Hello,

I have had neck and back painsince 2003 but it would not last long and than go
away for a few days. But in July of 2009 the Pain started in my neck, shoulders,
and tingling in right arm and has not gone away at all since then. It was so
severe I went to ER. The Dr there rubbed my shoulders for less than 30 seconds
and said I had a cervical sprain. I also was given two shots in my rear end.
I didnt stop there. I made an apt with my family medical Dr. I was given exrays
that showed Degenerative Disc Disease. My Dr couldnt order a MRI yet because of
my insurance. My Dr had to first give me cortazone pills to see if my pain would
be stopped or lessened. He also prescribed me muscle relaxers and pain meds.
None of that stopped the pain.
From the start of the pain, my pain was so bad I mostly reclined in my Lazy boy
chair with my blanket behind my head and my arms propt up by a pillow and the
blanket.That seemed to lessen the pain and make it not so sever. I continued to
go to work which is computer work sitting at a desk and we had mandatory
overtime at that time. When I would get home from work I would do what ever
house hold duties had to be done and than back to the chair.
Finally my Dr was able to order me the MRI. The results showed a herniated disc
pressing on a nerve and a bulging disc. My pain was now getting worse and was
also in my lower back beside the neck, shoulders and tingly arm. I was also
getting pain at the base of my skull going to the left side of face and under
the jaw. I would get very bad headaches that would come and go.
MY Family Dr sent me to The Spine Center in Detroit, to be seen by a
neurosergon. The neuro Dr decided not to do surgery and diagnosed my with
Cervical Spondylosis. He gave orders for me to go to Physical Therapy, and to
recieve injections from The Port Huron Pain center.
So this brings me to today, so far I have been to Port Huron physical therapy 5
times and I have an apt today also. It will be about 6 weeks of it. I havent
received the injections yet. The Spine Center has just sent the orders to the
pain center a few days ago and than they are supposed to call me to set up an
apt.
I am still in pain, the pyhsical therepist is excellent. She asked what have I
done to myself, did I fall. I replied I didnt fall and I am not sure what I have
done to cause this. Today physical therepy will finaly receive the orders to
work on my lower back as well as the neck. At first the orders were only for the
neck. The MRI was only on the neck.
I have had to make many phone calls to the Spine Center to get orders sent, to
req my paper work be sent to my job. I have stopped going to work as of 09-08-09
because of the pain. I have requested an MRI for my lower back but so far that
has been denied by the Neurosurgen assistant that I always have to speak with
when I call the Spine Center. So I set up an early follow up apt with the Neuro
Dr. It is now the end of October and it was the end of November.
My family doc is the one prescribing my pain meds. He no longer prescribes me
muscle relaxers.
I am still very positive and hopeful the pain will stop. I just feel like "Life
interupted".
Anyway that is my story so far.
Carol Lynn