severe neck pain

[roadrunner940]

my mri came back bulging disc c5-6  and minimal c6-7. i am taking oxycodone and zanaflex. i am still in pain. what should i do?

[Red2008]

What kind of symptoms are you experiencing? Have you tried medrol dose pack or maybe a short script of steroids, physical therapy? Sometimes If these things are of no help you may need an epidural steriod injection. Have you been followed by a specialist? Ortho or pain management md?

[roadrunner940]

no i have not tried medrol dose,or short script of steroids. actually no physician has recommended this to me. i have contant pain in my back, and severe pain in my neck at certain times. my neck goes out severely every 2 months where i can not turn my neck without severe pain.it takes 48 hours of taking muscle relaxant and antiinflammatory. also pain meds. i usually feel better if i take all 3 on a time schedule.then i feel usually better except for dull ackey pain.it has diffinetely affected my quality of living. i do not want to take all those meds all the time to feel half way descent.my dr. has recommended an epidural. i am scared to do this. i hear it works for some and not others. he wants to do 3 injections in a row. i thought it is normally 1-3 every 2 weeks and 6 at the most for the year. what do u think?

[Tuckamore]

Pain can and does interfer with many of our lives. I hear you when you say you do not want to take those medications all the time but sometimes we have to in order to have any quality of life. I for one could not function without them. Life would not be worth living.

Each physician has different schedules for epidural injections. A lot depends on your condition. Apparently your doc feels this is the best treatment choice for you. Some times we forget to talk to our docs and ask them why. Remember we hired them and they work for us. And I would certainly ask him why he has decided on "3 injections in a row". Often they will inject once a week for three weeks. Or they may inject once, wait a week  or two to see what relief is obtained and than repeat. I have not heard of exceeding 3 in a year but I am not a physician.

Also when your neck "goes out" you may want to see DO (Doctor of Osteopathy) as they do manipulations and put the "parts" back where they beleong without the jerking and cracking that a chiropractor does.

I wish you the very best. Keep us posted and take care. Tuck

[roadrunner940]

thanks for your advice, it really makes sense.

[sandee1818]

Are you seeing a pain management specialist? They can help you with further options such as stronger medications and injections and many other options that will help you. Bio feed back and therapy and a pain psychologist will also help you deal with the pain too. I wish you luck, we are all here for you and will support you anyway we can:)

[roadrunner940]

thanks for your advice and support. i am seeing a pain mgmt. specialist.the advice was to do an epidural times two.ireally like this doctor. he seems very knowledgeble.anyway, i heard of a different technique called mua of tampa bay. its a procedure that incorporates light sedation under anesthia with chiropractic and stretching, manipulation.this is to help you stretch and manipulate the bulging disc into place or other problems without surgery. it was on bay news 9.dr. damon stafford is the name of the person promoting this. the number is 727-797-0500. it is also for fibromyalgia patients.it sounds interesting to me,if they can get everything back in alignment so you do not feel pain anymore.what do u think?

[Mollyrae]

Hi.I have been keeping up with your post and want to lend my support. I have had a bulging disk for years and there is not alot the Dr. can do. (surgically) I have had to just live with it. Like I have read here, you sound like you need a different pain med regiment to make you more comfortable. I have other issues related to pain but have you concidered a pain patch that works around the clock? There is no need for the morning pain pill to kick inand the comfort level for me is ten times greater. Maybe you should discuss this with your Dr. It might be worth a try.

Hang in there, It can get better. You just have to try different avenues until you drive down the right one.

Take care and keep us posted. Mollyrae

[Tuckamore]

The MUA of Tampa Bay sounds interesting. It deserves a look and some consideration. You stated your PMP is very knowledgeable than you may want to discuss this with him and obtain his opinion of the procedure.

I tell you, there are days I would do about anything to ease this pain. Unfortunately today is one of them. Therefore if a treatment was available that had the potential to help me I would jump at the chance. So I say go for it, after discussing it with your PMP.

I see a DO (doctor of osteopathy) than function just as a MD except they have extra training on the alignment of the body and believe it all has to be well to function healthfully and pain free. She does "manipulations" for me and if not for her I would no even walk. So there are other options out there.

I wish you success with the injections. Pain is never a good thing and I sincerely hope the epidurals with be the answer for you.  Please keep in touch and take care of yourself. Tuck

[roadrunner940]

thanks for your comments and suggestions. i really appreciate your advice,it is hard to know what is best for each indiviual person.i am temted to just get off the pain meds,and wait it out, possibly do something that would correct the pain indefinitely instead of treating the symtoms. its a vicios cycle otherwise. however, it is scary to do something invasive.