Hello there,

I've just recently joined this group and was hoping to communicate
with others who suffer with cervical spondylosis, but I see there are
no messages as yet, so I thought I might try being the first to leave
a message.

I am 42 and a mum to Abi who is 4. I have recently been diagnosed
with cervial spondylosis by a doctor in Egypt (my husband works there
and I visit) because I have been struggling to get a diagnosis for my
symptoms in the UK - so far it has taken 2 yrs. I am currently
awaiting my second appt (in UK) with a registrar neurologist whom I
was referred to by my GP as he thought my symptoms may be due to MS.
Luckily an MRI scan of my head and thorasic spine has ruled this out
and, as I say, am left with the diagnosis of cervical spondylosis.
My GP is treating this very lightly, saying this is a very common
condition and basically the only thing I can do is keep taking the
brufen! Therefore, I am beside myself that I will just have to 'put-
up' with these awful symptoms.

My now daily symptoms are:

* Pain in the neck (which I probably am to my GP!) and difficulty
turning my head completely to side

* Pain, tingling and numbness in my left arm down to my middle finger

* Tingling and numbness in my left leg and sometimes right hand

* Headaches sometimes at back of head, sometimes running in a middle
channel from back to front of head.

* Sometimes difficulty swallowing (which scares me completely)

* Blotchiness in my arms and legs that comes and goes with the pain
in the neck.

* Ringing in my left ear

* Pain radiating on left side (horizontally about 6" under arm) with
all I can describe as sudden electric shocks in that region

* 'Butterfly' like sensations down my left side

* Sudden urgencies to visit bathroom!

Sorry to go on, but I think that's it!

Understandably I think due to the symptoms, it crossed my mind that
this may be a heart problem and until I was reassured it wasn't, I
was suffering severe panic attacks - probably thinking I was going to
keel over at any moment! Unfortunately, I still have the occasional
panic attack when the symptoms get on top of me. I feel very foolish
when this happens, but sometimes, I just can't stop them.

Well, I think I have gone on for long enough and thank you if you
have read this far! I would be grateful to hear from any of you -
especially if you have got further than me with successful treatment
in helping to eleviate your symptoms. I feel it will also help just
to 'talk' to others in the same situation - I don't think anyone can
understand how this makes you feel unless they are suffering with
this as well.

Sally