few suggestions:
Sleep on you back on a firm, but not hard mattress.
Sleep with a small rolled up towel under your neck. Just big enough to keep you chin from dropping.
Prop pillows on your sides to keep you from rolling over as you sleep.
When sitting at the computer, put you back all the way against the chair so you sit straight and raise the monitor so that you look directly at it or slightly up instead of bending your neck downward. Also, get up every 15 minutes or so and stretch.
Consider a chiropractor. But be careful and make certain it is a reputable one. I've had good luck with one and a horible experience with another.
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SouthernWx
Something you might want to mention to your doctor...
My grandmother suffers from two compressed vertabra in her lower back. At age 91, it appeared last winter she would become bedridden from the excruiating pain caused by this, and the doctor offered no solution; said surgery at granny's age was out of the question. After a fall only weeks later, my grandmother was taken for rehab at a nearby nursing center when the doctor there recommended a new Duragesic pain patch for my grandmother. I replace them on my grandmother's back, shoulder, or upper arm every 72 hours, and they've been a godsend.
In all honesty, without those pain patches, my grandmother would have been in a nursing home permanently; they've been that effective in controlling her pain since last January. She's uses a walker for balance, but is able to get around again, go to the grocery store with me, even bake a pan of biscuits once in a while
I'll warn you...the patches are expensive ($278 for a month supply at Kroger pharmacy; thanks to the new Medicare prescription drug coverage, my grandmother pays about $20)...but they work.
Here's the info:
Duragesic 50 ug/h pain patches
(Fentanyl Transdermal System)
Manufactured by ALZA corporation in Mountain View, CA. 94043
Distributed by Janssen Pharmacutical Products in Titusville, NJ. 08560
Phone 1-800-JANSSEN
website: http://www.Duragesic.com
Best of luck...I know from my grandmother, father, and two sisters experiences just how horrible back pain can be.
PW
My grandmother suffers from two compressed vertabra in her lower back. At age 91, it appeared last winter she would become bedridden from the excruiating pain caused by this, and the doctor offered no solution; said surgery at granny's age was out of the question. After a fall only weeks later, my grandmother was taken for rehab at a nearby nursing center when the doctor there recommended a new Duragesic pain patch for my grandmother. I replace them on my grandmother's back, shoulder, or upper arm every 72 hours, and they've been a godsend.
In all honesty, without those pain patches, my grandmother would have been in a nursing home permanently; they've been that effective in controlling her pain since last January. She's uses a walker for balance, but is able to get around again, go to the grocery store with me, even bake a pan of biscuits once in a while
I'll warn you...the patches are expensive ($278 for a month supply at Kroger pharmacy; thanks to the new Medicare prescription drug coverage, my grandmother pays about $20)...but they work.
Here's the info:
Duragesic 50 ug/h pain patches
(Fentanyl Transdermal System)
Manufactured by ALZA corporation in Mountain View, CA. 94043
Distributed by Janssen Pharmacutical Products in Titusville, NJ. 08560
Phone 1-800-JANSSEN
website: http://www.Duragesic.com
Best of luck...I know from my grandmother, father, and two sisters experiences just how horrible back pain can be.
PW
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Cookiely
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My mother had severe lower back pain for years and her favorite position to relieve pain was to lie in the bed with her bottom touching the wall and her legs straight up on the wall for ten to twenty minutes. It really helped a lot. Have they prescribed a cervical collar? I had neck pain with muscle spasms down my back and legs (I stood up and the rolling chair moved back and while sitting I realized the chair wasn't there and threw myself into it) I went to so many physicians and nothing helped, until the last one prescribed a cervical collar. Also, mega doses of calcium, but I would ask your physician first. I had very severe pain in my knee which had me crying while driving. At the end of a twenty minute drive I would be sobbing over the steering wheel. None of the medicine prescribed seemed to help. I started taking the calcium and in two days the pain was gone. I hope you will be feeling better soon.
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MSRobi911
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From working for Orthopaedic Surgeons, back pain and neck pain can be the hardest thing to diagnose. MRI's show ruptured (herniated) discs, fractures (breaks) as in compression fractures, usually from old age or some type of trauma, pinched nerves from those compressions or herniations and of course degenerative arthritis and a congential defect that doesn't show up until a person is in their mid to late 20's is spondylolysis, its a condition of the spine that causes a lot of back pain.
I had back pain and of course regular exercise is one of the hardest things to do, but it helps, just walking slowly is good for you. In one of the pain sessions I went to for this we all discussed ways we slept. Some of their suggestions were additional pillows. A lot of them put a pillow between their legs...this caused their hips to line up and it eased the pinched nerve (sciatica) feelings of pain running from you bottom down your leg. Some put plywood under their mattresses, others had body pillows in front and in back of them and as was mentioned on here, some slept on the floor. What you can find that makes you comfortable is what you should do. When my upper shoulder areas were hurting I started using an extra pillow on my side and short of draping my arm over it so that it wasn't bent or curved in which seemed to cause a lot of this pain. It made my arm go in a natural relaxed arc around the pillow and has really kept a lot of my muscles spasms at bay.
A new thing, if they tell you its mostly muscle spasms is Botox injections. They are expensive and some insurance company's as in Blue Cross of MS, AL and TN (these are the ones I know of) do not pay for this. Even though it is not cosmetic they consider it experimental because it is an "off label" use that has not been fully approved for this use, even though they have used it for over 10 years for these problems. Medicare pays for it and so does Medicaid (Mississippi's State Medical Program for the poor). My office injects Botox and we have been doing it for over two years and have had great success. We have had 1 patient that did not think they benefited from it out of approximately 100 with a lot of them repeating at 3 month intervals at first and then longer. The local Neuologists has been using Botox for a year longer than we have and he has also had great success.
It's too bad you can't take the anti-inflammatories because of your stomach and they have taken all the Cox II inhibitors off the market lately so we are back to the old standards of stuff that can hurt your stomach.
Someone suggested epidural blocks. These help. Trigger point injections help with muscle spasms and if a Chiropractor you trust can help you, it won't usually hurt you any more than physical therapy.
BUT FIRST get your diagnosis from your physician and follow his advice. Ask questions, write them down so you can remember them before he leaves the room. If he is anything like the ones I work for they are crusinging in and out really fast.
Neurontin is a medication that is for the nerves and I tried it but it drove me crazy, made my inner ear act up and had to quit taking that. So Tegretol (yes the seziure medicine, it works on muscle spasms the same way) Zanaflex (a type of muslce relaxer) and Aleve and exercises shown to me by the physical therapist help me make it thru the day and night. Don't give up hope.
Like I said, back and neck pain are hard to diagnose and sometimes even harder to find a treatment plan that works for the patient.
Sorry, I am so long winded sometimes. I hope you feel better soon. I will say a special prayer for you!
Mary
I had back pain and of course regular exercise is one of the hardest things to do, but it helps, just walking slowly is good for you. In one of the pain sessions I went to for this we all discussed ways we slept. Some of their suggestions were additional pillows. A lot of them put a pillow between their legs...this caused their hips to line up and it eased the pinched nerve (sciatica) feelings of pain running from you bottom down your leg. Some put plywood under their mattresses, others had body pillows in front and in back of them and as was mentioned on here, some slept on the floor. What you can find that makes you comfortable is what you should do. When my upper shoulder areas were hurting I started using an extra pillow on my side and short of draping my arm over it so that it wasn't bent or curved in which seemed to cause a lot of this pain. It made my arm go in a natural relaxed arc around the pillow and has really kept a lot of my muscles spasms at bay.
A new thing, if they tell you its mostly muscle spasms is Botox injections. They are expensive and some insurance company's as in Blue Cross of MS, AL and TN (these are the ones I know of) do not pay for this. Even though it is not cosmetic they consider it experimental because it is an "off label" use that has not been fully approved for this use, even though they have used it for over 10 years for these problems. Medicare pays for it and so does Medicaid (Mississippi's State Medical Program for the poor). My office injects Botox and we have been doing it for over two years and have had great success. We have had 1 patient that did not think they benefited from it out of approximately 100 with a lot of them repeating at 3 month intervals at first and then longer. The local Neuologists has been using Botox for a year longer than we have and he has also had great success.
It's too bad you can't take the anti-inflammatories because of your stomach and they have taken all the Cox II inhibitors off the market lately so we are back to the old standards of stuff that can hurt your stomach.
Someone suggested epidural blocks. These help. Trigger point injections help with muscle spasms and if a Chiropractor you trust can help you, it won't usually hurt you any more than physical therapy.
BUT FIRST get your diagnosis from your physician and follow his advice. Ask questions, write them down so you can remember them before he leaves the room. If he is anything like the ones I work for they are crusinging in and out really fast.
Neurontin is a medication that is for the nerves and I tried it but it drove me crazy, made my inner ear act up and had to quit taking that. So Tegretol (yes the seziure medicine, it works on muscle spasms the same way) Zanaflex (a type of muslce relaxer) and Aleve and exercises shown to me by the physical therapist help me make it thru the day and night. Don't give up hope.
Like I said, back and neck pain are hard to diagnose and sometimes even harder to find a treatment plan that works for the patient.
Sorry, I am so long winded sometimes. I hope you feel better soon. I will say a special prayer for you!
Mary
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HurricaneGirl
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I was referred to a pain management clinic about a year and a half ago.
I am currently getting Botox injections for my back pain. I just had one yesterday. It works better than any pill for controling myfascial pain syndrome, which is acute muscle spasms.
I also get a series of 3 epidurals once a year for the pain and numbness in my right arm and hand. I had those in December. The first series lasted over a year.
I had to fight my insurance company for a year but I finally won and they are now covering my Botox injections. You can only get them every 3 months because your body will build up immunity to it.
I've already had one spinal fusion and don't want to have any more surgery, but may have to one day if it gets bad enough.
I am currently getting Botox injections for my back pain. I just had one yesterday. It works better than any pill for controling myfascial pain syndrome, which is acute muscle spasms.
I also get a series of 3 epidurals once a year for the pain and numbness in my right arm and hand. I had those in December. The first series lasted over a year.
I had to fight my insurance company for a year but I finally won and they are now covering my Botox injections.
You can only get them every 3 months because your body will build up immunity to it.
I've already had one spinal fusion and don't want to have any more surgery, but may have to one day if it gets bad enough.
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Miss Mary
. Don't know what is up with that!!!!
My L5 disk is herniated and there is a case of degenerative disk also. My left leg will go numb and I'll have shooting pain up and down my spine and/or throughout my hips. I know what you mean for back pain. I sleep with a pillow between my legs (its a really small pillow). I can't stand for more than 1 hour and can't sit on a hard bench for more than 30 minutes... I even have to move around while I'm listening to my professors... Thankfully, I haven't had a flare up since new years eve... I could feel the pain AFTER I was done drinking and starting to sober up.
Try having the doctor prescribe Flexeril (its a muscle relaxer) and/or Naproxin. Flexeril helped me, but the Naproxin didn't work.
Try having the doctor prescribe Flexeril (its a muscle relaxer) and/or Naproxin. Flexeril helped me, but the Naproxin didn't work.
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I wanted to quickly pop in to say all of your replies are very, very much appreciated. I can't sit here but more than a couple minutes or I really start hurting again but wanted to let everyone know I am not ignoring the tread. Just am having trouble doing much of anything right now. Had the MRI today so have to wait for results now. I'll be back later to check in and respond better. THANKS ALL!
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