bulge in disc at base of neck

chinablue

hi everybody finding it very difficult to do anything at mo. I had an MRI on my neck recently and was told i needed to see a surgeon about a bulging disc at the base of my neck. I had been complaining about my bad neck pain to my doc for about 3 months periously to this. I have now got an appointment for first week in october so not long now but my rhemy said he may not do anything at all. The pain in my neck is much worse and gose down both arms now too. I always have pain now and its getting much worse I take all the arthristis meds plus antidepesants, 6 tramodole and 8 paracetamels a day but its still not helping. I cant get to sleep at night i toss and turn for hours and then when i get off i wake up and it starts again. Has anyone got any tips about what to do. Or has anyone gone through this and what was done to help you. My biggest fear is that they do nothing i dont think i could stand that.
sorry about length hope your ok and if not gentle hugs to you thankyou CB

venita

Hi
I to have a problem with my neck and can imagine what pain you are I have to say this is the most painful place in my whole body.

My problem is on C2 and C4 it is very high up and therefore my consultant has decided not to do anything with it as an operation would be a risk.

I get headaches, feel like my head weighs a ton at times, it takes me ages to get comfortable (if you can cal it that !) in bed and then I sleep for about an hour (if I am lucky) then have to move again and again, it sometimes makes me feel off balance, and sick.

Pain relief has little or no effect with this............. my GPs verdict... there is nothing else but to learn to live with it.very helpful.

Hope you feel a bit better soon.

woodbon

Hi, I know what you mean, although you sound worse than me. I have had a neck pain for months now and had an MRI, which shows a disk touching a nerve, the pain is on the left side and goes down my left arm and shoulder. It can be a problem sleeping but I now have a memory foam pillow, which suits me and helps a lot as well as a memory foam mattress topper. Also, the pain clinic doc recommended that I go on slow release tramadol 2 large doses instead of the eight tablets I took during the day. That is really helpful as the pain used to wake me up about 3 am, now the tablet at night takes me through the night until morning. I also have amitriptylne at night.

The reason surgeons don't like doing to much to the neck is because of all the nerves and the spinal cord, they worry that that they may cause more harm than good. They may offer you spinal steriod injections to help with the pain. I'm sure they won't just leave you with nothing. They may well refer you to the Pain Clinic, if surgery isn't the best option, but don't let them leave you wainting too long, go and ask your GP if you don't feel happy.
Good luck, LoveSue

venita

Hi Sue

I have been referred to the pain clinic and they have suggested various pain relief the problem I have is that I can not take Ibuprofen or any other anti inflammatories as I have a reaction to them. Most pain relief make me so drowsy that I am unable to work with them, so that is not so good. But I do occassionally take tramadol when it is really bad and Rhuemy has given Amitriptyline. I work in a GP surgery processing prescriptions so I am aware of medication side effects and addiction so I think this makes me even more aware of what I am taking.

Some days I wish I could just stay at home and not have to go out,it is difficult as one day you can be ok and the next on your knees, it is so difficult.

I always have this thought that no matter how bad I am there is always someone who is worse off than me, it some how keeps me going.


Take Care Venita

elnafinn

Hi chinablue

Good to see your name on here but I am sorry to read your posting. I wish you well with your appointment in October. Try to stay postiive until you see him - you never know - he may be able to help you, regardless of what your rheumy said. Have you been offered injections in your neck via xray direction, to relieve pain? I know this is not a permanent solution but may help you for a while if offered, or perhaps you could mention that to him, no harm in asking, is there?

I have not got any ideas for you as to what to do, expect that when I am in pain any part of my body, placing a heated wheat bag on/round the offending place, eases the pain a little for me and I can get to sleep at least, even if not for too long.

I hope today is going not too badly for you CB,

Love
Elna x (())

mellman01

Hi chinablue. I'm not sure if this will help you but it's worth telling you about, Right I have a problem with the C6 & C7 disc ie its deformed so I have bone to bone contact between C6 & C7, I've had it for a long time 23 years plus, 18 months I discovered I had bad OA of my knee caps, the odd thing is my neck has always been a big problem, I like you find pain killers not very effective but a few months ago I was offered Nortriptyline(from the Amiltriptyline range of antidepressants) for my OA pain,well it didn't do much for my OA so much as it did for my neck,I can now tell if I have forgotten to take it as my neck pain come back. It worked really well for me so maybe it's worth a shot.

chinablue

Thankyou all for your suggestions and its nice to here from some old friends again i dont post very offten but always read postings and have found this to be very helpful. I surpose i should be greatful realy as i did change my rhemy and now have a realy good and understanding one who has put me in for all sorts of tests and that is how this was found. I thought i was imagining all the pain as my last rhemy said it was because i was fat. it was such a surprizes when this one didnt even weigh me before he saw me and he also gave me steroid injections into both sholders but unfortunatly to no avale, he said it might not work but i can trust him unlike my first one. I have loads of memory foam pillows and all sorts of neck ones and ordinary ones too but tried them in different combos not working either the mattress topper i havent tried but worries me a bit as i thought of getting a bed with memory foam matteress when i tried it could,nt move or get out so bit relucktant on that one Thankyou all so much CB love and hugs to all

eckstardeluxe

Hi there

I have 3 bulging discs in my back so I know how awful and uncomfortable you must be feeling just now. Paracetamol doesn't sound strong enough to me.

Can you speak to your Dr to see if there is any chance you can have the disc manipulated? I can't have this due to my arthur being too advanced and too much inflammation but I know people who have had this done and said it was like night and day afterwards. Changed their life.

I hate it but cold tends to be the best for this with me, bag of frozen peas eeeeek :shock: brings the inflammation down. Also keep taking the Tramadol, the drowsiness wears off the more you take them and they really build up in your system and help. I find them a great comfort to me.

Hope you can get something sorted soon take care.

Eck

elnafinn

Dear Chinablue

I am so pleased for you that you have a sympathetic rheumy, at last, one who is obvously interested and taken you under their wing. Please do not ever think you are imagining any pain/discomfort and please do not let anyone tell you otherwise. You know and we know it is not in our minds/head and we know our own bodies more than anyone else.

Love and hugs back to you, big time.

Elna x

skezier

Hi CB,

I am sorry cus they hurt. I have one in the lumber, which should become dehydrated soon as the 1 above did, and 2 in my neck but for me they do try pain relief via the pain clinic and it does help.

I think both you and Ventina should pursue the pain clinic route and see if anything can be done. For me the bulging and dehydrated disc's benefit so much from the pregabalin.

I do hope something can be done to help you, Take care Cris

woodbon

venita wrote:

Hi Sue

I have been referred to the pain clinic and they have suggested various pain relief the problem I have is that I can not take Ibuprofen or any other anti inflammatories as I have a reaction to them. Most pain relief make me so drowsy that I am unable to work with them, so that is not so good. But I do occassionally take tramadol when it is really bad and Rhuemy has given Amitriptyline. I work in a GP surgery processing prescriptions so I am aware of medication side effects and addiction so I think this makes me even more aware of what I am taking.Some days I wish I could just stay at home and not have to go out,it is difficult as one day you can be ok and the next on your knees, it is so difficult.

Hi,
I have the same problem, I can't take anti-inflammitories either, as I've had a perforated ulcer. Addicition can be a problem with drugs like morphine and tramadol - I take tramadol, the pain clinic suggested that the slow release form not only are better at giving a steady relief of pain (they do for me) but that because they act in a long, slow way, they are much easier to give up and the addiction isn't so much of a problem. I find codine based drugs less helpful and they make me tired. We are all different and what is good for me is not always good for you, but I can understand and find good the slow release form of the medication.
I hope you find something to help you. The pain seems to drain you of all energy and makes it hard to cope, I know. Anyway, I hope you soon feel better, Love Sue

I always have this thought that no matter how bad I am there is always someone who is worse off than me, it some how keeps me going.


Take Care Venita