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Is this Genetic?

Posted , 4 users are following.

MickyR
MickyR

Hello, I have been reading through the posts with great interest. I was taken into hospital after attending A+E for severe head pain, neck pain and tingling in arms and legs with numbness and loss of movement. Prior to this I had, had a headache for 2 weeks, a dull pain across the whole of my head - a helmet of pain as I called it!. When it got so bad I was very worried and couldn't move so friends made me go to hospital. I was kept in overnight and doctors sent me home next day satisfied I didn't have meingitis, tumour or anything life threatening. They booked an MRI scan to be done on 'Brain' and I went a few weeks ago still waiting for the results so guess can't be anything too ominous? I am wondering now if this could be CS as all my symptoms sound similar. I have a lack of strength and movement in my arms and this has got worse. I have pins and needles using the PC at the moment, in my right arm and a dull ache in my upper neck. I also have an ache in the right arm which is better if I lower them from the keyboard. I do sleep ok and if I get up to my son in the night, as soon as I am upright I get one symptom or another starting. A week after I left hospital I awoke in the night with a severe pain in the heel of my right foot, the pain went up my leg to my hip/ groin area and then I started to shiver uncontrollably! I took painkillers and anti-inflammatory and eventually went back to sleep, not had this since but have had heel pain in same place to a lesser degree. My Mum was diagnosed with a spinal condition some time ago and when she eventually remembered the name [yesterday] of her condition - Cervical Spondylosis, I looked it up to get an idea of what she is suffering but then noticed the symptoms are extremely similar to mine. I am 42 this year and fit and healthy otherwise, I am not in so much pain that I am taking painkillers everyday but my symptoms are definitely getting worse as months pass by, with numb fingers/ hands and pins and needles a regular daily thing now. I get back in my neck at the back every day just about half way between the nape and shoulder level. Sorry to be a bit detailed but thought the whole story better to write, any ideas, does this sound familiar and what should I do? Thank you for your time, Michele[/i]

0 likes, 3 replies

3 Replies

  • Gerry_the_neck
    Gerry_the_neck

    Posted

    Usually, cervical spondylosis is a result of some accident you may have had (possibly as a child). It is advanced wear and tear on the neck. As far as I know, the only way it could be considered genetic would be if it was a symptom of arthritis, which your doctor should be able to detect. If this were the case I think you would probably have general joint aching. An xray of the neck should show up any spondylosis. If you are lucky, you might get a helpful doctor / physio but my experience tells me that they are usually not too familiar with this condition and can add to the confusion of how to deal with it. I don't think they understand the headachy / muggy head aspect of c/spond and how this can interfere with any rehab / exercises etc. and can even get worse with the wrong treatments. Personally, I've become more informed through reading articles on the internet and the best advice seems to be to take painkillers, when neccessary, and just try to keep active without aggravating the neck.
  • juniper
    juniper

    Posted

    Hi

    I was diagnosed with cs at the age of 36, I am now 43. CS usually needs to be diagnosed with a MRI scan -it does not always show up on X-rays.

    I have to disagree with Gerry the Neck - CS is not always the result of an accident. It is a form of Osteo-arthritus (sp) - wear and tear to the neck. I had no accident, and yet I have ended up not able to work, drive , swim, do of housework. This has affected my upper body strength, I cannot lift anything heavy, I suffer from pins and needles and numbness normally down my right arm. I drop things involuntarily,

    I have experienced headaches, muzziness, pins and needles. All the nerves that feed your body, face etc, come from your spine. If one area does not work it will affect other areas.

    I do not agree that you have to take pain killers all the time. They can work, and they do have their place, but if you rely on them, where do you go? The strongest painkillers are opiates, and there is nothing after this. Of course you can get additcted to any painkiller, and that is not good either.

    Certain things will aggravate CS - you need to manage what you do and how you do it.

    This is a chronic condition - it does not get better by ignoring it and keeping going - or by giving up.

    Physio may work, Chiro may work for you. Pain management programmes may work for you. Unfortunately you have to find a way that works for you.

    If nothing works, you have to find a way to work with your limitations, and not give up.

    Sorry.

    Juniper

  • Guest
    Guest

    Posted

    smile iv had the condition since about 13 n have not had any reason why it happened . i remember coming home from school n not knowing what to do with myself the pain was so bad.theres not much that can be done unfortunatly apart from pain killers , i take anadin extra ,i also put a hot water bottle on my neck as i find it helps if my neck is warm . i know its spread my legs ache .i have a constant ache in my arms all the time . the only way i can describe how my arms feel is ,imagine you were carrying 4 heavey shopping bags and someone asked you to hold your arms in the air for 10mins whilst holding these bags at same time ,imagine how your arms would feel when you put those bags down ,well thats basically how my arms feel most days . having said all that you have to keep smiling.im 42 now with 4 children . keep smiling :wink:
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