My C-Spine has begun to spiral....Help!!

Cindylou · #1 (**permalink**) 03-24-2009, 09:09 PM

Hi all,

I posted this at the bottom of my other update, but I need advice with my neck. Big time. I'm wondering if it is killing me so much from all the sitting around I have had to do? It's been acting up for a few days, and now today, it is close to a 9. I am severly nauseous, neck very very stiff, feels like a bowling ball on my head trying to support, and now I feel like I am choking. Any advice? When my pain is this bad I start to panic. having been icing and heating alternately, and just took a muscle relaxant...no help yet. could sinus do this? i know i have mod-severe stenosis at c6-7, is that giving me this choking sensation? Crap!! Cindylou

phylly · #2 (**permalink**) 03-25-2009, 12:19 AM

Cndylou,
Maybe you should call a doctor soon. You never know what is going on, your symptoms sound terrible and might be something other than your neck. I hope you feel better but better safe than sorry.
Phylly

dshobbies · #3 (**permalink**) 03-25-2009, 12:45 AM

Crap? That's all you have to say?

Perhaps my language is a little stronger but unprintable. What the H is going on. Haven't you been through enough? You need to have a severe and thorough discussion with your spine. Treat it like a child because it seriously isn't acting like an adult

. Make sure you use the word 'enough' several times... maybe it'll get the message.

sahuaro · #4 (**permalink**) 03-25-2009, 02:35 AM

Have to agree with phylly--you need to call your surgeon and let him know what you are experiencing just to make sure this isn't something other than your spine. If it does turn out to be your spine, then go ahead with that conversation Dale suggested!

Maria · #5 (**permalink**) 03-25-2009, 07:47 AM

Cindylou,
I think sometimes the way we have to care for one part of our spine can effect the way another part of our spine reacts and I'm just wondering if your c-spine is reacting to the care of your recent lumbar spine surgery and the effect this has had on you?

Now suffice to say that if this feeling were worsening and unrelieved by any medication, any position or any arsenal in my already loaded medication/spine care bag I'd probably bring myself bare minimum to an Urgent Care center for evaluation if not an ER depending on how severe the symptoms are and whether there was any relief in sight.

Even tho all I have that seems significant on an MRI is a small C5/6 bulge my neck got so painful last night that I felt nauseated, couldn't turn my head w/o pain or look up or down or move it really, had pain into my right scapula first, then into the left side, and basically paraspinally into the upper thoracic spine. I also had a whopper h/a going on ...

When lying down on my back with my horseshoe pillow around my neck to sleep I couldn't breath right or felt I had to gasp for breath and I had so much occipital pain I was up all night last night..

2 Fioricets and a Skelaxin later and many position changes in bed I finally got 3 hours of sleep last night and woke up with less spasming I guess because there was less pain...

I'm hoping you've either found some relief from the symptoms you wrote about here earlier or were seen or talked to your doctor. Please let us know~

Cindylou · #6 (**permalink**) 03-25-2009, 02:38 PM

Talked to Mark last night and my doctor. My doc didn't get how things could spiral so fast. Made me feel like he didn't believe me. He gave me name of a neck guy. Haven't called yet, obviously. Mark was much more comforting and understanding. Gets how things can go south fast. I found an old soft cervical collar from my MVA years ago, and put that on. Seemed to help some. I think I might have been in major spasm? A muscle relaxer helped some, as did laying on my back with my legs up on ottoman, putting my neck in neutral w/ no weight bearing on it. Really thought I was headed to ER. Thank God didn't have to. Sick of ER's. I totally agree with you Maria. I think part of (all of?) what brought this on was/is the coddling of my lower spine, which compromised my cervical posture big time. Not sure what else was going on? Didn't sleep with soft collar but put it back on this morning. Will probably call either doc's neck guy recommendation, or more likely, my current neck doc, and make appt. I'm pretty sure I had a recent MRI or Cat Scan that included my neck when I started going to Pain Management Clinic. Isn't that awful? I can't remember. Not sure what this soft collar is actually doing, but it seems to help, whatever it's purpose is. Ok, thanks everyone. Will keep you posted. My SI joint recovery is just going awesome. Unbelievably great. My cup is more than half full in that regard. Now just gotta get these demons at bay on #!*@ ing neck issues!! Will keep you abreast on this. Thanks a ton everyone. BTW, Maria, I hope you also get resolution to your similar sounding cervical issues.

Cindylou

Maria · #7 (**permalink**) 03-25-2009, 05:51 PM

CindyLou,
I wonder if an IM shot of Toradol 60mg would have released spasming right away for you. It works for me, cervical or lumbar.. good stuff I find. Trying to just use the oral Skelaxin tho and it works too but then I find myself typing away here in a slumping position or jutting my neck out and creating pain for myself.. worse thing is talking on the land line and holding the phone between my shoulder and chin while washing dishes or doing whatever multi-task idiot thing I'm trying to do.. Worse yet is with teenytiny flat cell phone (same positioning) and walking dog!

Oh well, I've been deemed *non surgical* by a fast talking fast moving young spine surgeon over at Long Beach Memorial. He pretty much brushed me off as *go to PT and it will resolve*... been there, done that .. didn't happen.

Ok tho back to you~ get a consult and meanwhile keep your neck in neutral position or a good position and if that means wearing a collar or using a cervical roll/pillow then do that for relief even while sitting and watching TV.

So glad to hear your SI joint surgery is coming along so well! Could be that once you're back to pretty normal functioning your neck stuff will be cleared as well as long as there are no real structural probs~ hope that's the case tho getting it checked out seems like a wise thing to do as well.

Cindylou · #8 (**permalink**) 03-27-2009, 03:31 PM

Again, Maria, I think you are dead on. Hopefully, when I get back to full functioning, my whole spine will normalize. I do have my appt., at least, with my neck guy, about a week and a half out. And some current x-rays I can bring. The muscle relaxants and pain meds are sort of keeping it in check. I choose to believe this is just a glitch, because my SI joint surgery is going amazingly well. Unbelievably well. I know it is early days, but I can't say enough good things about it and about how my body is responding to this surgery. I am exceedingly thankful. I have been praying like a nun who is fasting at a convent, for relief. Maybe my prayers are being answered?

Keep watching my posts you guys...especially those of you who think you may have SI Joint issues. I will continue to post about this recovery as honestly and frankly as I can. Enjoy the weekend everyone. Our nice weather here in Minnesota has turned unseasonably cold again. Please Spring, come back.

Cindylou

Kathy · #9 (**permalink**) 03-28-2009, 12:52 AM

CindyLou,
I pray that all that is wrong is some improper mechanics you used while recovering from your lumbar problems. I am so glad that your lumbar recovery is going so well, that is AWESOME news! I know you and your family must be so happy that this seems to be the one. I don't know if you saw a post of mine earlier; but to recap... when my hubby asked if I felt my old back pain and I said no, that I didn't think so, he started crying (tears of joy, of course). I then heard him over and over on the phone telling people about it. It was really sweet and just went to show how much my pain was affecting him as well as me. I can only imagine how much your family is ready to see you relieved from your pain. How's the grandbaby? Probably growing to quickly!

Terry Allen Blackburn · #10 (**permalink**) 03-28-2009, 08:39 PM

CindyLou:

I am imagining that you will be having the storm before it hits us tonight and tomorrow. We have a severe snow warning for tonight and tomorrow. One inch tonight and four to six inches tomorrow of the heavy, wet stuff. My neighbor has been kind enough to blow our driveway out most of this Winter. He has saved my poor spine tremendously.

I hope you are feeling better soon and I am happy for the results on your SI joint surgery so far.

Terry Newton

dshobbies · #11 (**permalink**) 03-29-2009, 12:21 AM

Gee, I hate to repeat myself. It was 82 today but tomorrow will get cold again, back down to the low 70s. Brrrrrrr

Hey, the truth be told, I'm a New York girl, born and raised. It's in my blood.

Terry Allen Blackburn · #12 (**permalink**) 03-29-2009, 01:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dshobbies

Gee, I hate to repeat myself. It was 82 today but tomorrow will get cold again, back down to the low 70s. Brrrrrrr

Hey, the truth be told, I'm a New York girl, born and raised. It's in my blood.

SHOWOFF!

Terry Newton

Kathy · #13 (**permalink**) 03-29-2009, 06:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Terry Allen Blackburn

SHOWOFF!

Terry Newton

I am jealous of all your snow, we didn't get any this year (which isn't that uncommon). I love making snow angels, playing with the kids in the snow, watching the dog try to walk in it (hilarious) and of course building a snowman. Last year we actually got the biggest snow I have ever seen in Texas, it was like 3 or 4 inches, so cool. It's in the 70's today, so looks like we have missed our snow chance

Justin · #14 (**permalink**) 03-29-2009, 07:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kathy Earhart

CindyLou,
I pray that all that is wrong is some improper mechanics you used while recovering from your lumbar problems.

I agree with Kathy...I hope you feel better soon CL.

Justin · #15 (**permalink**) 04-04-2009, 06:13 PM

CL, how is your neck? I hope the dust has settled after your operation. Baby kisses and hugs do wonders for one's health.

Maria · #16 (**permalink**) 04-04-2009, 06:39 PM

How's the neck CindyLou?? I have been doing really good tho went to the Farmer's Market yesterday and loaded up a WalMart bag with fresh veggies and ya know I got that knot back in the same place near right shoulder blade and then the neck ache and headache.. so didn't sleep well last night. Also was diddling around with phone to chin and neck which is another no no..

Everytime I catch myself goofing up my neck with my bad habits I wonder how quickly it will turn into my low back situation or perhaps need surgery ...

I still would like to take care of my low back first and then my neck..

You're that much more ahead of me on that one

Cindylou · #17 (**permalink**) 04-04-2009, 07:20 PM

Thanks all. If I attempt to dip my chin down to touch my upper chest, I get shooting pain down shoulder, arm and into my fingers. Guess what? I don't do that. Duh. Still keeping it at bay, but do have doctor appt. Monday with neck guy. Will bring most current x-rays. Hopefully, just need an injection or ??
Enjoy the rest of your weekend. Me? I'm gonna go chase rainbows with my granddaughter.

She's my new elixir......!

Cindylou