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Cervical Spondylosis

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Guest
Guest

Hi there

As most of you out there are well aware - this condition is a NIGHTMARE!! Because it cant be seen, there is no bandage, splint, visible injury, then no-one believes you or the pain that you are suffering. I contracted Spondylosis through an injury while in service in Her Majesty's Forces and even they have turned their backs on me and refused to accept that this condiition is as debilitating as it really is!! I can no longer function normally. My left arm is loosing it's ability to grasp or hold and pins and needles down both of my arms is now constant like electrical shocks. My head can only move small amounts. If I move it too quickly i suffer dizzy spells. I cannot sleep for long periods as the pain does not allow me to sleep. My GP prescribes the usual - Tramacet, Tramadol, Amitriptyline, Carisoprodol and Diclofenic - all of which are useless and make me sooooo sedated that i cannot function when taking these.. Recently i have tried to stop taking them and am in agony whilst talking my fiancee through typing this as i can no longer type as my fingers are sooo numb!! I cannot even open a bottle of wine - my fiancee had to do this also - please can someone out there give some light at the end of the tunnel for this condition or describe how they persuaded their GP to take them seriously.. Physio and all other sh*t has already been tried and failed so f*#king desperately - really at my wits end - what, if any, help or support groups out there are there?? especially in Northern Ireland where i believe this is so rare??? Maybe i'm wrong but if so please let me know..

0 likes, 5 replies

5 Replies

  • yellowboat
    yellowboat

    Posted

    Hi there! I can empathize with your condition having had it for a long time. My experience being much like yours with medication and Doctors.

    I have seen a Specialist who says I now have a weakness down the left hand side of my body.

    I gave up on most of the medication and only take paracetemol and use a tens machine.

    I can sense you are at the end of your tether with it as I was. The not being able to get sleep for it is like a form of torture.

    I still only ever get pills if I go to the doctor which I do not want as none have helped.

    I did go to a Chiropracter, which was expensive but the first time I could say I had any relief but could not afford to keep going back. I also felt he could so easily have put it on a nerve as take it off.

    Unless anyone has real experience of it they have no idea just how awful it is.

    Mine was caused through a whiplash injury at about the age of thirty four. I used to put it down to lying awkwardly in bed and getting a crick in my neck until one morning not being able to stand up and being so terribly sick. It was thought at first I had a stroke, not sure if it was such a relief to find out what it was.

    I can only suggest a Chiropracter and a tens machine and try and build up the muscles in your back without making it worse.

    It is a case of having to get used to it because there does not seem to be a lot of help out there apart from operation and that does not always help it seems.

    Let me know how you get on.

  • Robert_Jones
    Robert_Jones

    Posted

    Can only say what works for me; prevention of an attack being easier than curing one, I usually wear a support collar at night; am on 240mg of dihydrocodeine slow release (DHC Continus); and have a Pain Gone pen, which I didn't believe would be effective at all, but it has helped. Applying it to my shoulders and neck is a problem; get someone to do it for you if you can't manage.

    Apart from that, it does help to stay as fit as possible, and to keep the neck moving through exercise. I find that mine sometimes locks, and it's agony trying to unlock it.

    Warmth helps, too - I can feel that my shoulders and left arm are much colder than the surrounding tissue. Even massaging them helps, and if you can afford to get a professional massage, so much the better. It doesn't cure the problem, but it all helps. But I still have to lie down every now and then with a cold flannel over my eyes, useless to everyone. You wouldn't have thought a problem in the neck could cause such widespread consequences, but if the doc is disbelieving - change him/her for one who knows what he's about.

  • Guest
    Guest

    Posted

    Hi there,

    Get yourself to a good physiotherapist to help you out!Organise a mri scan for you.Usually heat and genle mobilisation by them can help improve your quality of living.hydrotherapy is very helpful also in controlling and improving your condition.

  • Guest
    Guest

    Posted

    Neck pain using a tens machine will usually defer the pain for a day or so.

    An in-flight pillow half filled with warm water works very well. water can be injected through the air inlet & then put in the microwave for 30-40 seconds.

    Good posture & weight loss. Learn how to relax use yoga or tie chi .

    Enjoy a good diet regular exercise ,fresh air, get mentally positive & ditch those pain killers.

    Fellow neck pain sufferer from fused vertebrae and several prolapsed discs to both neck & lower back. was offered a life time of pain killers, physio & possible surgery

  • Guest
    Guest

    Posted

    I have just been diagnosed with it too. I have had pain in the lumbar region for a long time, Yhen I had flu since beg, of Oct till now. \" weeks ago i woke up with left side numb with pins and needles. thought i was having a stroke.!!! Doc said it could be the virus has attacked my nerves(sort of shingles!) He sent me for x-ray and prescribed ibuprofen. Went to chiro and he said it was trapped nerve.!! Who to believe? Anyway, today I went back for the results of the x-ray and he gave me a steroid injection in my sacro-iliac joint. Hope that works.!!!! :roll:
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