I was in a motor vehicle accident on July 11, 2009. I was hit in the rear, then spun by a side hit. Ever since the accident I have had a non-stop headache that first began at the base of my skull and has grown into a line from the base of my skull to the top of my head. A 'skunk stripe effect'. As well as the headache, I have had bad pain in my neck. It is normally on the left side, close to my shoulder, but appears sometimes in the back of my neck. I have pain in between my shoulder blades intermittently and numbness/weakness in my left hand. I had an MRI a little over two months ago and starting physical therapy around the same time. I have therapy 3 times a week. I saw my neurosurgeon again Friday morning and he said my MRI shows "a very bad disc". He said it's a slipped disc and pointed it out to me on the x-ray. He then sent me straight to the x-ray for a flexion set to see if it moves when I move my neck. He mentioned surgery is a treatment option, but that I'm young enough that he wants to see if physical therapy and steroidal injections help (yet he mentioned that the PT 'should' have helped some by now, which it hasnt').
I only know one person who has gone through this, and she wound up having to wait over a year from her accident for surgery, and now has unrepairable nerve damage and constant pain. I know everyone's body is different, but I don't want to wind up like that. I'm only 25, I work at home on my computer, and am VERY close to losing my job due to my work production dropping so greatly (I can't stay at my computer for more than 35 min. at a time).
Just looking for some info.. Maybe, what I can expect after injections, etc. Thanks in advance
I only know one person who has gone through this, and she wound up having to wait over a year from her accident for surgery, and now has unrepairable nerve damage and constant pain. I know everyone's body is different, but I don't want to wind up like that. I'm only 25, I work at home on my computer, and am VERY close to losing my job due to my work production dropping so greatly (I can't stay at my computer for more than 35 min. at a time).
Just looking for some info.. Maybe, what I can expect after injections, etc. Thanks in advance
Hi honey! You are talking to the right person actually! 9 years ago I dislocated my shoulder and herniated a disc in my neck! Leaving me with headaches - just like you described, numbness in my hand and arm and tingling! What it is is the trapped - or damaged nerves - from your C discs travel down to the bottom of your next and then run theough the top of the back of your shoulder blade, down through the shoulder joint, and down your arm! A lot of times you have no feeling in your thumb and 1st 2 fingers! When dealing with your neck it can be VERY tricky - especially Physio Therapy! The thing that has REALLY helped me is deep massage - NO neck manipulation at all! and DONT go to a Chiropractor! When I went to see a Neurosurgeon, he was against any surgery - as your friend found out it CAN cause other problems! I know it seems like forever since your injury but with nerve damage it isn't that long actually - I know that your job is on the line - just like mine was! Your insurance company should be able to compensate you for loss of wages - as mine did! I STILL have pain, and it has taken a long time, but I am glad I didn't have the surgery, I'm sure there will be others that say the opposite and had a great outcome! It's a hard call! But I would give it awhile longer, just to see if it starts subsiding! Are you on anti convulsion medicine - which calms the nerves down! Have you tried massage?
I get a massage at each therapy session. And I have stayed FAR away from a chiropractor.. i don't want anyone manipulating my neck in any way! Actually with my friend, what caused the problems was waiting to long to have it surgically fixed. By that point, something was unrepairable, so part was fixed, but had they done it sooner, all would have been fixed. That's why I'm so leary of everything.. I don't want surgery, I want to see how the injections work, and continue with therapy, but I don't want to wait so long that it winds up being damaged beyond repair. I am on muscle relaxers (what's the anti-convulsion medication for?), but they don't help at all. I am also on tramadol 100mg, which do nothing for the pain. NSAIDs are a joke, pointless to take as they gain me no relief either. I realize that in the grand scheme of things, it really hasn't been too long since my accident, but I can't be in pain 9 years later. It's not only affecting my job, but my mental health and family life.
I totally understand! I''m not saying it has taken 9 years, just that it took awhile! The thing with me was the same with your friend, the doctors actually lost my file!!! For 7 MONTHS!! So by the time I saw someone, there was so much scar tissue, and they didn't want to try anything! I had cortosone injections, in my neck and shoulder! They helped me for a short period of time, and for some they can do the trick! EVERYONE is different! If they can do surgery and have a far more positive outlook on your results, they I think you should go for it! IF the injections and therapy don't work! You have to give each therapy a try! And also have a good heart to heart with your therapist! As mine - after MONTHS - actually said she didn't want me to come anymore and actualy sent a note to the insurance compny stating that she thought therapy was hurting me more than helping! They aren't in the business to hurt you, so be open and honest with them OK?
My doctor put me on Anti Seizure medications to stop the nerve problems - I was put on Gabapentin, Clonazepam, These really helped me with the "Electrical" sensations - which used to REALLY bother me and actually cause me a lot of pain! Your doctor has to calm the nerves first! Also ask them to give you Tramacet! This has REALLY worked for me!
I have to tell you something about me too, I have a VERY rare genetic disorder, so thus why it has been SO long since my initial injury! Most people - actually the majority of people - would not take so long as I have! So don't get discouraged about my story - it's the same but different! 8-| I am TOTALLY aware of how this is affecting you, as it has me too! BUT I am at the other end of this "journey" and you are at the beginning, so instead of you trying this and that, I will tell you what I was EVENTUALLY put on, so I could actually function! Also IF you have depression with this - which it sounds like it (and is TOTALLY normal under these circumstances), Cymbalta has been my life savour! BUT there are SO many different types of anti depression and anxiety! WHICH have also been shown to handle pain! I am on FAR less medications then I used to be on! Actually I'm a recovering addict from Oxycocet and Oxycodone! So try not to go down that road OK? Nerve Pain is one of the most painful conditions around - as people who have had loss of limbs can attest too! The nerve pain can be untolerable, so your doctor needs to work on that for you! And in the mean time be open and honest with your therapist! Is the massage helping you at all!?
My doctor put me on Anti Seizure medications to stop the nerve problems - I was put on Gabapentin, Clonazepam, These really helped me with the "Electrical" sensations - which used to REALLY bother me and actually cause me a lot of pain! Your doctor has to calm the nerves first! Also ask them to give you Tramacet! This has REALLY worked for me!
I have to tell you something about me too, I have a VERY rare genetic disorder, so thus why it has been SO long since my initial injury! Most people - actually the majority of people - would not take so long as I have! So don't get discouraged about my story - it's the same but different! 8-| I am TOTALLY aware of how this is affecting you, as it has me too! BUT I am at the other end of this "journey" and you are at the beginning, so instead of you trying this and that, I will tell you what I was EVENTUALLY put on, so I could actually function! Also IF you have depression with this - which it sounds like it (and is TOTALLY normal under these circumstances), Cymbalta has been my life savour! BUT there are SO many different types of anti depression and anxiety! WHICH have also been shown to handle pain! I am on FAR less medications then I used to be on! Actually I'm a recovering addict from Oxycocet and Oxycodone! So try not to go down that road OK? Nerve Pain is one of the most painful conditions around - as people who have had loss of limbs can attest too! The nerve pain can be untolerable, so your doctor needs to work on that for you! And in the mean time be open and honest with your therapist! Is the massage helping you at all!?
Thank you for your replies! The massage is helping a bit with the muscles.. I get really bad twinges in the left side of my neck as well as bad tightening in my left shoulder. The massage helps to undo that a little, although I've yet to see real progress. I am still hopeful though!