I have pretty bad arthritis in my lower back, I had shots and nerve ablation, nothing helped. But I figured it was worth trying, neither was overly painful - and YMMV.

 

The first shot should be a ‘test shot’ with a smaller dose to gauge how you take it and the relief you get. The 2nd shot is where I started to get help. I discontinued it a couple years ago as the relief was getting shorter. So, doc wanted to wait a bit before doing another. Ablation did nothing for me.

 

I worked with a couple of Chiropractors that specialized in cervical anomalies.
Personally, as an Registered X-ray Tech I would explore non-invasive procedures when the spine is involved. If adjustments are not a remedy I would get opinions from two separate Pain Management Specialists.

 

Had two bulged disc that ran burning pain from right shoulder to finger tips, nothing stopped it until a Neurosurgeon went in and fused C5-C7...all gone.

 

Mine is C6-C7, and I’m afraid you’re correct on this. I want to try the band aid approaches first though. First thing is to get some prednisone when Monday rolls around, and get this to settle a bit.

 

I had a cortisone shot decades ago for a knee issue and learned cortisone is not for me. It made me crazy evil. Steered clear of it ever since. My 2 cents; everybody's body chemistry differs.

 

Prednisone can do the same. People refer to it as the devil’s tic tacs, but sometimes it’s a necessary evil. I get what you’re saying though neighbor.

 

Bottom 3, or more, vertebrae should be fused was the official diagnosis from several neurosurgeons. Several courses of 3 shot injections did not help but, YMMV.

 

When the vertebrae are fused does it limit range of motion?

 

I had three discs that were shot. Therapy, pain management then surgery. Fusion. No pain anymore. Was worth it. I had lived with the pain for about 4 years. The surgeon told me he could promise about 75% reduction in pain. He did better than that. I get sore sometimes, after vacuuming the whole house, that sort of thing, otherwise good.

 

IME, if you have nerve impingement that can’t be relieved pretty quickly with med’s and a few steroid shots, see the best neurosurgeon you can get to, get a genuine expert’s opinion and have it fixed surgically, if necessary. If you piddle around and try to “power through it” long enough you will start losing use of the affected limb. I lost about 50% of the use in my lower leg and foot because I moved too slow. The fix isn’t pleasant but it is far better than the alternative.

 

Mine is caused by arthritis according to mri earlier this year. Surgically they can go in, and scrape the arthritis, but no guarantee it won’t come back.
I’m going to try to get into orthopedic soon, and see about an injection. They used ultrasound to do an injection in bicep tendon 3 years ago. I believe they can do the same in my neck to get the arthritis calmed down to where it’s not pinching the nerve.
It’s good to get everyone’s experiences though. I believe what the orthopedic is saying, but I like real world experience from people who have been treated for this.

 

You might try some physical therapy along with the steroid injection, sometimes it can help a considerable amount. Not always but worth a try.

 

I have a Titanium spacer that slightly limits my neck turning to the left, really only noticable when I need to look back at a 45 º intersection, I have to shift my body a bit to the left...don't even think about it anyway. Zero left over pain.

 

I have 3 herniated discs and 3 bulging in my C-spine- that leaves me one disc that is “normal“.
Gifts that keep on giving from a motorcycle accident 22 years ago when a drunk driver in an SUV ran me over and dragged me almost 400 feet… broke my neck and many other bones. I will likely need to have my neck fused from C2 – C7 someday, but when I do, my work life will be over so I get injections once or twice per year when I can no longer move adequately.
I have found that sometimes the epidural injection works, sometimes individual cervical facet injections provide substantial relief without the risk and pain of an epidural.

YMMV

DrGunner

RFC Administrator & Consigliere

 

Long story for me , I had C4 C5 fused . I hurt worse than before surgery , when I say hurt , pain level was at a 10+ every wakened moment of my life . I returned to the Dr that did surgery for 8 years . 49 PT visits , EMG nerve tests 2x , 6 MRIs . He finally told me “ look you need to toughen up , there is nothing I can do for you . Don’t call for a visit again I will not see you again . “ It was in Nov ., that I had last MRI with him , same one he says nothing wrong . I took the very same MRI to another Dr . . He loaded the MRI into the computer and it appeared on a large screen on the wall in front of us . It was like a cartoon when the new Dr viewed the MRI ! His eyes popped out he ask me can you see this ? I could see the issues plainly and had never viewed an MRI image in my life . The stupid first Dr had missed the bone with 4 screws attaching a plate . The screws had been shot into good discs , destroying them . The screws had pulled out 2 buried into my windpipe , 2 pinching on the casing of the spinal cord . When the screws had pulled out my spine collapsed pinching nerves . I was in emergency surgery 6 days later and now have C4 to C7 in one fused stack . The pain is gone , range of motion is gone also . Very limited , shooting with a scope is not comfortable for long periods Of time .

The Dr that found the issue , requested all medical documents from 1st Dr . The 1st MRI was taken 6 weeks after surgery because I was complaining of serious pain . This image plainly showed the fusion had failed and spine had collapsed 6 weeks after his surgery . The fool told me you are fine and return to manual labor job after this 6 week MRI image .

My advice is get 2 opinions before any surgery , read reviews of the Dr wanting to operate. The 1st surgeon has a rating of 1.5 out of 5 ! . Pray for a good outcome .
What I have to say to the fool is there will no longer be a seat in Hell for you ! You will have to endure Hell and pain from standing for eternity, you SOB !

 

Long story for me , I had C4 C5 fused . I hurt worse than before surgery , when I say hurt , pain level was at a 10+ every wakened moment of my life . I returned to the Dr that did surgery for 8 years . 49 PT visits , EMG nerve tests 2x , 6 MRIs . He finally told me “ look you need to toughen up , there is nothing I can do for you . Don’t call for a visit again I will not see you again . “ It was in Nov ., that I had last MRI with him , same one he says nothing wrong . I took the very same MRI to another Dr . . He loaded the MRI into the computer and it appeared on a large screen on the wall in front of us . It was like a cartoon when the new Dr viewed the MRI ! His eyes popped out he ask me can you see this ? I could see the issues plainly and had never viewed an MRI image in my life . The stupid first Dr had missed the bone with 4 screws attaching a plate . The screws had been shot into good discs , destroying them . The screws had pulled out 2 buried into my windpipe , 2 pinching on the casing of the spinal cord . When the screws had pulled out my spine collapsed pinching nerves . I was in emergency surgery 6 days later and now have C4 to C7 in one fused stack . The pain is gone , range of motion is gone also . Very limited , shooting with a scope is not comfortable for long periods Of time .

The Dr that found the issue , requested all medical documents from 1st Dr . The 1st MRI was taken 6 weeks after surgery because I was complaining of serious pain . This image plainly showed the fusion had failed and spine had collapsed 6 weeks after his surgery . The fool told me you are fine and return to manual labor job after this 6 week MRI image .

My advice is get 2 opinions before any surgery , read reviews of the Dr wanting to operate. The 1st surgeon has a rating of 1.5 out of 5 ! . Pray for a good outcome .
What I have to say to the fool is there will no longer be a seat in Hell for you ! You will have to endure Hell and pain from standing for eternity, you SOB !

Has the malpractice suit been settled yet?

 

The absolute best Neurosurgeon you can find is the one you want, mine was recommended to me by a man who was co-owner of a company making "appliances" for such surgeries. I now know three outstanding Neurosurgeons, mine and the two who have worked on my wife...one specializes in brain surgery.

 

I had an ACDF (C4 C5) they used a cadaver bone graft with a plate about 21 years ago, I was in pain for a while, I couldn’t lift a 12 ounce drink with my right arm. I got two opinions. The most experienced neurosurgeon said he typically would only do surgeries for weakness or loss of feeling, no guarantee of pain going away.

Woke up pain free, some loss of flexibility. Eventually I got about 80% of my arm strength back. Still have some numbness in my shoulder, but that will never go away. The sooner you get it done the better the outcome. My nephew is a fellowship trained orthopedic surgeon, he sees very bad situations every day that might have been minimized by early intervention. He’s not a fan of cortisone because of the risk of joint infection.

 

The insurance will require cortisone injection before moving on to something else. You know how health insurance works. They use as many band aids as they can before getting to the point.
Honestly, I don’t want anyone surgically messing with my arthritic vertebrae. Just looking for some minimally invasive relief that’s not a handful of pills.

 

Sorry I missed this thread. I'll add more later.
Take care Friend.

 

Yes , very long story . Not enough time and space to discuss here . If anyone is in greater Cinti area , looking to have surgery completed . PM and I will share who NOT to allow touch you .

 

I'm in Cincinnati. Old fella at Mayfield off I-71 took care of me. He just retired.... Tobin was his last name. He fixed me in a heartbeat.

 

I was having loss of strength, range of motion, and numbness down my right arm. Long story short, I had a pinched nerve in my neck.
Spent 2 years going to 2 different neurologists, 1 year each, to finally find out it wasn't neurologial.
Went to a spine surgeon and right away he pegged it as nerve impingment at C5-C6. With 3 deteriorated discs it was decided shots would just prolong the inevitable surgery,
Removed 3 discs, place spacers, and fused C4-C7. Best thing I ever did. No more numbness and no problems. Rehab to build strength and range of motion.

Here's what it looks like...3 dots between vertebra are spacers

 

Been there, done that. Two bulged discs in my neck. Arm pain and weakness got so bad that I couldn't even hold my shotgun to shoot a round of skeet. Got a plate and spacer in my neck a few yrs ago.....woke up pain free and was back to normal in about 2 months. And when I say back to normal I mean lifting heavy weights and back to boxing/sparring 2 days a week. A very easy surgery for me with great results.

 

Didja tell the surgeon you went back to boxing?

 

If you want to see a mess... fun part is the upper plate holding the cage makes it difficult to swallow most solid foods.

 

Is that you?? ****!!!!

 

My problems are C4/C5 and C7/T1 along with arthritis of the facet joints and some spondylosis at a couple of levels. I'm not ready for surgery yet. But its coming.

 

A doctor needs patients to pay for their new Mercedes,, so, why would they cure you??

My story, I had back pain (including shooting pains down my leg,, etc ) from age ~23 to 74,,
about 50 years,,
I had the x-ray spinal injections, chiropractor, etc,,,,
Pain treatment had me on oxy for the last decade,,

I read about seed oils causing pain, so I decided to try that,,
I eliminated seed oils January 2025,, within a month, the pains were gone. GONE!!

A month before Mothers Day, I quit the oxy
by Mothers Day, I was remarkably pain free

Now, I can still get sore from working too hard,,
heck, I would get sore when I was 20 years old,, but, I no longer get incapacitated,,

Quitting seed oil is tougher than quitting cigarettes, seed oil is in EVERYTHING,,

Today, my diet is limited,, steak, potatoes, green beans, etc,,,
HECK, even hot dogs, and sausage has seed oils,,

BUT, are you tired of pain?? there is only one way to find out if the seed oils cause your pain,,,

 

I’ve got an appointment with orthopedic tomorrow. Started steroids today to try and find some relief. @FuzeDude you’re either tough, crazy or both.

 

My wife would use the adjectives "stubborn", "hard headed", "PITA".......LOL !!!!!

 

I hear ya' buddy. I have to say the attendant numbness in my shoulders and upper is is handy for getting injections. Can't feel a thing. But constantly dropping stuff is a pain.
When it creeps down to my hands it does affect my shooting. It is like picking your nose with a No. 2 pencil.

 

Got my epidural injection in the back of my neck 2 days ago. Have to see how long it lasts. Hopefully for a while.