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  • A pain in the neck/shoulder

    Hello,

    Just wondering if anyone out ther gets pain in the base of their neck where it joins your shoulder?

    I have this really BAD pain in my shoulder, between where your bra strap sits and the base of my neck, I went to see my Gp he won't touch me because of my Scoli, he says its tension, the muscles are tense and are in spasm so he gave me some diazepam(only 2mg) to relax them, I haven't taken one yet cos I have kids to look after. The only other thing that seems to help is heat.

    I was just wondering if anyone else gets this or knows if it could be scoliosis related as my Gp was reluctant to say...

    Thanks

    Kat x
    1st Surgery in 1991 aged 15
    Fused T2 to L2
    'S' curve
    Before surgery T39 L49
    Revision surgery 6th Nov 2006

  • #2
    i havent had the surgery yet ,so im not sure if this is related to my scoliosis ,but my left side where the spine curves gets real tense and sore feeling at the base of my neck also.it feels like i need to lean my head back and stretch it.
    Trudy T60 L70 posterior surgery feb.8th 2007

    Comment


    • #3
      Hi, we probably don't have the same thing but thought I would offer my own experience.

      First the pain was like a triangle down to my elbow. Deltoid muscles. Also across my shoulder to my neck, trapezius, then up on my neck. It eventually "settled" down or localized or remained acute, in my shoulder, like the size of a quarter, just deep down. That might have taken... 14 days or so, 30?

      I thought it might be a rotator cuff injury or issue (I'm a fitness instructor) but I hadn't done anything unusual, or jolting. I could think of no cause. That was more than 45 days ago and here is what I know now.

      Severe disc degeneration at C5-C6 (cervical spine, that's your neck). It's in my neck but I experience it almost exclusively near every day, in my shoulder, mainly when I sit down. I have x-ray of neck and shoulder, shoulder looks clear and fine with minor arthritis (I am 43). (this at the Internist office, and I can't begin to tell you how botched that was.)

      I would get a second opinion. That's what I did after getting the "It could have been caused by anything, age, blah blah blah, have a happy life, just don't over do." Find yourself someone knows "us." Find an ortho surgeon who has years of experience looking at x-rays etc., and dealing with our problems of the spine.

      I think you got about as good an answer as I did from the first doctor's office. You know what alarmed me? The BIG size of the bottle of naproxen (prescription strength Aleve). I stopped taking it anyway, as it, like everything else failed to provide any relief.

      btw, when the pain finally "localized" I took a pen and marked the spot. Don't ask me why. It gave me the teeniest sense of control I guess, or validation.

      The ortho people were great. They showed me on the x-ray what the deal was, and "how things work." I think you got a b.s. answer. What I register as pain or burning in my shoulder joint is realy coming from the vertebrae and nerves in my neck.

      I initially lolly-gagged on getting a second opinion, thinking I don't know, it's old age... "just don't over do" like that means anything to me. In the back of my mind of course I was thinking about my scoli and the intimacy or privacy I have with my back.

      I'm not trying to scare you, but I am trying to say hey, this pain is not in your head and without an x-ray or some diagnostic how can anyone, a GP no less, who "won't touch your scoli" offer such a simple answer. What you and I have in common is we both got palliative (excuse) care and were still worried, enough to come out here, back to the world of scoli. Get a second opinion.
      Last edited by ck43; 10-23-2006, 05:11 PM.
      Traction at 13, body cast 1 mos., Milwaukee, first plastic (severe allergy, abdomen skin burst, watery) then leather. Harrington Rod @ 15, 9 mos body cast, hips up. 9 more mos being careful and protective. Degenerated disc C4-5 I think well above the rod. Degenerated disc below the rod now? Probably.

      Comment


      • #4
        Hi Kat,


        besides a second opinion, going to PT, an acupuncture specialist and getting massages can help. It provided some relief for me.
        35 y/old female from Montreal, Canada
        Diagnosed with scoliosis(double major) at age 12, wore Boston brace 4 years at least 23 hours a day-curve progressed
        Surgery age 26 for 60 degree curve in Oct. 1997 by Dr.Max Aebi-fused T5 to L2
        Surgery age 28 for a hook removal in Feb. 1999 by Dr.Max Aebi-pain free for 5 years
        Surgery age 34 in Dec.2005 for broken rod replacement, bigger screws and crosslinks added and pseudarthrosis(non union) by Dr. Jean Ouellet

        Comment


        • #5
          Thanks for your replies.

          ck43 - I forgot to mention my surgery is in 2 weeks time which is why I went to my Gp about it, I wanted some advice on what to do for relief before I go into hospital when I will talk to my surgeon about it, but me being me wanted to ask other Scoli people if they had suffered anything similar to see if it could possibly be related and if anyone had any tips.
          I took 2 diazepam last night and got a good nights sleep, 1st in weeks, and the pain was much lesser this morning, I can actually turn my head!
          The pain in my shoulder seems very localised, probably a bit bigger than a dime (if my memory of the size of a dime is correct ) I've just been trying to work out if my pain is due to Scoli or if it is 'just' stress because of the upcoming surgery.
          I also belong to another group to do with Flatback (which I also have ) and they mention DDD in the vertebrae which are not fused. Since I have been fused from T2 to L2, a pretty long fusion, fo 16 years now, the vertebrae above and below my fusion have been taking all the bumps, jolts and childbirth stress and I would not be suprised if those bones are grumbling now due to over use. Guess I'll find ot in 2 weeks time

          Sweetness - Hi again can't do PT, too much PAIN, tried acupuncture in other parts of my spine and it made things worse, could do with a loverly massage though, unfortunately OH is not very good, hurts me big time LOL so it looks like I am back to the pain meds until my surgery.....

          Kat x
          1st Surgery in 1991 aged 15
          Fused T2 to L2
          'S' curve
          Before surgery T39 L49
          Revision surgery 6th Nov 2006

          Comment


          • #6
            Yes I frequently get pain in that same area plus the right hip area.

            Originally posted by RoundTheTwist
            Hello,

            Just wondering if anyone out ther gets pain in the base of their neck where it joins your shoulder?

            I have this really BAD pain in my shoulder, between where your bra strap sits and the base of my neck, I went to see my Gp he won't touch me because of my Scoli, he says its tension, the muscles are tense and are in spasm so he gave me some diazepam(only 2mg) to relax them, I haven't taken one yet cos I have kids to look after. The only other thing that seems to help is heat.

            I was just wondering if anyone else gets this or knows if it could be scoliosis related as my Gp was reluctant to say...

            Thanks

            Kat x
            Yes I also get this same pain and also in the hip esp the right as tis is the area where the hump is, I definately feel that these are related to the surgery but am not able to verify with a doctor either. Iam 30 years post surgery and every year things seem to get more uncomfortable. Eventhough I keep in shape and watch my weight. Deb

            Comment


            • #7
              Hi Deborah

              Hi there,

              Welcome to the forum

              Sorry to hear you are in pain too and you feel things are deteriorating.
              I was wondering as you say you cannot verify things with a doctor whether you are being seen by a Scoliosis Doctor at all?
              The reason I ask is that I asked to be referred back to the hospital that did my surgery (things work slightly different over here in the UK) because I was not happy with the way my back was feeling.

              I know it is not as simple as that in the states but if you are not under a Scoli/Ortho dctor I would strongly advise you to try and get something done if you can. Please do not suffer in silence as there are things that can be done, let us know where you stand, we are a friendly bunch on here and would love to try and help or just listen if tht is what you would like

              Take care,

              Kat x
              1st Surgery in 1991 aged 15
              Fused T2 to L2
              'S' curve
              Before surgery T39 L49
              Revision surgery 6th Nov 2006

              Comment


              • #8
                Hey Twisty girl!

                Glad you got some rest. I have had zero luck with pain killers. In the beginning I called a pharmacist, "Hello? I am in pain, what is the maximum amount of Advil (Ibuprofen) I can take without killing myself?"

                Even Vicadin, which we had extra of from a burn to the hand and an ER visit did nothing. Icy Hot creme "seemed" to help in the beginning. Ben Gay was worthless, so too Tiger Balm.

                Is DDD degenerated discs?

                The P.A. at the ortho office (and I do believe he is good!) offered me nothing and though I know it won't help, I occassionally pop an Advil just to feel some empowerment or self-control or taking an action. Silly isn't it?

                My P.A. mentinoed epidurals to the neck, C5, and maybe oral cortesoids, and/or possible surgery as I am "young." 43. I meet with the surgeon next Thursday so will then know what to best do based on MRI.

                Good luck on your surgery and I am so glad you found something to help you sleep. Heck your GP could have give you a Valium or two, if it's nerves. Since my MRI I am all for it. I truly didn't worry as much as I might have in there, but it was so subtle.
                Traction at 13, body cast 1 mos., Milwaukee, first plastic (severe allergy, abdomen skin burst, watery) then leather. Harrington Rod @ 15, 9 mos body cast, hips up. 9 more mos being careful and protective. Degenerated disc C4-5 I think well above the rod. Degenerated disc below the rod now? Probably.

                Comment

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