Tag Archives: neck pain

Pain Relief Results After a Steroidal Epidural

Posted on by
Reply

A Real-Life OSC Patient Tells of Their Pain Relief Experience

My last post dealt with the yucky after-effects experience with the epidural were over (1 day max), I eagerly began waiting to see if I would feel relief.

When they put the steroid medication into  your epidural space, they use numbing medication.  This numbing medication does provide temporary pain relief, but the real relief that I am seeking can come several days to a week after the injection.

Steroid use for pain relief

Epidural Injection of Steroids for Pain Relief

For the first few days, I really did not feel that much of a difference in my pain.  After about 4 days, I started to notice that my arm did not hurt quite as much.  Then after about a week, I noticed a small improvement in my shoulder and neck pain.  This improvement however, was not the big payoff that I had hoped for or expected from the epidural.

As a matter of fact, I really did not see a huge difference in my pain level from before.  So, being a good patient, I waited for a whole month to see if things would change.  To my chagrin, they did not.  So, I went to talk to Dr. Mark McFarland, one of the spine specialists here at OSC, to tell him the epidural had not given me the relief that I sought.

Dr Mark McFarland OSC orthopedic associate

Dr Mark McFarland examines a patient's spine

Dr. McFarland listened patiently to me as I opined that I would be headed for the surgery table because that silly epidural did not work and there was no hope for me, except to be cut open and have the offending disc herniation removed.  Dr. McFarland surprised me when he suggested that I should head back for yet another epidural.

I guess he saw the surprise on my face and explained to me his rationale.

He told me that many times, the first epidural does not reduce the inflammation around the nerve as well as it might.  So, they do another epidural in a different area or even a level above or below the herniation.  Many times, this second one does the trick and relieves the patient’s pain significantly.

Hmmmm.

I guess I lived through the first one, I guess I can try again and see if it will work this time for me.  I am willing to do anything to feel better, so here goes.

Next time – My second cortisone injection epidural!

Disc Herniation Treatment Plan with Dr Jeffrey Carlson

Posted on by
Reply

Dealing with My Neck Pain

I think what most surprises me about working at OSC is how many people say to me, “I’m not going to see an Orthopaedic surgeon…all they want to do is cut on me to make money!”  I can tell you for a fact that in all but the most extreme circumstances, surgery will NOT be the first, second or even third treatment option you will be given.  In fact, the OSC doctors are very conservative and seem to try other therapies before recommending surgery.

Orthopedic surgeon operating

Dr Jeffrey Carlson Performing Surgery

This is exactly what happened in my case.

Dr. Jeffrrey Carlson reviewed my MRI with me and then told me my treatment options.  I honestly expected him to recommend surgery and I was fine with that, IF it would provide relief.  However, I was somewhat taken aback when he first suggested physical therapy and treatment with prescription anti-inflammatories.  By this time, I had been in pain, which was increasing in severity, for almost 3 years.  I was ready to do anything to feel better.  But, I took his advice and began Physical Therapy.  I also continued taking my medication.  I was in therapy for several weeks and noticed no improvement, in fact, my pain seemed to be getting much worse…almost intolerable.

physical tyherapists for pain relief

OSC's Physical Therapy Team

I was seen again by Dr. Carlson and again, expected him to recommend surgery.  NO, he instead suggested another treatment, an epidural steroid injection.  I have to admit, I was afraid of this….I hate shots!  I know, name a person who loves injections and I will sell you some ocean-front property in Oklahoma!  But, I REALLY hate to get a shot…so much so that I pass out cold.  I have to lie down to get them and sometimes I still pass out.  I have a bad history of this and it was not comforting at all to think about this happening in front of all of the people with whom I work.  However scared I was, I decided to trust Dr. Carlson and give it a try.  I was in so much pain at that point that I really did not care, I just wanted to feel better.

Next time….cervical steroid epidural!  EEEEEK!

Having an MRI Test with OSC’s Open MRI

Posted on by
Reply

Open MRI Scanning Technology at OSC

After my initial examination by an orthopedic associate at OSC I had my MRI, which was not unpleasant at all.  Many people become claustrophobic inside enclosed spaces, but the MRI at OSC is open in the back and on the sides (an “Open MRI”), so it certainly doesn’t not make you feel as claustrophobic as one of those “tube” MRIs might make you feel.

OSC's Open MRI accredited by ACR

Open MRI Technology at Orthopaedic & Spine Center

I checked in for my appointment and was told to change into a gown, but that I could leave on everything from the waist down.  I put my clothes into a locker.  I was then escorted into the MRI room itself.  The machine is kind of imposing-looking, but our MRI technicians are so warm and friendly, they put you right at ease.

They told me that I would be able to talk to them at any time and that if I had a problem during the MRI, that I could let them know. I was told to lie down on a table that was attached to the Open MRI itself.  They put a bolster under my legs to make me more comfortable and gave me a blanket.  They told me that the table on which I was lying would move into the actual MRI and that when inside, I would need to lie very still. All I had to do was find a position for my hands that would be comfortable and one where I could hold my position without wanting to move.  They also asked me if I would like to listen to music and even put on the kind of music I liked!

Once I was comfortable, they pushed a button and the table moved me inside of the MRI machine.  Lying face up on my back, the top of the machine was about 6 inches from my face, but the sides were open and I could feel cool air coming from behind my head, where the machine was also open.  They asked if I was okay again and then said that they would start the test.

The MRI tech left the room and went to sit in a windowed control room where they could operate the MRI and watch me at the same time.  They talked to me over a speaker that I could hear inside the MRI and said for me to cough or clear my throat and then to be still for about 10 minutes.  Soon  after, they told me I would hear some noises and that the test was beginning.  The noises I heard were not scary, but kind of funny.  One of the sets of noises I heard was kind of like a horse clip-clopping, then I heard a variety of noises, some metallic in nature, some kind of like a beat from a New Wave 80′s Band!  I love music and enjoyed listening to all of the different sounds.  It didn’t frighten me or annoy me at all…I found it to be most entertaining!

After about 10 minutes, they told me I could cough or clear my throat and then I had to be still again.  This went on for about 30 minutes and then the test was complete.  The MRI tech came into the room, pushed a button  and my table moved out from the MRI machine.  I got up, got dressed and was finished with my test in less than 1 hour.  The experience was not painful or difficult in anyway.

Having an Open MRI at OSC was convenient and easy!

How OSC’s Orthopedic Associates Helped my Pain in the Neck – Follow my Journey….

Posted on by
Reply

Orthopaedic & Spine Center at the Cutting Edge of Pain Management

Hello! I work for OSC and have been battling neck and shoulder pain for almost three years. I decided to share my experience in hope that someone else could benefit and find answers. I also would love to start a conversation among folks who might have similar stories about neck pain and disc problems, so that we can compare notes about treatment, what works and what hasn’t, prognosis and actual outcomes.

OSC Orthopaedic surgery center

OSC's Orthopedic Associates Center of Excellence

I have always carried my stress in my shoulders. In fact, when someone would try to rub my shoulders as a kind gesture, it would always hurt instead of feeling good. Back in my twenties, I noticed that I would develop neck pain when I worked for a long time doing data entry at a computer, but that pain quickly went away as soon as I changed my activity.

Fast forward to about 3 years ago, when I was 44 years old. I began noticing pain in my neck, spine, in my shoulder and in the area between. The pain would move around some, but it was almost always a nagging, burning pain, punctuated by bouts of more severe stabbing pain. It started as an occasional problem, but after a business trip where I slept on squishy, non-supportive pillows for five days, it became a constant painful part of my life.  Ever since that time, I have been nursing this pain and doing everything that I can to make it go away.  My examinations and Xrays only showed mild arthritis in the neck, nothing extreme.

Yet, I hurt all of the time!

I have tried Physical Therapy (hot packs, E-Stim, a TENS unit, traction and exercises), at home exercises (performed every night, religiously) anti-inflammatory, non-narcotic muscle relaxers as well as steroid injections into the painful trigger points in my trapezoid area.  I have worn out two heating pads, gotten deep tissue massage and used every type of analgesic rub known to mankind.  None of these have ever provided more than passing relief.

Orthopaedic surgery by Jeffrey Carlosn MD

Dr Carlson Head of Orthopaedic & Spine Center

A few weeks ago, after trying to sleep with the pain, tossing and turning at night and hoping that the heating pad would somehow “heal” me, I noticed a strange stiffness up the back of my head, which made it very uncomfortable to sleep or turn my head.  I waited a few days, hoping it was temporary, but the stiffness and soreness continued and was getting worse.  I decided to take action and talk to one of our Orthopaedic Spine Surgeons here at OSC.  I told him my symptoms and he referred me immediately for an MRI.

Next time…the results of the MRI!

Spinal Stenosis: A Painful Condition Prevalent in the Senior Population

Posted on by
Reply

A recent study  published by Boston University has determined that lumbar spinal stenosis affects 4.71% of the general population, seemingly a very low number.  However, 47.2%   of individuals in the 60-69 age group have lumbar spinal stenosis on their MRI scan, which is a significant number.  The individuals  that actually  are diagnosed with severe stenosis will approach 20%.  These patients with significant spinal stenosis have a 3 times higher incidence of back pain than the general population.  As our population continues to live longer, spinal stenosis will certainly be  a significant health problem.

Spinal stenosis is the progression of arthritis in the spine occurring in the neck, as well as in the lower back.   As we age, the cartilage in the discs of our spine will lose their ability to hold water.  The water in the discs is what helps the disc move and remain flexible to bending and compression.  As the discs lose their water content, they become more fragile.  If the  fragile cartilage breaks, the condition is called degenerative disc disease.  As discs degenerate, they will begin to bulge and put pressure on the spinal canal and nerve roots.  This disc bulging will decrease the diameter of the spinal canal,a condition referred to as spinal stenosis.  The spinal stenosis slows the information that flows between the brain and the extremities.  The arms will be affected by spinal stenosis in the neck and the legs will be affected by lower back (lumbar) spinal stenosis.

Patients with lumbar spinal stenosis will feel back pain, as well as leg pain or fatigue.  Because of the fatigue in the legs, patients will have to sit frequently during walks.  Lumbar spinal stenosis will also cause patients to find benches in the mall and grab the cart at the grocery store, in order to make it through their errands.  Some patients may attribute their fatigue to age and as they continue to remain active later in life, this may severely limit their ability to join in their families activities.  The leg fatigue can cause significant pain and cramping during activity, but dissipates when the patient sits down.  The act of sitting  opens the spinal canal by decreasing the curve in the lower back,which also occurs while the patient is leaning on the grocery cart. Continue reading →