Living with constant pain due to multiple bulging cervical discs
Posted , 10 users are following.
Hi, I'm new to this group and would welcome a bit of friendly advice. I've had issues with generalized osteoarthritis for last couple of years and more recently, severe neck pain and stiffness which an MRI scan showed multiple bulging cervical discs(C5,C6,C7) and mild neural foramina narrowing with possible nerve root compression. My life has changed so drastically due to being in constant pain and having to live with daily headaches and dizziness, plus issues affecting both arms and hands(numbness,tingling,weakness,etc) and I would like to hear about other people's similar experiences and what treatment they've had or are having.
1 like, 25 replies
peter35137 janie03549
Posted
Hi 🙋 Janie,well everything you have listed I have plus like some of us we also get the ringing in the ear,I was due to have an operation for this last year but it took so long to get the operation I was sent for another scan and told that any surgery would now be no help as my vertebrae had fused together on their own,so going back to your list yes still got all of them I take Tramadol and Paracetamol for neck/headaches and have not been offered anything else so looks like one has got to live with it..
janie03549 peter35137
Posted
Hi Peter,
I am trying to do as much as I can to educate myself about it and trying to stay on top of the pain. I've recently had to give up my job due to way the condition affects me, plus the arthritis. I also take tramadol and hoping the consultant may prescribe something to relax the muscles in my neck and shoulders when I next see him.
mike09523 janie03549
Posted
Hi,
I am surprised that you have been left in pain, even though you have been diagnosed with cervical disease.
I have cervical problems at C4, 5,6,7. and was in crippling pain. I was put on tramadol but that only dulled the pain. I had to persevere for 13 months before getting pain management under control.
I am on Naproxen, Gabapentin, Amatryptaline and morphine pain patch, don't suffer the pain it will only wear you down. Go back nd get help from your GP.
Mike
janie03549 mike09523
Posted
Hi Mike, I must admit to being one of those people who tend to allow doctors to fob me off at times. I know that's wrong but because I've literally had multiple health problems that have needed investigation, I always feel I'm taking up too much of their time. It has taken 3 months to get my second MRI results! My GP read the report off his computer to me and printed me off a copy.
I'm still waiting for a follow up appointment with the Neurosurgeon.
Old_MG_driver janie03549
Posted
emmjay janie03549
Posted
janie03549 emmjay
Posted
Thank you, I will check it out 🙂
mike09523 janie03549
Posted
With c/s you can get many more problems arise out of leaving things to late. I started with loss of strength in left arm and shoulder ,followed by electric type shock then lots of pain across to the right side arm and shoulder.
Gradually things started to affect my legs, pins and needles then violent spamming of the legs when laying down. Then my bladder started playing me up, traced eventually to a involuntary spasms of my bladder spinchter because of spinal cord being pinched by bone spurs.
Cervical problems at c3 -7,8 , can really mess up your life for life.
Ike
mike09523
Posted
janie03549 mike09523
Posted
Hi Mike,
Iam concerned as 15 years ago I had a"microdiscectomy" on my lower spine done in emergency circumstances and I was in hospital for over 6 weeks due to post operative complications and I've had to be very careful with my back ever since. I do wonder if this could be hereditary as both my parents had Osteoarthritis but their's started later in life than at my age (49)?
sean66 janie03549
Posted
Hi Janie,
I had a bulging disc and formina nerve root compression, I was diagnosed two years ago,unfortunatley this has now led to me having to have surgery on my shoulder. I do an office based job, so my whole upper left side kinda seized up, im currently recovering from the shoulder surgery but i think the stenosis in my neck is making this a long process. I always found that moving and doing more physical things kept a lot of the pain away, i was also taking Amitrptyline, which helps a lot with sleep. I applied for Ill health retirment owing to not wanting to make my cervical spine any worse, but have been turned down as they say its not a permenant condition and they dont see how this stops me working?? I'm at a bit of a loss which way to turn now so if anyone has any advice that would be great, my neurosurgeon just wants to operate and not write letters explaining my condition to the pension people.
janie03549 sean66
Posted
Hi Sean,
I work in a very busy Opticians and am on my feet for 8hours plus climbing 25 stairs roughly every 5 to 10 minutes during busiest times. I had 9 months off sick due to plantar fasciitis and joint pain, during which time I saw a rheumatologist and Neurosurgeon and was given diagnosis of osteoarthritis and only recently received results from MRI done in October which revealed I have multiple bulging discs and bone spurrs.
I'm now off again as all my joints are agonizing at moment and being referred for injections for my knees. The issues with my neck have gotten worse over last year and I get constant pins and needles in both arms and hands and shoulder and neck pain constantly. I too was turned down for ill health retirement as the insurance company claimed my conditions are all"mild" in nature!!
mike09523 janie03549
Posted
Oh how I would love to be able to pass on the full blown version of cervical pain to non believers. I suffered 13 months before pain control. It is horrible, constant grinding pain.
Mike
janie03549 mike09523
Posted
Totally agree Mike... I think so many people think you're exaggerating the pain, but they really don't understand do they.
I ended up at A&E recently because I woke up feeling so dizzy that I had trouble speaking and was terrified I might have had a stroke. The Doctor I saw said it was most likely due to all the cervical disc issues.
sean66 janie03549
Posted
Hi Janie,
Ive just turned 50 and intended to retire at 55, but the way my condition is progressing I dont feel I can work another 5 years, I believe the whole problem with my neck stems from manual handling breeches quite a few years ago and i have evidence of this,so could prove embarassing if i end up at the pension ombudsman, but I'll see if my union can help, like Mike says we all look fine, dont feel it though.
janie03549 sean66
Posted
I'm turning 50 in April and feel like I've come to the end of the road as far as being well enough to work goes unfortunately.
I've always worked so its a huge change and really worried about how I will manage financially. Wishing everybody a pleasant and pain free weekend xx Janie
wall1409 sean66
Posted
Hi Sean
i too tried for ill health retirement and got refused basically if you can put envelopes in a box then unfortunately you can work. I have multiple level disc involvement lumber and cervical spine and both in stenosis. I lost my job in February 16 as I just couldn't cope I felt seriously ill with trying to manage my condition and caring for a husband with no warning tonic clinic seizures. I had a subarachnoid haemorrhage in November 16 and trust me it put my life into prospectus. I'm now living off income support and pip but no longer feel a failure or a benefit scrounger. I worked till I was 54 and couldn't work anymore. I wasn't prepared for retirement. We had to sell our beautiful home we had only bought 3 years prior when husband had his first seizure then his second 6 months later. He was a hgv driver for 32 years, I knew we couldn't survive financially with only my wage alone as we got no help. We now live in a housing association bungalow with an adapted wet room and I'm currently practically wheelchair bound now. Please think what's important to you, don't struggle and let this horrible system grind you to a halt. Do what's right for you as trust me, life is definitely short and you really don't know what's around the corner. Good luck
janie03549 wall1409
Posted
So sorry to hear about your horrendous experiences and my heart goes out to you and your husband and everyone who finds themselves having to completely adjust to a different lifestyle because of these cruel illnesses. I'm 49 and worked since leaving school in 1983 only having small breaks to have my children. Now, I'm having to face the reality of living on benefit as my health has nosedived over last 5years. I tried to get early retirement due to ill health and was turned down despite having osteoarthritis,Diverticular disease,multiple cervical disc prolapse,carpal tunnel syndrome,chronic fatigue and still living with after effects of breast cancer. You really do have to be literally dying on your feet don't you! And like everyone else on here I'm sure none of you have ever asked for help before from the Government and like me, feel somehow bad or guilty for doing so!
sean66 janie03549
Posted
Hi Janie,
It seems like a lot of people are told no when it comes to medical retirement, indeed I have already been told twice "no" myself, but me being me I wont accept that, i intend to keep on at them until there neck hurts as much as mine does, even if i am unsuccessful I love making people earn there money, have you ever contacted TPAS, they may revisit the case on your behalf and insist that you are paid an ill health pension, you have nothing to lose and you will also being keeping someone at the pension gainfully employed?