Scan results

marie48

I booked an appointment this morning as could not wait any longer. The Dr said nothing serious detected on the scan which is good but I have got a pinched nerve on the left side which is giving me all those symptoms I can go on and on. She does no think it is serious but to me it is, as she says it can be treated first by physio, then injection and as a last resort surgery which makes me cringe as she said they do not like to do surgery in the neck. She did some tests and said my nerves are good and not damaged and my spine is stable. I can turn my head round but it hurts.

I think that's the worst thing that can happen to me being diagnosed with arthritis in the neck, apparently there are two worns out discs. I have had to cope for over 10 yrs with back pain, then the knees, the thumbs and fingers and slowly other joints are joining in and now this. She said, she is going to write to Physio and request they see me urgently as I was playing up a bit about the pain etc. The good news are now with the scan's report, physio can address the problem with excercise.

I have also been prescribed with Amitriptyline 10 mgs, I have decided to give it a go for 4 weeks and see if it helps. Is anybody on this forum taking it and does it help?

I guess I should really be relieved as I did expect the results to be a pinched nerve but deep down I was sort of expected it to show nothing abnormal, then it would have been me imaging these symptoms. No matter what I cannot win.

I am also very crossed with hubby as he told me to wait for the results till the surgery contacted me which they were not going to do as to them the scan seems ok since the previous X-Ray did show the same thing. He said to me did you ask what will happen if you do not do anything? God, is he expecting me to cope with all these!! He is so laid back.

Regards.

Marie X

woodbon

hi Marie,
I have oa in my neck, which is touching a nerve and giving me quite a few problems. The scan showed a small bone spur. The rhummy said that operations in this area can be quite tricky as the nerves are close together and theirs a risk of damage which could stop me walking. I have amitryptilline, which helps with nerve pain, and I must say it does help me sleep and I don't get so many strange sensations and tingling. Also, I don't get so many morning headaches. Have you tried that? Maybe, if not your GP could give you a few to try. I have a memory foam pillow and thats really good too.

Can't help with the husband though. I expect he'll get over it with time!!! Hope you soon get a bit more comfortable. Love SUe

eckstardeluxe

Hi Marie, glad you finally have some answers. The pinched nerve and disc issues you mentioned are similar to something I have. Do you get sciatica? I get that really bad and they say it is impingement on the nerve, proper name Spinal Stenosis so worth reading about that.

I did take Amitryptline but I had to stop it after having my Tramadol increased so think they maybe don't go too well together. I found it good for relaxing at night but found myself awfully tired in the mornings and having to get up at 5am and ready for work and get two kids ready for childcare I stopped taking it as was just too tired. If you don't have to get up too early it should be fine. If you do get the sciatica, I find sitting on the floor in the lotus position really helps, sometimes it goes away immediately after I get on the floor. Also sitting on a high back chair helps and sitting on the couch slouching makes it worse. take care x

hunnyboo17

eckstardeluxe wrote:

Hi Marie, glad you finally have some answers. The pinched nerve and disc issues you mentioned are similar to something I have. Do you get sciatica? I get that really bad and they say it is impingement on the nerve, proper name Spinal Stenosis so worth reading about that.

I did take Amitryptline but I had to stop it after having my Tramadol increased so think they maybe don't go too well together. I found it good for relaxing at night but found myself awfully tired in the mornings and having to get up at 5am and ready for work and get two kids ready for childcare I stopped taking it as was just too tired. If you don't have to get up too early it should be fine. If you do get the sciatica, I find sitting on the floor in the lotus position really helps, sometimes it goes away immediately after I get on the floor. Also sitting on a high back chair helps and sitting on the couch slouching makes it worse. take care x

I tried Amitriptyline for a month.It helped me sleep,eased my depression and pain but it made my mouth unbearably dry (also take Co-codomol) then I found out that the GP shouldn't have perscribed it anyway as it interacts with one of my blood pressure tablets! O ye who have little faith!

frogmorton

HI Marie
I wouldn't have been able to wait either :!:
Think at l;east there was something there which proved you weren'r imagining it. That would have been worse :!: At least now they know exactly what it is they can treat it. But I do know it is upsetting.
I take amitrip 25mg. The first time I took it I didn't 'wake up' till 2pm. I was up but not 'with it'!!! :oops:
Now I take it in my stride and have no probs at all with it.
Good luck Marie
Toni x

marie48

Thanks for all your replies, Sue how do you cope with the tingling sensation etc? Is there no other option for you than having an op, I do agree I will rather put up with the pain and discomfort rather than risking not be able to work?

Fortunately I do not suffer from sciatica although a long time sufferer of back pain.

I took the Amitrityline last night, the dose is only 10 mgs and got up with a headache and feeling so tired and drowsy. I will give it a try for 4 weeks to see how it goes. In the past, I have on and off medication, never give it a change to work, I will be more patient now.

Regards

Marie X

woodbon

Hi
Well, I find amatip. 20 mgs helps and the codydramol. Some days it gets really bad and I have to rest, others I cope a lot better and have to be careful not to overdo it! I suppose we are all different, you sound as if your problems are worse than mine. I also have given up driving far, as that causes problems, but I can manage short trips, so its not too bad. Also the worst side is my left side and I'm right handed so that helps. I have splints for resting in and I use them for about an hour in the evenings or when I'm not doing anything :!: :oops: Now I know the cause of the problem, I find I cope better, at first I worried about the cause and as I've worked with people who have neuro problems, my mind went down that road and imagined alsorts. Then the rhummy came up with a nasty neuro thing he thought possible, but thats fine, he was wronge the test was negative, thank god.

I wish I could offer you more help but I think we are all a bit different, how we feel pain is different. I take each day at a time, maybe next week, I'll be unable to cope, but I really hope not :!: Love Sue

skezier

Hi Marie,
I'm glad you got your results as it means you can start to deal with it all when it's all a known thing. What other tablets are you on for pain etc?
I have a lot of nerve damage in my spine, the lumber had a bit of work done to it 20 + years ago. My neck is also going the same way but as yet they are anti surgery because the bones are so degenerated. I am trying to get them to do it though as the other surgery gave me back my life to a big degree.
Mine was MRI'd too late for physio and I was give the neck jabs last month and they have helped stop the pins and needles..... In the right side completely and the left it now only gets as far as my shoulder. I do also take Diclo's, Tramadol, and some wonder drugs that takes out nerve pain.
As sue says they do tend to say silly things about your brain and if they do just remember we usually don't have what ever it is they say might be there. I kinda used to the pins and needles now but it took a while and only when I was injected did I realise how much I had! Take care, Cris

marie48

I have not taking any prescribed medication since Jan 15th,only yesterday I started to take Amitrytyline 10 mgs at night, this makes me feel tired. GP said it will help with nerve pain. Months ago I did take Diclofenac and Codeine and did not find them helpful. I stopped afte two weeks, I rub brufen gel when I have a flare up. So far although the necks feels stiff, I can still do some neck exercises. The pain is manageable, it's just a dull ache in shoulders, arms, knees, back etc, it does not prevent me from doing anything I want to do. as long as I do not overdo things. I know my limitation and when to stop. I did find my shoulders and arms hurt after being swimming. With my back (undiagnosed), when it started to twinge and I cannot bend, then I know I am in trouble and take it easy.I still do not know what's wrong with it besides wear and tear showed in X-Ray over 10 yrs ago. It is a constant dull pain you can put up with it. GP is not interested. My surgery, you can see any dr you want and the one I am seeing has been very good with my neck pain and did not hesitate to do some tests.

bagpuss

Hi Marie

I have RA and last May I got terrible pain in my neck and back of head. I had an MRI scan in OCT and got an answer that "it was clear" in Jan. After several tears and tantrums asking what clear meant (thinking they are just saying it is all in the mind) I was told that RA had not travelled to my neck......Yes great news but to date I don't know what is going on. I was given Amitriptyline 10 mgs to take at night to help me relax and sleep. I read up that these were given to children for bed wetting and others for depression :? so after taking for 2 nights I stopped, as I felt no relief. I have since spoken to Rhemy nurse and she explained these were given to help the nerves relax at night. I had a steriod jab and started taking the amitriptyline again and have felt a lot better so I don't know if it was a mixture of both that helped me. Still don't have any answers though.

Only suggestion I can give on Amitriptyline I found it better to take about an hour before I went to bed and not too late in the evening.

Take care
Bagpuss