Hi Sally, I know all too well what you mean. I've never been so sick of something in my life. The doctors don't see to understand, and people in general don't understand. People look at me as if I am just making things up. I may look fine outwardly, but what good would it do to show what pain you are really in all the time. No one would come near you. For instance I have a lot of trouble turning my head, and I can't look up at all. When I try I end up in such pain that my shoulders just raise up on their own, and then the pain will rush up my head and down my arms, and then I am told just put some heat on it and take some aspirin and it will magically disappear. It has never worked for me. I get laid out sometimes for up to three days. I honestly don't think anyone is doing studies on this, because like you all of the doctors are more interested in fixing a hang nail rather that identify will a spinal cord disease. They keep saying the is no cure, but where are they to help you live with it. I really wish all these so called specialists could live the way we do until they found something to do for it, and then see how fast there would be progress in doing something about our symptoms. Anyway, I don't get the blotches on my arms, but I do in my legs and ankles. On my left hand, the little, ring, and middle fingers are always numb. On my forefinger, and thumb they are only numb on the tip. It can get interesting when I sow. I have been known top sow my finger to the material from time to time. I know there has to be more people than you and I the suffer with this. Have you ever been told what will eventually happen to us as time goes by? I have never been able to get a straights answer on that from any doctor. If you have the info on this would you let me know? Well, it is good to hear from you. I keep you in my prayers. I know what you are going through. And that you for letting me sound off on the way I feel. Anytime you feel you need to vent, just drop me a ling. I understand.

Gloria

sallyjanexx <sallyjaneh@...> wrote:

Hi Gloria - thank you for your reply and sorry it's taken me so long
to post again.  I hope you understand what I mean when I say it was a
relief to read you have the same symptoms - not that I would wish
this on anyone!  I am sorry that all your treatment didn't work.  I
can't imagine going through that for it to make no difference!  My
neurologist said they wouldn't even try unless it was affecting my
arm so badly, I could hardly use it. 

Had my 2nd appt with her last week and to say it was a waste of time
is an understatement.  From my scans, they couldn't see too much
wrong and the word 'pshycosamtic' (bad spelling) was mentioned a few
times!!  She told me she would prescribe some medication to my GP and
that I should make an appt for them 'if' I felt I needed them - I was
astounded and wondered why she thought I was sitting there in front
of her - certainly not for the love of hospitals (laughing).  Her
parting words were that this was not a life-long ailment.  In time
(over the next 12-18 months), my 'problem' would repair itself!!  Now
why is it that I don't believe that ..?  I was speechless at her
prognosis.  Oh well, enough harping on about that appt as it changes
nothing does it.

You mentioned we share the same symptoms, but I just wanted to ask
again if you suffer from 'blotchiness' on your arms/legs?  I
mentioned before, this happens to me (pretty much most of the time
now) when my neck is paining or uncomfortable - it's almost like a
nerve being pinched just below back of neck which then leads to pins
and needles and then the 'blotchiness'.  Similarly, if I put my head
backwards for any reason, I get a shooting pain in the middle of my
chest (so no plane spotting for me then lol).  Also
noticed 'crunching' just off centre in same area of back/neck when I
walk. 

And finally ... (honestly!), I had a Bell's Palsy (right side) 3 yrs
ago which unfortunately has never gone completely. The neurologist
was more interested in this than the spinal problem, and I wonder if
there is a general weakness that could tie these in together - does
anyone know? 

Does anyone else want to join us here - would love to hear from you.

Bye for now and take care all.
Sally


--- In Cervical_Spondylosis@yahoogroups.com, "Gloria"
<g.tellier@s...> wrote:
>
> Hi Sally,
> Thank you for being the first to get messages started. I have been
> told I have a cervical myelopathy some 10 years ago. It is funny
> because we have the same symptoms and there really not much that
can
> be done to help. I have had fusion done to c6 and c7, which helped
> some for a little while, I did the big time pain killers for about
a
> year. It didn't help, but I didn't care either. I also had two
nerve
> blocks. The first one worked about a couple of weeks and the other
> worked for a day. My sister was just told she has the same thing
and
> she is in pain managment, and so they are trying an epadural. So
far
> she is still having trouble. So where do we go from here? We are
all
> in the same boat, and we have heard it all. I have found that the
only
> thing that eases the pain for a while is moist hot packs, muscel
> relaxers, and a lot of prayer. God help us!!! Anyway, thanks Sally
for
> being willing to share what is happening to you. At least it is
good
> to know that others suffer along with you. Have you been able to
work?
> I am on disability, and can only handle about 8 hours a week as a
> church secretary.I guess it is better than nothing. I am very glad
to
> meet you. Please keep in touch. Gloria
>