Disc & Muscle problems in neck

[Guest guest]

Hello Everyone!

I have been lurking lately because I have been having serious pain

issues with head and neck pain. My PT coverage ran out already for

the yr because " hubbies " fiscal yr starts July 1. That means I am

done until NEXT July! I have tried everything the docs and I can

think of and I still am suffering several times a week to the point

of lying in bed on an icepack.

I have 2 discs that are protruding but suposedly they are not the

entire cause of the severe pain. I have tried facet blocks,

epidurals, traction, massage, heat/cold massage, electrical

stimulation, accupuncture& manipulation. I am now having trigger

point injections of lidocaine and some other " caine " injected into

the occipatal scalp area 3 times a week along with manipulation to

attempt to " free up the muscle that is locked in continous spasm. " I

am so over it and tired of living in pain that I am willing to try

whatever the docs come up with. The PCP who is doing the injections

is holding off on adding steroids because his talks with Dr Cohen in

the past.Dr Cohen has him using steroids as minimally as possible.

Since I usually have several episodes a yr of breathing trouble that

requires steroids- we are reserving them for breathing issues.

I would love to hear from anyone who has had similar problems and

what you did to resolve it. My Doc and I feel like we are just

spinning here and getting nowhere. It seems so strange to me that I

can have so many different types of muscle issues going on at the

same time. I've got the overall muscle weakness associated with

strength in my legs and arms, as I am typing my arms and fingers are

cramping up. Then I take the med Requip for the muscle faciculations

and constant movement in my legs. Most painful and definetly the

issue that is affecting my quality of life is the constant head and

neck pain caused by the severe spasm that seems to respond to

nothing! I am on my 3rd or 4th muscle relaxer------this month it's

Soma, at least it helps make me sleepy :-) I'm getting tired to

living on pain meds too. If they actually worked I would be thrilled

but after taking them for so long I might as well take an Advil----

they are just about as useless ;-(

Once again, sorry for the disappearing act , but between my pain

issues and being called up to the school at least twice weekly for

's seizures or g-tube problems, I am fighting to keep my head

above water these days! Hey if hydro therapy helped then I'd be doing

just fine, LOL!