Spinal Stenosis

[john999]

My private orthopod did an MRI of my neck and found stenosis at C-5 and C-6. I have been complaining for years to the VA about the pain at the base of my neck and they told me there was nothing wrong. Nice! Now I go for a course of steroids. They misdiagnosed it as a rotator cuff injury for years. It is not something that requires surgery but a shot in the neck is next. When your neck starts with degerative disease it is just downhill. It has gotten worse for years.

[COOL BREEZE]

My private orthopod did an MRI of my neck and found stenosis at C-5 and C-6. I have been complaining for years to the VA about the pain at the base of my neck and they told me there was nothing wrong. Nice! Now I go for a course of steroids. They misdiagnosed it as a rotator cuff injury for years. It is not something that requires surgery but a shot in the neck is next. When your neck starts with degerative disease it is just downhill. It has gotten worse for years.

Well John, this is exactly whats going on with me. I just posted on this issue in a different post. Luckily I called the 800# for Tri-CARE and they told me to tell the private doctor he can call to get approval for any tests he thinks I need. Shoot, They can even get there own MRI of my neck as well as the BAck. Great news. They can run up the bill big time so I can get properly diagnosed. How does it work for steroids, are you able to go back to work-what is this procedure like?

[john999]

Cool

Some doctors use a florescope (spelling?) and the injection into the neck is guided by this type of xray. You can go back to work the next day if you have pretty easy job. Some doctors knock you out for the procedure using IV drug to put you in dream state so you don't move around. It does not hurt. I got it for my lower back. It might help. These degenerative conditions are things the doctors manage, but don't cure. Since the nerves in my upper back and arm are being pinched it hurts like hell.

[jbasser]

John, a Flouroscope is an actual live Xray of a procedure. There are 2 types of procedures. One is just an injection into the neck and the other one is called a RF Burn as it actually burns the effected nerves.

I had it done last year and I had a Vagal reactionand almost died.

Now for the VA. Did they ever follow up on your neck? You may have another issue to hit them with as you may have been treated for the wrong issue since the C spine controls the arms and shoulder muscles.

J

[rpowell01]

Add me to the boat you are in. I had the Epidural Cortisone Injection about 4 weeks ago at the C6 root (C5-C6). That injection effects kept me up until 3am with my heart pounding. Could have been me and Anxiety or he could have touched something. Eitherway I am grateful I made it to see the next day. Most of the tingling in my hands went away except whenever I use them then it comes back but I still have some pain in my arms but still have numbness in my triceps. I just had my gallbladder removed last Friday. I thought it would fix the chest pains and shortness of breath I have been having for a year now almost everyday so far. I know it's not my heart because the pains are more on the inner part of the pectoral muscles but the pain radiates into my chest. It is not a "bite" type pain but just a burning pain. If I have chest pains and touch those muscles they hurt pretty darn bad. RADICULOPATHY is a bugger to get a hold of. If I take my Baclofen and Tramadol then I am fine once they kick in. Guess I have to start taking the Baclofen twice a day now because I only take it at 7pm at night which I am fine throughout the night. My orthopedic surgeon wants to do surgery on the cervical stuff but he is ordering a dynamic MRI to be done. The Dynamic MRI consist of you sitting and/or standing while the MRI pictures are being taken. This gives a true injury result because it shows your spine with weight on them which is when most radiculopathy comes into play. It also allows you to bend your neck so they can take photos of that to show results which might be seen on a regular MRI.

Here is a link to some photos showing regular MRIs and dynamic MRIs.

http://www.roseradiology.com/news093003-2.htm

I do not know why most places haven't gone to this whenever it is clearly evident that lying down takes pressure off the spine and the results are not giving true results. I will let you know how it went whenever I get the appointment and have them done. I know the Surgeon said he know a place in Tampa who has one.