13 replies to this topic

[maxdvr]

hey all... lookin for some advice .... lately i've been havin neck pain and severe headaches... now being the strong silent type i am... i figured i would just take some advil... sry...not workin... so i go see the doc... he starts treating me for migraines... but first i had to have a ct scan to make sure i didnt have an anuirism (spellcheck).... wheeew... all safe ... not i can suck on my reg with a lil comfort that my head isnt gonna explode.... but my neck still hurts and when it does....on comes this nasty headache again... so i try different migraine meds...nothing works... doctors love to prescribe meds to figure out whats wrong.... i dont get it... if i were to put 15 parts on ur car to fix it...and the last one does... do u feel obligated to pay for all those parts.... i think not... sry ...had to rant a lil...

so here i am .. am 1 1/2 months later...after bextra, axert, prednisolone, imitrex,flexiril, keflex,toprol, and 4 scripts of vicoden... 1 ct scan, 1 M.R.I. a full cervical xray.... i get an answer... central canal stenosis from c-2 through c-6... arthritisis all through my neck... herniated disc t-4/t-5... hmmmmmmm ...imagine that...no migraine.... now i have to see a neurosurgen this friday.... not lookin forward to a neck operation...not sure how this will effect diving... i realize im gettin old...but im a lil worried.... not to metion the fact im self-employed and cant draw comp.... limited medical insurance (cause im a man and tough),... 5000. in bills so far ... 1000. covered...(damn cheap insurance)... im doin my best to keep my dsl on... but thats goin soon too... any advice i can get would be a godsend...

and if i just disappear one day... i'll do my best to check back in from time to time...(SBC.... grrrrrrr)... some of you know alot more about this than me... and i guess im lookin for a lil peace of mind...maybe jumpin the gun a lil about surgery.... but im kinda lost.... HELP!!!! anything at all .... thanks....

Todd

[flatwood]

mavdvr, I had my neck fused together in 95. It dosen't have any effect on my diving, I just can't turn my head as much. And relax about the operation, its painless if you have to have it, bob

[ScubaDadMiami]

I also have cervical disc issues. It is not fun and it hurts a lot.

Even worse, I get numbness and tingling (besides the neck pain) running down my arms. Just imagine the fun I have after doing a heavy deco dive and then getting numbness in my arms. It is pretty scarey until you get used to it. You always worry about it being DCS.

I am still diving though.

[JohnnyC]

Maxdvr,
First off as a firefighter and an EMT I must stress how inmportant your health is. Anyway doctors do give too many scripts, and give lots of tests but it is called "practicing medicine" not exact science medicine. Anyway I hope everything goes well for you. Going to the doctor is probably the best for you. Better to know whats going on then have it gnawing at you all the time. Hope you feel better soon.

Hope you feel better,
Johnny

[Marion1336]

I would suggest giving a bit of conservative treatment a try before going forward with the surgery (ie. Chiropractic).

I suffered from migraines for several years and took Imitrex which did nothing to reduce the amount of headaches, just numbed the pain when they came on. Chiropractic helped reduce the frequency and intensity of my headaches. Of course, I do not have any stenotic, arthritic complications as in your case.

My positive outcome is what persuaded me down that career path. If you want a referral in your area, PM me.

In any case, good luck to you.

[TheSassyRabbit]

I highly second Marion's suggestion of seeing a chiroprator. A good chiropractor, along with some progressive physical therapy, might be able to reduce or take away your pain - or at least buy you some time before a surgery is needed - a really big decision (although I caveat that with I'm not a doctor and don't play one on t.v.).

I love my chiropractor - and see him at least once a month - even if I'm not hurting - and more often if I am (okay, the shameless fact that he's not bad looking motivates me too!) ! Two specific experieces sold me on chiropractic care:
1) when everyone was sure I had TMJ and would need surgery, and had been loading me up on pain pills, he adjusted my jaws (an admittedly painful adjustment) - and I went 6 months without ANY problems. Another adjustment and
2) last year when I was in cast for several months, my lower back and hip hurt so bad that I could barely get out of bed. Turns out my hip was out of alignment because of the height difference in legs caused by the cast, affecting everything else (back, shoulders, knees, etc.). Several adjustments and I was SO much better. Of course, I had to continue to the adjustments until I could walk again... but so worth it.

The hardest part seems to be finding a GOOD chiroprator who gives you more than 5 min. of their time. I'd definitely take Marion up on her offer to help find one!

Good luck and keep us posted!

[maxdvr]

hey all... thanks for all the advice and support.... good news... no surgery as of yet... spinal fluid is still flowin good... starting a new theropy program on the advice of the surgeon... but he also told me ..if after a couple weeks i dont feel better... stop wasting money on it..... as far as a chiropractor...i have a pretty good one.... had back surgery many yrs ago and when i hurt i see him.... i guess i need to think about it for my neck now.... but had to see what the neurosurgen said first... anyways... i have a lil break from the stress now... oh and 2 new scripts of different drugs now...lol.. gotta love that... so just waitin to see if the theropy helps.... more in a week or so.... and thanks again to everyone.... dive safe.... dive alot.....

max

[Terri]

I love my chiropractor - and see him at least once a month - even if I'm not hurting - and more often if I am (okay, the shameless fact that he's not bad looking motivates me too!) !

Hey SR -

I went to a chiropractor for awhile when I lived in Houston as well....and was also motivated some by how cute he was!!

He had these great crystal blue eyes and curly blonde hair...same guy??!!

[TheSassyRabbit]

I went to a chiropractor for awhile when I lived in Houston as well....and was also motivated some by how cute he was!!

He had these great crystal blue eyes and curly blonde hair...same guy??!!

Uh... yeah.... how coincidental would that be? I'll PM you with the name and we'll compare notes. I'll bet that description fits a number of chiro's in Houston.... huh?

[maxdvr]

great news all.... no surgery needed...yet...lol...ofcourse the lack of good health coverage may have influenced the doc....not alot of money to be made from an out of work builder....i did get some good advice from him though.... try P.T. for a couple weeks nad if it doesnt help.... stop and live with the pain...lol.... great news huh? so im gonna go shovel his car in today...and call my buddy who owns a towing buisness and tell him to be around at 4:30 to offer a hand gettin his car out....hehehehehe... one thing i have learned in my yrs is.."this too shall pass"... a good friend named Bill taught me that... hope to be able to start takin some trips with ya'll soon...


max

[Marvel]

Great news, Max! I hope all goes as he said for you (healing).

[WreckWench]

Fantastic news my dear....and I pray that you keep being able to pay the bills as well. Keep us posted...-ww

[maxdvr]

Great news, Max! I hope all goes as he said for you (healing).

not really healing per say.... its a degerattive diasese so it will only get worse.... but hey... one day they will just have to operate regardless .. but that u hun....

[maxdvr]

Fantastic news my dear....and I pray that you keep being able to pay the bills as well. Keep us posted...-ww

we'll see what they say at disability... in 5 months