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Age 25, and I have arthritis in my neck...

CRQuarto

CRQuarto

Brrraaaiiinnnsss.....
Joined
Jan 29, 2009
Messages
1,850
Location
SoCal
I know there are plenty of people in the world worse off than I am, but this still sucks. I injured my shoulder at work over a year ago, and in the process screwed up my neck, but was told by the County workers comp docs that the neck would heal, that the shoulder was the main problem. Well, needless to say my shoulder healed, but my neck remained screwed up for the remainder of the time. I was told by different doctors, "Your neck is fine."

Fast forward to a couple weeks ago when I finally got fed up with constant pain, muscle spasms so bad they give me migraines at times, and other crap. I had tried physical therapy, muscle relaxers, massage, none of it helped. I finally went to a Chiro and after getting my neck X-rayed by him, found out I have arthritis in my neck. At age 25. What the hell.

He also said my tendons and muscles were all tight as a drum, out of place, and otherwise screwed up. Luckily, he said if I got my neck and back adjusted twice a week for the next month he could prevent the arthritis from getting worse, and relieve the pain and muscle spasms. This was great news, until I found out Kaiser doesn't cover Chiro. I'm sure if I raise enough hell that will change, but it still sucks. Today my neck pain was so bad I almost left work early, and now it is 3 in the morning and I can't sleep because of it. Guess I won't be going to work today. :angry:


Thanks for letting me bitch.
 
Sorry to hear it Charles! Get a steaming hot towel, put it over the back of your neck for like ten minutes, then let the girlfriend slap your face REALLY hard from both sides. Should make the adjustment and she would probably relieve a lot of stress as well, two birds with one stone! :laugh: :p Seriously though, hope ya get better soon brother!
 
Thanks guys. It is more frustrating at times than anything else, yesterday just happened to be flat out miserable, and today seems to be shaping up to something similar.

Greg, she's been working out in the academy. If she slaps me now, I'll probably stroke. :laugh: I have a heating pad on it right now, but so far no luck. If I turn my head any direction, I can feel everything grating, popping and snapping, not to mention I can feel the muscles stretch and pull. Ugh.
 
Follow through on the old workman's comp claim Charles. Don't let your feelings of guilt stop you, or anyone else making you feel guilty do the same.

It's there for a reason................To protect you.

Simply tell the truth...That this has been ongoing since the original work related injury, and you now have a diagnosis. Even if they can't fix in the end, at least you have proper documentation should it get so bad you become disabled from this in the near future.


I hurt my knee on the job and did not want to go to the doctor out of some weird feeling of guilt like I was milking the system. Walked around for weeks with a swollen bandaged knee. Pain got so bad I finally filed the papers and went to see the doc. Turned out I actually broke a bone that would have screwed me big time had it healed the way it was.
 
Have you gone to a Neorologist and had a Myleogram of your neck?
It will show more detail than a regular X-Ray or MRI. The reason I mention this is I hurt my neck back in 1988.
I immediately developed symptoms which lasted for over 20 years. The injury really did not show itself with regular
X-Rays or MRI's for over 10 years. When it did show up, it was already to the point of being very debilitating.

I went to the best Neurosurgeon in town about 10 years ago, who ordered a myleogram. It showed nerve impingement, which
was caused by a bulging disc at C5-C6. The bulge got bad enough to be seen by MRI about 4-5 yrs ago.
So, 5 yrs differance, same problem, two mwehods of looking. One showed a problem, the other suggested it was all in head (which is what the doctors said in 1988). Well it wasn't in my head, it was in my neck.

Last myleogram, before my recent surgery, showed the disc went from bulging to herniated, and also revealed a severely deteriorated disc that an MRI taken a month earlier did not mention.

By the way, My symptoms included severe headaches (caused by the spasm at c5-c6) and severe shoulder pain. The surgery has changed and improved the frequency and severity of the headaches. I basically had a headache for over 20 years, all day, all night, managed 70% of the time with meds, and the rest of the time, no relief. That has almost gone away completely after surgery. I can also lift my arms again without very severe pain.

I have arthritis, and was told that by a Chiropractor when I was in my very early 20's. All chiropractor's use that to alarm you. And no, their "Mobilization Techniques" (not adjustments ... more bull crap)) will not prevent or cure progression of Arthritis. Be real careful with Chiropractors (I've spent a fortune on them). While I believe they can
serve a purpose, their practice and surviveability depends on making life long patients. That IS NOT good at all!

If you have to go more than 5 or 10 sessions, start questioning everything. Beware of a lot of the "suggestions" they use facilitate this lifelong patient base.
In addition, if you are going to continue to see a Chiropractor, check into what is called an "Atlas Orthoganist". Therapy and exercise is a good thing. Too many "adjustments" ARE NOT! Especially high velocity adjustments of the Cervical Spine. An Atlas Orthoganist DOES do a true adjustment, without whipping your 8 pound head around. They have 2 additional years of school after becoming a regular Chiropractor.

Please keep in mind, or look into, a good orthopedic Masseuse. They can perform most of what a chiropracter leads you to believe are "Adjustments".

All that said, I can sympathize, and unfortunately, empathize with your discomfort.
If you ever have to have surgery, find out which Neurosurgeon in your area is the one that THE DOCTORS GO TO.

I hope you get past all this real soon. If your problem persists, creating a diminished quality of life, please consider what I've said here. And DO NOT BACK DOWN OR GIVE UP while dealing with workman's comp doctors, and worse, the insurance adjustors. I am convinced a lot of WC doctors are concerned with keeping their contracts, not curing you! It is in theirs, and the Insurance Companiy's best interest for you NOT to have an injury.
 
It sucks to be in pain; very depressing, especially at 25...
Continue to press your workman's comp claim and follow up with a trip to a neurologist as MadMonk suggested. Godspeed...
 
Be real careful with chiropractors. Some are good; others charlatans. I've had both.

Doc.
 
CRQuarto said:
Thanks guys. It is more frustrating at times than anything else, yesterday just happened to be flat out miserable, and today seems to be shaping up to something similar.

Greg, she's been working out in the academy. If she slaps me now, I'll probably stroke. :laugh: I have a heating pad on it right now, but so far no luck. If I turn my head any direction, I can feel everything grating, popping and snapping, not to mention I can feel the muscles stretch and pull. Ugh.
Click to expand...
Poor thing! My mother has osteoarthritis in her back and hands and its so hard watching her suffer with all of that pain. I hope you find some relief soon.

Also, my mom uses a pain relief gel called Sombra that she swears by. Its like IcyHot on steroids! Its the only thing that gives her some temporary relief when the oxycontin isnt doing squat. You might want to look into it. Heres a link:
http://www.amazon.com/Sombra-SOC080-SOMBRA-Relief-Gel-8oz/dp/B000WMHVEE
 
I hope you're able to get everything taken care of, and that your HMO coughs up the dough to cover it. They sure as hell should since their doctors are partially responsible for your current condition. I'd recommend if there is any form of referral clause that may bypass their "no chiro" clause. And be careful, Doc's words are very true.

I'm pulling for you bud!
 
If it makes you feel a little better I'm 22 and I have 4 herniated discs in my back :\ sometimes it's so bad I can't move.

I hope it gets better for you bud. Not being at 100% is crappy at any age. Follow the sage advice above and hopefully the docs can do something.
 
First off sorry hope it all works out and you get relief atleast.

Second listen to what Madmonk said my cousin ignored pain he had in his neck and didn't go and get it checked out beyond a MRI or X-ray till it was so bad that he is now stuck with pain for the rest of his life. He has also now had to quit his job or make it worse and right now is not the best time to not have a job or lose of choice in that job.
 
Hope you feel better...I can certainly sympathize with you. I've suffered chronic back pain since getting run over by a car when I was 12. Been hospitalized twice for it. Chiropractors are iffy...it really takes some looking around to find a good one. Physical therapy works over time, and stretching exercises have been a Godsend over the years. I regularly stretch once to twice a day. Doing these exercises in the morning when I get out of bed and in the evenings has helped tremendoulsy. You just have to stay on top of them. Good PTs can certainly show you what exercises and stretches you need to be doing on a daily basis. Hopefully...surgery will nto be required.
 
jfields said:
Follow through on the old workman's comp claim Charles. Don't let your feelings of guilt stop you, or anyone else making you feel guilty do the same.

It's there for a reason................To protect you.

Simply tell the truth...That this has been ongoing since the original work related injury, and you now have a diagnosis. Even if they can't fix in the end, at least you have proper documentation should it get so bad you become disabled from this in the near future.


I hurt my knee on the job and did not want to go to the doctor out of some weird feeling of guilt like I was milking the system. Walked around for weeks with a swollen bandaged knee. Pain got so bad I finally filed the papers and went to see the doc. Turned out I actually broke a bone that would have screwed me big time had it healed the way it was.
Click to expand...

This, along with MadMonks, is very sound advice. Were you to let this go and not follow up, then down the road be prepared to have WC deny you for lack of proof. Getting treatment establishes a history of the injury that can be tied to the original incident. It might seem like you're "milking-it" now, but say things persist or god forbid gets worse, lack of paper trail would be extremely damaging to any disability claim.

Hopefully it never comes to that and you recover fully. In today's world of tightened budgets you have to watch your own back. My department has medical separated a few guys injured on duty. Historically the stuck them in Pub Ed or Prevention, now I guess it makes more sense to turn your back on them.
 
x2 or 3 or 4 or whatever on the caution about Chiropractors. You wouldn't go to a heart surgeon who told you you needed to come in and have surgery every week for months on end or the rest of your life, don't accept that for your neck either.
 
C'mon brother, you're missing work for this thing. I know what happened, and you and I both know that you don't sit at your house picking up leg chains off of your own personal transport bus. It happened AT WORK. Yeah, I looks like you're milking it, and yeah some guys will give you crap for being a "pussy" and reporting it, but sack up dude and say something.

What happens when you can't play football with your kid 10 years down the line because you decided not to say anything because you didn't want anyone to accuse you of milking it? I know from experience, I didn't say anything about my back at my other job, and it killed me until I started weightlifting and strengthening it. In this job, we're destined for physical injury. I say you tell your Watch Commander and get the ball rolling.

On the other side of the coin, ask your doctor for some strengthening exercises to get those support muscles going.
 
Sorry to hear this, Charles. As someone who's been battling misc. back/neck problems, I can relate. I gotta ask, is there a lot of stress in your life right now? A lot of neck issues can be exasperated by stress, especially when it comes to muscle tightness. Perhaps something to think about. Also, how do you sleep? Are you sleeping with your neck in an awkward position (like lying on your stomach)? Is your mattress old and lumpy? An old mattress can contribute to poor sleep and aches and pains. Have you tried ice/heat packs? Massages that concentrate on your neck muscles?

I'm no doctor, but I'm just trying to suggest some easy home rememdies before you start heading down the surgery road. Also, for what it's worth, you might try acupuncture (although you'll get the same 50/50 split between skepticsm and believers).

Also, for years I went to a chiro that was covered by Kaiser. Has the chiro put in the application? I had to pay a co-pay but the majority was paid by Kaiser.
 
Well, the chiro was adamant that the twice a week was only for one month so as to get my neck used to being where it is supposed to be, instead of where it's at now. He said after that one month I would only need to come in if I felt like I needed to.

After reading what you all have said here, and what others said via PM, I'm going to a neuro and reviving my workers comp stuff. Thank you all for the kick in the ass.
 
Kingantz said:
Sorry to hear it Charles! Get a steaming hot towel, put it over the back of your neck for like ten minutes, then let the girlfriend slap your face REALLY hard from both sides. Should make the adjustment and she would probably relieve a lot of stress as well, two birds with one stone! :laugh: :p Seriously though, hope ya get better soon brother!
Click to expand...



*** And if she is specially good, let her kick you in the nutts. ???
 
Fight it with everything you've got! Don't accept any bad prognoses from Doctors. It will get better.

I've battled spinal arthritis since I was younger than you and I'm 53, have three wonderful kids, two fantastic grandkids, and I'm smoking a good cigar as I type. This, too, shall pass.

Best of luck to you and get well soon.

Steve
 
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