3 years of chronic neck pain has left me depressed and hopeless
Posted , 12 users are following.
HI everyone.
i am new to the forum- looking for encouragement and people who can relate to the symptoms i have. For the last three years i have battled with what seemed like just neck pain although the pain did bot necessarily stem from my neck- it is my lower portion down from my neck about center to the right side of my shoulder that is a constant piercing pain that never leaves. All of my pain comes from the right side of my body never the left. Sometimes the top of my shoulder even feels bruised to the touch.
My hand goes to sleep a lot and i often lose feeling in both my pinky and ring finger. I have been under a doctors care for the last year after running extensive tests ( xrays, MRI) to be told theres some degenerative disk disease and most likely (in my opinion) a pinched nerve. They have treated me with tramadol for pain and gabapentin along with a muscle relaxer and trazadone for sleep. I have attempted every option except surgery and epidurals. My first pain management appointment is in JULY due to the fact my medications are no longer helping. Not sure what to expect from that...
I use stretching techiniques, a chiroprator and even professional massages. My quality of life is horrible. I have three children who i want so desperately to enjoy life with but due to my pain i seen to find myself disconnected and tired all of the time. I have noticed myself slipping into some form of depression. I have always been active but due to the pain i no longer desire to exercise or move much more than whats necessary.
i think just hearing from other people and their experiences will help me. Chronic pain can be so lonely. Not only has it affected me but my husband. I want so badly to snap out of this and resolve back some kind of normalcy of life.
How do you cope? What has worked for you? Im a believer and believe strongly in prayer so my faith has helped me greatly but find myself very low and hopeless in this battle. Thank you for taking the time to read.
0 likes, 12 replies
amy92439 danielle1122
Edited
i wish i had some words of encouragement other than your story is identical to mine so you are not alone.
i have had the injections also though without any relief.
Its been 3 years for me and i still do chiro, PT and massage weekly. I still take tramadol and gaba.
My MRI does show disc deg, reverse curvature and protruding disc that are no doubt pinching nerves since my right arm is constantly numb.
I feel like im going to have to schedule surgery this year as i dont want to go another year in constant pain!
Guest amy92439
Posted
I don't see that you have tried ice. If not, get a good ice gel pack and apply it often at the site of pain to bring down inflammation. Some more questions related to what helped me: are you using a cervical pillow? The right one can make a huge difference. Are you taking any natural anti inflammatories? As mentioned on this thread, have you tried getting in a pool/swimming? This can provide serious relief. Have you looked into low level laser therapy? And lastly, are you paying attention to posture?
Guest danielle1122
Posted
you say you are doing stretching and chiro - have you tried simply leaving it alone and applying ice? I mean resisting the feeing of needing to move it and just letting it heal.
danielle1122
Posted
Amy,
Thank you for sharing. Yes, crazy enough just hearing that other people are experiencing what you are goes a long ways. I appreciate you commenting!
Joe,
Thanks. Yes, I dont do the chiro anymore and the stretches are few and in between due to the pain i am in. In the beginning of my problem was when i utilized the methods the most. Honestly, the only thing i do now is medication and rest. The massages do help and sometimes a tens unit is beneficial. I appreciate you guys responding!
jen56473 danielle1122
Posted
gentle yoga is great. you have got to get up and get moving. gentle yoga will get you out and most of the people have ailments. make sure you tell the instructor you have neck problems.
they are calling all of these neck issues "text neck".
Use pillows and prop things up to eye level.
ive had 4 c-spine surgeries. If you have 1 you will need another. 0nce they fuse ypur neck it makes everything unstable. i love the inversion. 30% works best for me.
lay on the floor tuck your chin and press against floor. Ive seriously been greiving my old self for 4 years. Get up, get dressed, fix your hair and go for a walk with the kids. take them to the park. ive wasted too much time. i think depression causes pain.
moon53540 danielle1122
Posted
I find that a good physiotherapist can really help. I have had chronic shoulder and neck pain for years and physios can help by certain therapies and also can give you gentle exercises at home to do. But ask your doctor for a good recommendation.
There is something I have heard of called deep freeze pain relief, it is like deep heat, but freezes the pain rather than warming it. I haven't tried it yet but you can get it in spray, patches and gel.
Also have you tried yoga, pilates or tai chi? Gentle exercises like these can really help with chronic pain. Also there is aquatic therapy which is like physio in water.
retamay danielle1122
Posted
HI Danielle, trust me I've been in your situation and although not fully better i certainly have my life back on track by following mindbody theories. I've seen all the specialists to no avail, done the medications and now realise any kind of stress can cause physical pain. I don't know if i can recommend books here but just try googling mindbody pain or neural pathway pain and see if anything resonates. The important thing is don't give up or in because your answer will come. x
jen56473 retamay
Posted
couldnt agree more!
elise06879 danielle1122
Posted
Hi Danielle
I have very similar symptoms to you, and have been suffering for over 5 years now. I'm only 27 years old. The right side of my neck and shoulder are so tight with humungous knots, is numb, and radiates down my arm and hand and into my face. The knots will never go away. I can't even sleep on either side because my shoulder hurts so bad. Sitting in a car or at a desk is excruciating. I've tried everything for pain relief, starting with physical therapy, Tens units, professional massages, chiropractic adjustments, NSAIDs, CBD oil, Yoga, stretching, strength exercising, hot/cold packs; anything you can imagine. I have mild scoliosis and some minor disc bulging but i've been told this has nothing to do with my pain. No one has given any sort of explanation.
I've been taking gabapentin for a year as well, and it only slightly takes the edge off. It is so frustrating and does make you feel depressed. I already had depression before the pain (maybe a cause?) but that definitely does not help, and doesn't help me stay motivated to exercise or stretch or be in public at a yoga class, etc. I've also been so discouraged by the doctors I've seen because they think I am just making things up, being dramatic, or drug seeking, which is really sad to me. My husband is also dismissive and is skeptical about my symptoms.
I think I do get some relief with strong CBD oil (2000 mg bottle) and mainly with regular yoga, but it is hard if you have a busy schedule or work at a computer (exacerbates the pain).
robdlondon danielle1122
Posted
Hi Danielle
Are you in the London area at all? I know a fantastic physio who has twice cured neck pain that was driving me mad. The first time, I managed to knock myself out on a water slide on holiday (yes really!) and had really uncomfortable neck pain for about 6 months. I had two appointments with this physio and each time he did some manipulative movements of my neck to "unlock the muscles" followed by a massage for about 40 minutes. The neck movements scared the hell out of me the first time because he twisted my neck left and then right and both times there was an audible "crack"!
But after those two appointments, the pain faded away and went. I couldn't believe it - I was so relieved.
About three weeks ago, I got pain again in the same place. After about a week, I didn't bother with the doctor, I went round to this physio again. He did exactly the same manipulation this Monday and here I am on Friday and I have had two days free of pain.
Your condition sounds a bit more severe than mine but if you're in or can get to the London area I can definitely recommend this place.
Rob
BlueAster danielle1122
Edited
Do not give up, no. Vice verse. It must become your goal to fight it, and hopefully, it will replace depression. I understand you tried a lot of things, but just fill up your free time with reading articles, choose special mattresses. There are special lists. Here's [one] just from "mattress for neck pain". There are a lot of things, like swimming (was already mentioned above. Here is amy92439, who is not giving up. A lot of people with the same problems.
I have no depression, but have problems too. I have Kimmerle's anomaly, regular losses of consciousness, migraines somtimes. That's why I was not allowed to box as a teen and had to avoid all fights.
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raffaele08448 danielle1122
Edited
hi danielle. Sounds like cervical radiculopathy, or a pinched nerve. I had a damaged nerve similar that was cured with Bone Marrow aspirate concentrate injection at blue tail medical in missouri, *I flew in from ny. PRP could also work, I recommend the BMAC however. the more traditional methods that dont work well would be a medial branch steroid injection or radioablasion, but are bad short term fixes.
also, get a digital motion xray done to rule out instability...you will have to travel for this.
Secondly get an upright flexion and extention mri done.
youre welcome