Hi, I've been living with a literal pain in the neck for about the last 10 years. My first symptom started about 10 years ago when sleeping I would start to cough. It was as if I was tilting my head back and causing something to put pressure on my esophagus. Then I noticed a tightness in my neck. It felt like a lump in my throat. By the way, I have had severe whiplash and other neck trauma from hockey and mt. biking in my early 20's. I was never diagnosed with any problems. I did a battery of tests to include: endoscopy, barium swallow, MRI's, asthma tests, and acid reflux. All of which came back negative, except for the asthma test which claims I have asthma, but I never really have any problems that I know of, but I failed the PFT test. I do a lot of cycling and racing and do notice I have a higher heart rate then most guys, but that could be normal though. The baruim swallow was the only thing that produced anything. The doctor said it took a slight detour, but was nothing to worry about. After all these tests nothing I just gave up and have been living with it until recently.
I have been going to a sports medicine doctor for some other injuries and told him about my past neck problems because now I have been getting mild headaches. My neck and throat muscles also can get tired I carry on a conversation for more then an hour. He took an X-ray and noticed the damage in the neck. He said there was definite trauma there. This I already knew. Anyways, he ordered another MRI and this time it came back with these results, herniated discs in the c-3, c-4 and c-5, c-6 regions. I think that's what he said. That was about four months ago as I didn't go back to see him until yesterday for more shots for my other injury. I was little upset with him for taking so long to get me those results and his nonchalant attitude about my neck pain. I was expecting for him to at least refer me to somebody, but he never did. It was his nurse who finally had to call me back with the results.
So I finally went back for these other injuries and brought up the neck pain again. He basically started rambling off that nothing was the matter until I brought up the c-3,c-4 herniated discs. Then he said wait and left the room so he could get all the results and read my history again. He just happened to have a spinal doctor shadowing him since he is one of the few doctors who does PRP therapy. This doctor actually had a bit more insight as to my problem and said I could have bone spurs. Which is what I had thought all along and kind of surprised no other doctor could come up with this diagnosis, unless maybe it never turned up on X-rays until now.
This leads me to my question. My sports medicine doctor is trying to refer me to a gastroenterology doctor. Is this who I really need to see for this? I just don't see him doing anything and possibly refering me to someone else. I don't want to waste my time as this has been going on for so long and I finally have some X-rays and MRI's to back up my pain in the neck.