Cervical Spondylosis...........possibility?

I really don't know what to tell you I have osteoporosis and spondales is which I know can be the cause of such pain. I to be honest when I have pain like that rest till it eases, a good week or so normal. As for your doctors I just don't know what to say refurbished them back to medical school maybe. I know this isn't much help to you really but to help with the horrendous pain I would say with the help your getting try resting till the inflammation eases hope that helps

Hi Julie

Sorry to hear your having so many problems.  I have had cervical spndylosis for nearly 12 years but it took 6 years for me to get a diagnosis so I understand a bit about what your going through.  Like you I was constantly told my problems were down to posture and stress but the pain got so bad I knew something wasn't right. In the end after physio didn't work for the second time I just went to my GP and said I can't take the pain anymore and I need to know whats going on so please can you refer me for an MRI scan.  The doctor said that I couldn't have an MRI scan because the scan only shows nerve damage which he didn't think I had so I said in that case how about an X ray and he agreed to that and I was finaly diagnosed that way.  Don't give up even if you have to see a different doctor at your surgery (some are a lot more sympathetic than others).  Good Luck xx

Would you believe it took over 20 years for my diagnosis it took a change of address to a different part of the country before I finally managed to get x rayed,to find I have spondolitus in the neck and lumber area, some times it makes you wonder why if a person keeps turning up with the same symptoms they arnt sent for x ray

Thankyou for your input ladies, so does anyone else think this is what it could be? I have seen 6 different doctors at my gp and one physio, I had an emergency appointment with her yesterday after my gp phoning them to complain about her diagnosis. She made it rather obvious that she was annoyed at being told off. She consequently made me feel so bad, like a naughty child because I had gone back to my gp that I left crying. I have also been referred to a different physio. Xx

Hi julie34974,

Getting a proffesional medic to listen can be very hard work. I saw three g.ps in the same practice over several weeks before the fourth took me serious enough to send me to a specialist. Trouble is you then have a merrygo round of seeing specialists until one of them actually listens to what you are saying and either recognise your symptoms or simply stumbles over it by elimination. My cervical stenosis with myolepathy and spondylosis was caused by an accident which triggered the c/s symptoms. I told everyone that I saw in the medical world that the most disturbing thing about it was the sudden, immediate loss of strength in my left arm and shoulder, yes there was plenty of pain, pins and needles and a continuous spasming and ffizziness in my left arm but it was twenty months before my condition was finally verified by an Neurologist. My advise to you would be to seriously consider having a private consultation as far as getting a diagnosis is concerned, if it is then diagnosed as c/s then you could go back on nhs for further treatment.

I am afraid Mike is right.  I had spine problems for 20 years and was repeatedly fobbed off with physio's and the like.  I went Privately to a proper specialist and pad about £150 for a consultation and a further £175 for an MRI.   After that you have the choice of private if you are lucky enough to have employment private insurance or you can be referred back the the NHS and have the same consultant look after you.

I got fixed on my health insurance but I have quite a few aquaintances who with similar complaints went privately for the first consultation and then had the consultant on their side to get the MRI and the repair done on the NHS.

If you don't know where to start.  The north Tees NHS hospital and the Nuffield private hospital at Norton on tees Nr Middlesborough are good people to talk to and will put you in touch with their team wo do spine work every day.

good luck.

OldMGdriver.

Hi julie34974,

Adding to what I wrote yesterday, to you julie and any others in your position :Think very carefully about letting a physio get their hands on you. These are a very dedicated band of proffesionals who have undergone many years of training to get where they are. They, like us, are also human. The Physio that I saw decided to use an holistic approach to my neck. If she had tried manipulation, a more usual practic, then I could have been instantly parylised, not my words but my Neurologist. I am sure that all care is taken before hand but we are all human!!!

Hi everyone,

Thank you so much for all of your input, does sound like I have a big fight on my hands! I have read and digested all of your comments so far. I have a few ideas of avenues I can go down now. Luckily the last gp I saw has only been qualified for 10 years so is a little more up to date than some of the others! I have a pre op next week for some dental work and the dentist whom I saw before I got as bad as I am now said they probably wont operate while I have a bad neck. If this is the case, armed with this plus new knowledge of family history I will be going back and demanding an xray. If this doesn't work I may try being re referred to the consult who diagnosed my osteoporosis? We shouldn't be suffering and having to fight for something which could be ruled in/out so easily! It does help to know I am not alone in this and you guys have given me back some fight, so thank you.

Hi everyone, a quick update. I am still in a lot of pain, managed with medication but has totally limited my life. I had an xray nearly 3 weeks ago, still awaiting the results! I have finally secured an mri for 6 may, will keep you posted. Again many thanks for your support, sometimes it helps to know you are not alone x

Hi Julie, it looks like Spondylosis

Go and make a x-ray from your neck

its looks like the nerves are squizzed and thats why you have pain on your shoulder and tingling in your arms ( I had the same )

I went to a good Acupunture which solved a lot of my problems.

He eased all the pain on my shoulders ( thats why you have numbness in your arms, all comes from the neck )

After 4-6 session i got rid of my problem

ok, Spondylosis will stay on, not much you can do about ( i have it as well )

I always wear a scarf so no cold or humidity can affect my neck which makes the situation worse .

Hope this will help you a bit...

Julie you don't mention your age.  You do say you have been diagnosed with osteoporosis ten years ago, and fibromyalgia, 

AND many other issues.

You saw nine different "people" in seven weeks, I will assume these people were doctors.

This seems like a frantic, frenetic amount of energy to spend, almost as though you will not be happy until you hear tgat something is seriously wrong with you.

In no way am I trying to make you feel bad.  Just an observation 

from a health care provider.  

The he fact that you were diagnosed with osteoprisis ten years ago would certainly explain a deteriation of the discs in your neck, either bulging, moving, separating etc...

You may be experiencing the beginning of a disc degeneration although the symptoms generally occur over a long period of time.

You describe a sudden onset only seven weeks ago.

An MRI is the only test that will confirm what's happening in your neck.

Exrays are "okay", however they a minimally detailed.

Since your symptoms came on so suddenly it is typical procedure to try physical therapy first, at least for another month or so.

Most people do not realize a "pinched nerve" can happen quite simply,

for example.

i suggest getting an appointment with an Orthopedic Surgeon who specializes in the spine.  Most have Exrays machines in their offices and can do an initial look see and if warrented they wil order the MRI.

Even if you find out that you have a disc impinging on a nerve

surgery should always be your last option.

Again, an Orthopedic should be directing you.

Absolutely no offense here but it may be that your frenetic Doctor "shopping" is not adding anything good to your medical records.

unless you were in some sort of accident that effected your spine,

spondylosis generally does not have a sudden onset like your case.

Best of luck....try to get in to see an Orthpedic, and just know THAT process may take up to two months to get an appointment for a new patient assessment.  So don't react in anger if you feel that not getting in to see one within a day or so seems unrealistic.

Doctors do a special set of tests that to you may seem mundane but actually are quite indicative of spinal nerve impingement.

 

One last thought.  Stay away from chiropractors.  Period.

until you get nerve impingement.

Another comment test, that is quite simple but would most definitely be performed by an Ortho is a EMG, you can google that.

It is the number one test ordered with an MRI to make a definitive

diagnosis.

And I notice in my last response my note didn't type in.

Something as simple as a sneeze can cause a pinched nerve

in the neck and the symptoms you describe.  

Which will resolve in their own in a few weeks.