A Pain in the Neck

O.,

A friend of mine had a similar problem, but with her back. She saw a specialist in massage therapy that helped her. Here's the website for more information and hope it helps. They are located in the Stone Oak area in San Antonio.

http://www.northhillsfamilymedicine.com

I know that I have something that would help you but I need for you to call me.
My name is L. Coker,you can look me up on the web if you like. I own Minco Technology Labs.
My cell is ###-###-####

I suggest a chiropractor. They can't help realign the cervical spine and help stop the headaches, neck pain, and discomfort. I love my doc and it's so quick and easy. You have to get a DC and not a DO. Best of luck to you, I hope you get to feeling better.

Okay, I have family experiences. My mother has fallen kidneys; my husband and my oldest both have had back injuries involving their disks. We have found that a Teeter Hang Up table helps a lot. Neither my husband or daughter has ever had to have surgery for their problems. The Teeter Hang Up is a part of our daily regimen...before exercising in the morning and before bedtime at night. Sometimes even during the day for a quick hang. Here is a website (UTube) that is rather long, but interviews the inventor and tells how to use it. Then I would recommend purchasing one directly through Teeter Hang Ups instead of the UTube sale...it's more economical. I have found it to be beneficial to me just to relieve stress from work, exercise, yard work, bike riding, etc. I am a grandma as well.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e39mt5Rjfi4
http://www.teeterhangups.com/ This site gives you lots of information to help you choose which one to purchase, and don't be like we were and procrastinate for several years before we purchased...how much pain could have been diminished!

Definitely worth seeking another opinion. I would recommend finding a chiropractor who has been personally recommended by someone - not just picking one out of a phone book. There is a world of difference between one & the next. I don't know where you live, but if you are near Northwest Houston I know of a great one that I & several members of my family have had great results with. One other thing is to stop using heat & apply ice packs for about 10 minutes at a time, then take the ice off for at least 15-20 minutes before you put it back on. Heat is great for some things like minor sore muscles, but if you have an injury or a lot of inflammation the heat can actually make it worse; your neck may feel great when the heat is on it, but as soon as you remove the heat the pain may come back & actually be worse than before. The ice will help to take down some of the inflammation. Trying a different topical rub may help, too. I have had good results with Biofreeze & Sombra. Hope this helps!!! :)

My mom suffers from chronic pain due to arthritis. You sound just like her. Unfortunately there isn't a whole lot you can do. The physical therapy does help to keep her flexible but it does not help the pain. Try a massage therapist. Insurances don't usually cover a massage therapist or chiropractor, but it does provide a little relief. Sorry about you pain, I hope this helps.

Good Morning O.,

Have you tried an accupuncturist, I used to feel the same way years back, and with 3 treatments , I had no more pain,

Also,
when you go to the dr, (for a second opinion), ask him or her to give you a CRP test, this will determine How much Inflammation you have inside.

Hear some of the dr's audios on pain.
www.DailyHealthJuice.com , Dr templeman talks about pain and Dr. Vaungh Johnson talks about the CRP test.

My prayer for a speedier recovery and God bless your son in the military.
I will keep you in my prayers.

Oly

Yoga, physical therapy, massage. These are all things that give you control over your injuries, increase circulation, get rid of bad postural habits. Drugs just fix the symptoms, not the cause.

O., I do not know if this would help or not, but you might try ice packs rather than heat. If there is inflammation there, the heat pulls more blood to the area and causes more inflammation, whereas the ice will cause the blood flow to slow down therefore minimizing the blood flow to the area(at least this is what I undertood from a chiropractor I saw many years ago.) I have had lower back surgery and find this very true for my situation. Also there is a product called biofreeze that seems to give more relief than some of the stuff you can buy at Wal Mart and such. I got mine from a massage therapist. Good Luck as I know how painful this can be.

D.

O., check with a neurologist to see if you might have occipital neuralgia -- it's where the nerves that run up the back of your head from your neck get inflamed. I've had that and it hurts like heck! What you're describing sounds a lot like it -- look it up on the internet (Web M.D., that kind of reputable site) to see what you think. The only thing that worked for me was to have nerve block shots done in the nerves. Took care of the pain and I haven't had any problems since. I went to a Dr. Mehendru, think it was at the Austin Pain Clinic? Anyway, it's certainly worth looking into!

If you're going to try chiropractic, just be careful and find a good, reputable chiropractor. And I will tell you that chiropractic did not work for me for this particular problem. So if you try that first and it doesn't work, definitely consider the neurologist and the fact that you might have occipital neuralgia.

Good luck!

Try Chiropractic, it Works! My husband is a chiropractor with a mobile chiropractic practice here in the Austin area. He specializes in the activator method along with other techniques. He is available to review your x-rays and MRI and provide alternatives to the therapies and medication that are currently not working. His practice name is Austin Family Chiropractic and he can be reached at ###-###-####. His name is Dr. Loverous Whittaker II. Get well, life is too short to suffer daily. My prayers are with you.

My husband had problems with back and neck pain for about six months. I definetly think you should get a second opinion..or more. But one day his pain did, in fact, go away after taking Flexiril and hydrocodone (basically the same as darvocet but a little stronger) I wouldn't stay in pain..Get some more opinions girl..Go to the ER even..Tell them your doc isn't doing anything besides perscribing darvocet and they may perscribe you with something better to help ease your pain more.

I think everyone is right on telling you to get a second opinion esp. w/a chiropractor. Dr. Carmen Carlisle w/Canavan Chiropractic is wonderful. Please also try massage therapy - with a good therapist who is experienced in working with your medical conditions, it can be extremely helpful for headaches and neck pain.

Yes, O., you need a chiropractor. The fact that you've had surgery already is the surest sign you need conservative care before someone gets the knife after you one more time!The respondent who said that chiropractic isn't covered by insurance is mistaken. (I am a chiropractor, and there are very few whose insurance doesn't cover chiropractic care.) Given your history, it may take a few initial adjustments to get you out of pain, but the drugs are just postponing the proper healing from your injury. If you're in Austin, let me know what area and I'll be happy to give you some referrals.

Second opinions never hurt! The worst thing that can happen is that they tell you the same thing. The suggestion for a chiropractor is right on the money. Our's has saved my husband from back surgery for years now.
If you're in the San Antonio area, his name is Craig Honer. He is a very strong Christian, too!

I am so sorry that you are going through such discomfort. May God, the ultimate physician, heal your every pain and discomfort in His perfect timing.

Blessings,
M. S.

If it were me, I'd definitely get another doctor's opinion. In the mean time I have an idea that might help with your discomfort.

Thankfully, I've never had to deal with anything like what you have described and I also seem to have a very high pain tolerance; however, a few years ago I got up one morning with what we've always called a "crick" in my neck. I could only turn my head to one side. Trying to turn it the other direction was very painful to me. I've had this before and it usually goes away on its own, but that time it didn't. I tried Aspercreme, but that didn't help. Someone had another suggestion and it worked for me. There is an ointment called Blue Emu that you should be able to find at WalMart in the pharmacy section. It's a small jar and is rather pricey (I think I paid around $15 back then), but it was well worth it. After only a couple of treatments, I was able to move my head and neck more freely and in less than 24 hours had very little pain remaining.

I don't know if it will help in your case and it certainly won't cure any damage you may have, but it might ease your pain until you an get medical help.

Please get a second opinion and maybe a third. You have to be your own healthcare advocate. You may have frozen shoulder which takes a long time to recover from. Get answers; if they start to all be consistent then you are on to something. Hang in there! Accupuncture may be a form of release or seeing a reflexologist. I can recommend them but reply to my post.

I don't know where you live... but if you are any where near San Marcos, Texas you might check with the most wonderful chiropractor in the world...who now has his physical therapist license too.. and does not expect you to come over and over and over.. He will quickly tell you if he cannot make you better....

I had a doctor over 30 years ago tell me that I had arthritis in my neck and that I would just have to live with it.... and at that time I was living in CA and had a friend that was a chiro in a Mommy and Me class I was taking......and I asked my doctor if it would hurt if I saw her........She told my doctor what she was going to try.. and he said it wouldn't hurt anything ...(He didn't really think it would help). Several months later ... I went to him and told him........to NEVER CONDEMN SOMEONE TO ARTHRITIS IN THE NECK TILL THEY SAW A CHIROPRACTOR... My neck and back were terribly out of alignment and with time.. she made me all better..... I had been told at 16 by a medical doctor that I had a crooked back bone and that I should get enough but not too much exercise... and the chiropractor took care of that as well.

If you want his name and number... my email is ____@____.com luck.

I also see Dr. Schwab at Back Bone Chiropractic. She is awesome. They also provide medical acupuncture and massage as well as all natural anti-inflamatories and muscles relaxers.
Second opinions are important. I would not continue to see a doctor if they just kept prescribing meds and telling me I will be worse before I get better. Grab all your x-rays or MRI's before you head over to save some time. Check out her website and make an appointment today. www.backbonechiropractic.com
I hope you feel better soon!!
Brandi

Call Dr.Scwab at Backbone Chiropractic. She is great and they have a very holistic approach. I had trouble turning my head all the way while driving to check for traffic and after two visits I no longer had trouble. They will do a lot of diagnostics before they do anything on you and will re-diagnose you after 12 visits I think it is. Very nice office staff also. Good luck and I hope you get better soon. Let me know how it goes.

Hi O.,

Have you ever looked into natural healing. www.creeksideherbhouse.com

That is my free teaching website, the theory page is where you want to start. That is how the body actually works.

If you are interested in learning more, I am here in North Austin, and would be happy to talk with you about how to help your condition with nutrition.

Blessings
J. McDowell
###-###-####

I have often prayed for people over the phone and seen many healed as a result. Let me know if you'd like me to pray for you. It would only take about 1 minute.

Have they tried steroid injections?

sorry about your pain. been there
finally start seeing a chiropactor wonderful doctor, he is on westgate ####-###-####.believe me he will get to the bottom of that pain.

My mom had whiplash and it lasted over a month. They put her on a strong antiinflammatory. I think it was prednisone and she got better. Ice helps inflammation, heat helps healing. That is what my husband says anyway.

O., I would definitely get a second opinion... This sounds like no laughing matter. I would maybe try and find a doctor of Osteopathic. They have a different approach on diagnosing and treating. Unlike an MD, they try to find the source of your problem and look t your body as whole for alternative ways to heal rather than just prescribing meds. The do prescribe meds, but not as willingly as MD's do. They go to med school a bit longer as well. I went to a DO for awhile and loved her, but she closed her practice to go become head of some department at the State Hospital... Good luck... but really try and find a DO in your area. J.

I agree with Vanessa. I too thought Chiropractors were quacks but when my husband suffered from severe back pain for more than a year he went to several doctors who prescibed pills and wanted to do surgery. Before agreeing to the surgery he decided to give a chiropractor a chance. After about 3 months of sessions he felt significantly better and after 6 months his pain was completely gone. Now a year later he is still generally pain free. If he over exerts himself one day, he'll be stiff and feel it a little bit the next day but it goes away and it's manageable whereas before his pain was so bad that it wasn't even possible for him to overexert himself since he could barely move!

Good Luck,
K.

See if you are a candidate for steroid shots from a pain specialist. I had problems with a bulging disc in my lower back and my husband and problems with his neck. I was better after 2 treatments. He was better after 3.

Yes, simply put...........yes see another doc. An you really need a MRI to get the details. My husbands doc says xrays can't tell all.
Hope you feel better soon!