Osteoarthritis in the neck diagnosis

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Janey07
Janey07 Member Posts: 2
edited 19. Jun 2025, 05:05 in Living with arthritis

Hi all, I'm new here so I'm sorry if this is a long one.

I was diagnosed with Psoratic Arthrits in 2022. I've now been diagnosed with osteoarthritis in my mid to lower cervical spine last year.

I went to my gp last year about pain in my neck and shoulder that I've had for around 5 years but got worse and that the rhuemy team said it had nothing to do with my PsA. So the GP referred me to orthopedics because I had a trapped nerve and weakness in my arms. When I met with my rhuemy she was really nice about it and said even although she doesn't think it's anything to do with her like she's been saying for years, she will send me for my MRI.

She sent me a letter about the results and said usually people do not get surgery etc.

I had a phone app with orthopedics last week and after asking me if I still had pain, he immediately asked how I felt about surgery. I was a little shocked to be honest as I've not really spoken to my rhuemy in detail about my scan yet as I only see her once a year and the GP just rhymes off what rhuemy said because they don't have access to the actual scan. I said to orthopedics something like oh no I don't want surgery I don't actually know what osteoarthritis is, I just want to know what to do and what not to do to help the pain if I can and not make it worse. He then said ok I will send you for an urgent referral to be assessed and talk to you about your scan. I think he could tell I had no clue what my scan actually said or meant.

So I'm confused, aswell as worried, as I thought surgery was for severe osteoarthritis. My gp is handing me strong cocodamol as if they are sweeties and I'm just like what am I missing? Is it bad enough for surgery?

I've also been told PsA damage can look similar to OA damage. So I'm like how did I all of a sudden develop OA to the point we are talking about surgery in 5 years from my last MRI where I only had 3 buldging discs. I'm also only 33.

Any advice is welcome.

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  • Trish9556
    Trish9556 Member Posts: 890

    hi @Janey07

    I had a C6/7 cervical foraminotomy in 2022 after suffering years of neck pain - almost 20 so it was a huge relief in the end. I had many opinions as to what it was, if/how it could be fixed then being told no,you can't have the ACDF here you have to go to Oxford for specialist surgery as my vertebral artery is in the wrong place. This was literally discovered 3 days before surgery!

    My symptoms were, pain in my neck, unable to move my neck fully up and down and side to side, chronic pins and needles radiating from my neck, across my shoulder and down my arm. The only way I could describe it was as if you had a plastic bag full of marbles under your skin and were slowly squeezing the air outo of the bag until it popped. It really was nasty. My neck made a noise and felt like I had a load of gravel in it that moved and made the noise when I turned by head.

    I had referrals to MSK, pain clinic, back to GP, back to MSK, back to pain clinic and eventually got to a lovely physio who did the initial referral to Stoke Mandeville Hospital (I live 5 minute away) who then referred me to Mr Chaudry at Oxford who did the surgery. I was in hospital overnight and have never looked back since. I was 66 when I eventually had surgery.

    Personally, if I was in your position, I would have the surgery now - I was told by Stoke Mandeville that my neck looked like I had been in a major road accident, which I hadn't. I put the damage down to years of falling downstairs while having seizures as a child.

    Of course, the final decision is yours, speak to the orthopaedic surgeon responsible for your surgery and take his advice.

    Good luck

    Trish

  • Janey07
    Janey07 Member Posts: 2
    edited 18. Jun 2025, 19:16

    Hi @Trish9556,

    I have thought that maybe they offered surgery so it doesn't get worse? I just wasn't expecting it. I'll see what they say when they assess me and they can explain it all properly to me as the rhuemys letter to me was just "it's wear and tear" "everyone has it" "it'll get better" kind of generalized the whole thing. But when I spoke to the GP nurse who takes my bloods she started talking about bone spurs? And I'm like what does that mean? She was of the opinion I'd have to have been either in my 70s or have 15 years of my head constantly looking at the floor for the kind of damage I have apparently. So I'm just confused by the whole thing.

    The only thing I can think of that even correlates to injuring myself was about 7 years ago when I moved my head to look to the left side and I got a massive shooting pain. I couldn't move properly for about 5 days but I never got it checked out. Since then I've had this niggle in my left shoulder on and off and sore at the base of my neck on and off. And last year it just kind of went boom into my left and right shoulder and the numbness and tingling for like a week which now comes and goes. So my symptoms aren't even half as bad as yours in that sense as I can still move my head. I just feel weak in my arms, pain in my neck and shoulders and this sort of snap crackle and pop sound in my neck when I move my head like rice krispies.

    I guess I'll just need to wait and see but it would be great if I didn't feel like I was burning or someone was stabbing me nearly every night.

    Thanks for your advice Trish!

  • Trish9556
    Trish9556 Member Posts: 890

    @Janey07 I've had a GP telling me I have Arthritis and I should be used to being in pain and to get used to it as there's nothing she could do - thats ignorance about OA - it's not sust wear and tear or old age!

  • Poppyjane
    Poppyjane Moderator Posts: 932

    Hello @Janey07 A belated welcome to the community,

    We are glad you found us and have already started a conversation with @Trish9556 . This is what makes our community so special, we have members who are so readily available to support and offer to share their personal experiences .

    I attach some links which I hope you will find helpful

    https://www.versusarthritis.org/news/2020/november/ask-the-expert-newly-diagnosed-with-arthritis/

    https://www.versusarthritis.org/news/2020/january/moving-more-with-the-escape-pain-programme/

    I hope you get a chance to browse round the community ,there is a great variety of discussions and activities to follow.

    Do let us know how you get on

    Take care

    Poppyjane

    If it would be helpful to talk to someone ring the Helpline 0800 5200 520

    Monday - Friday 9.00a.m. - 6.00p.m.

  • Poppyjane
    Poppyjane Moderator Posts: 932

    If it would be helpful to talk to someone ring the Helpline 0800 5200 520

    Monday - Friday 9.00a.m. - 6.00p.m.

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