Been to the ER 3 time in the past 2 weeks. Had new Rx's, seem to help a little. Had to cervical epidural blocks (degenerative disk disease, bulging disk ) and now the surgery I thought I could put off is looming. My right arm doesn't seem to want to respond to the reflex testing. Life sucks!!!!!!!!!!

Sorry Nancy - hope things look up for you soon.

Sounds terrible, Nancy.

Damn back surgery is as iffy as it gets. My RN neighbor has been all over the place for it but not much help. She now sleeps in a recliner. It's the best therapy she's found.

Hold on and keep the docs on your side, not theirs. Make them listen!

Charlie

Keep fighting Nancy.  You're not alone.  I'll say a few for ya.

-Dennis-

   Degenerating Cervical Discs and CH.  I know how that feels. You're in my prayers.

Good vibes going up for you.... Hang in there....

NancyB wrote on Feb 14^th, 2010 at 11:51am:

Been to the ER 3 time in the past 2 weeks. Had new Rx's, seem to help a little. Had to cervical epidural blocks (degenerative disk disease, bulging disk ) and now the surgery I thought I could put off is looming. My right arm doesn't seem to want to respond to the reflex testing. Life sucks!!!!!!!!!!

Hi Nancy
I feel for you, I'm going through the same thing myself & have been for the last 5 months degenerative cervical disks crushing the nerves causing severe pain in my arm, shoulder & neck but things are looking a little better I seem to have got it a little under control using hot as I can take heat packs around the area at night & keeping the affected area as warm as possible, not the total solution but better than I was, other than cortisone injections they say there isn't much that can be done.
Keep the chin up.
Cheers
Barry

The cortizone injection was what landed me in the hospital the last time- something about spinal fluid still leaking. In any case the search is on for real now to find a surgeon. The whole no reflex thing has completely freaked me out. Thanks for all your well wishes- it means alot. I'll keep you up dated as I go. Again thanks for all your support.

Hang in there Nancy you will get through this.
Vibes on the way. :)

So here's the update. Saw a neuro surgeon for a second opinion and this is what he said. First of all the compression that the orthopedic surgeon said was moderate is actually minor. The loss of reflex was probably caused by the injection being done wrong ( got the feeling that I'm lucky I'm not paralyzed from the neck down ). Said that I have no more disk problem than any other 43 yr old. Needless to say I will not be going back to the original Dr.Tried to pressure me into a surgery I don't need and made me feel like it was the only way to get any relief. Freakin guy added a whole lot more stress at a time I didn't need it. As for the anesthesiologist that screwed up the injection, if I ever see that guy again- I just may have to show him what a cluster is really like! Just goes to show you how important a second opinion is! So I panicked for no apparent reason. Course I may feel like that because I'm on the downside now.