Cervical Spondylosis at 20 years old...

I am also in the same place as you diagnosed 9 years ago , it's awful you need to have it to understand it affects  your whole life I am working in a restaurant and do light duties I am at the end of this job after 9 years even light duties are too much what I can say is I've lasted this long due to swimming that strengthens the neck muscles mit not work for everyone but certainly helps me as I've tried everything apart from surgery , don't want to go down that route sounds dodgy .

I also have the same, diagnosed at 50, now54, but have had symptoms and pain for 20years previous to this. I have never had a

scan or an xray, have been refused these

so many times.

Massage helps me and I live on strong

painkillers. As you stated, this condition

restricts what you can do, stiffness and pain is horrid, so debilitating, has a massive

impact on our lives. I have little faith in GP's,

surely its not that hard for consultants, to

find reasonable ways to reduce symptoms.

I believe the NHS do not have the money to deal with this condition, its very common.

I so hope that you can find some relief somewhere.

I totally sympathise. I tried everything then eventually had surgery. It seemed to have worked, then I went on a plane journey and am back to square one.  I can't drive, have had to give up my job. It's just awful. The worst of it is, that I look fine! Have you tried acupuncture? That did help me at first. I now have a wheat pack in the microwave which I use when it is really bad and strangely enough, reflexology has helped. (You need to find a really good practitoner). I am still hunting for relief.  This site is a godsend - you think you are the only one in this position.

Pain clinic got me 4 shots of acupuncture first one yesterday too early to tell trying to claim pip so I can get out of my job my arms get weak and muscle spasms in back of my neck are awfull I take co codomol more than food .

Hi inhale my kiss,

If you can afford it have a private consultation with a neurologist, that way they might have time to give you a better explanation of your options. They probably do not want to operate because it could mean extra strain on adjoining vertebrae for the rest of your life requiring further fusions until you end up with a permanent fused car kcal spine.

Pain wise I have tried all of the tablets and the best pain control for me, personally, is Gabapentin, Naproxen, Amatryptaline and morphine pain patch, makes pain bearable.

I'm not from the U.K. but I share your universal problem. I'm from the U.S. This is a great site that I came upon accidentally.

I'm sorry you have this lousy condition. I've had it for 30 years. It started when I was 17 years old so I understand what it's like to be young but feel like you're 100 years old.. Never even understood how it started. Constant discomfort for many years with no diagnosis because nothing ever showed up on images until recently. The symptoms and so forth are so different for each individual and constantly change. Right?

I have a bulging disc and 2 left osteophytes with 1 causing moderate neural forminal norrowing. 

It's a complicated and confusing condition that no one except fellow sufferers can understand. It can be angering and isolating.You're lucky, though it doesn't seem like it, there was no internet when my troubles began so trying to find answers and support was near impossible, just silent suffering and feeling utterly alone.

It just recently went to a new level that I'm not very happy about and am considering further intervention. For years I've relied on chiropractic though it has  cost  me a small fortune it seems to help me through the flare-ups. I know many discourage it but I believe that it kept me more functional all these years and prevented faster degeneration, though I can't prove it.

Mine  was very severe at first, like I had taken a serious fall, but I can't recall a serious incident (baffling) to this day. Mine eventually kind of stablized so don't lose hope. 

I've managed to stay active all these years somehow. I never thought anyone had it worse than me until recently and actually makes me feel like I may have actually been a little bit lucky. I also seem to have an insane pain tolerance and have only recently started taking a mild anti-inflammatory meds.. I still managed to surf and mountain bike (at my own comfort level) despite the discomfort and the risk I knew I was taking. I accepted the excacerbation of symptoms for the joy these activities give me and I realize that not everyone else is capable of doing these things. Far from it. Not sure if I'll be able to anymore myself now. I'm doing a lot of yoga and mobility type excercise and some swimming.

It's really hard when your young because these things aren't supposed to happen at that age. Your going to hear it from people all the time I'm afraid, they won't understand. It makes everything diificult and people may find you aloof and distant when all you really are is distracted from constant discomfort or pain. I'm still misunderstood but just accept that few will ever truly understand.

I wish I had good news for you, but there is no cure yet and your going to have to find a way to manage it. For me it felt like I had arthritis for the entire 30 years despite nothing showing up for many years. It's very mysterious and frustrating.

Hell, I have mild scoliosis of my thoracic and lumbar spine along with it. 

Manage your stress and try to be positive it may spontaneously calm down and become more manageable. Stress, for me at least, exacerbates symptoms a lot and may help you also.

Like most Americans I talk too much. Good luck. I'll keep my eye on you.

Best wishes.

Hi I help run a support group called cervical myelopathy on Facebook. We have over 800 members many who have cervical spondylosis too - are all most welcome to join.

Hello, I can understand the pain and limitations that you are experiencing. I still deal with pain daily, even after I have had my surgery. Be your own advocate. If your doctor isn't helping you the way you believe he should, find another. 

I had to keep doing this my GP, at the time, until she caved and ordered an MRI which equated to emergency surgery. The neurosurgeon was furious, literally, she said, I was maybe 2 miles worth of walking my way into a wheelchair permanently. My new GP's wife had the same fusion as I did, same location C3-C5. 

My whole neck experience has taught me that we have to be our own advocates!  Best of luck to you on your journey.