Cervical Spondylosis: A Personal Account
My mother, a 57-year-old woman standing at 5'6" and weighing approximately 120 pounds, has been grappling with neck pain for the past four to five months. After having been a former smoker, she resides in Iowa and her symptoms have been escalating. She initially consulted with her general practitioner who recommended physical therapy; however, this approach not only proved ineffective but caused her additional physical discomfort. A subsequent carpal tunnel evaluation returned normal results. As the pain in her neck intensified, she began to experience a decline in the functionality of her arms, prompting her doctor to order an MRI. The results were concerning: the GP diagnosed her with significant arthritis in her neck, likening it to that of an individual in their 70s. Following this, she was directed to a pain management clinic. There, the physician explained that her vertebrae were densely packed with minimal spacing, which placed undue pressure on her nerves. She received a cortisone injection, but this too was ineffective. Next, my mother was sent to an orthopedic surgeon who informed her that surgical intervention was the only option available. They prescribed gabapentin, which improved her arm functionality; yet, her neck pain remained severe, severely restricting her movement. Upon referral to a spinal surgeon, she was told there were no apparent issues. They suggested more physical therapy. Frustrated, she was then referred to a neurologist who conducted a nerve study—my mother described this procedure as a painful experience involving a needle and electrodes searching for her nerves. Yet again, no abnormalities were detected. Now, she finds herself at a crossroads with no promising avenues for alleviation. The only advice reiterated is to pursue more physical therapy, and her intense pain seems to go unnoticed by those treating her. Moreover, she is wary of the long-term usage of gabapentin due to potential side effects. Her daily life has been significantly impacted; she struggles to drive for extended periods, dress herself, or manage basic hygiene tasks like washing her hair. I’m reaching out to see if anyone here has undergone similar experiences or could offer any guidance.
Answers (1)
9/11/2025, 2:01:52 AM
OpenHealth AI
I'm sorry to hear about your mother's situation; it sounds very challenging and frustrating for her and your family. Managing chronic neck pain, especially with a diagnosis of cervical spondylosis and arthritis, requires a multifaceted approach. Here’s a structured way to consider her condition and prioritize next steps:
Main Points
- Cervical Spondylosis Management: Acknowledge the complexities of her diagnosis and the challenges with treatment.
- Alternative Pain Relief Options: Explore other non-invasive therapies and pain management strategies that may provide relief.
- Functional Support: Focus on improving her daily living activities through assistive techniques and therapies.
Explanation
Cervical spondylosis is a common age-related condition that involves the degeneration of the cervical spine. It can cause pain, stiffness, and sometimes neurological symptoms if nerve roots are affected. Since your mother has not found relief with physical therapy, cortisone injections, or medications, it's important to explore alternative options that could improve her quality of life.
Prioritized Next Steps
-
Pain Management Consultation: Seek a second opinion specifically from a pain management specialist who can assess her pain from different angles. This might include exploring medications like topical agents (e.g., creams or patches) or alternative therapies such as acupuncture, which some find helpful.
-
Collaboration on Physical Therapy: If she is to continue with physical therapy, consider seeking a therapist who specializes in pain management or chronic pain conditions. This therapist can tailor exercises that involve gentle stretching and strengthening without exacerbating her discomfort.
-
Assistive Devices: Investigate assistive devices like ergonomic pillows, neck braces, or postural supports that may help alleviate some of the physical strains she experiences in daily activities.
-
Mind-Body Techniques: Encourage her to explore relaxation techniques like yoga or meditation. Gentle forms of exercise and stress management can help lessen perceptions of pain.
-
Nutritional Support: Discuss incorporating anti-inflammatory foods into her diet, such as fatty fish, nuts, and leafy greens, which may help manage inflammation.
-
Support Groups: Connecting with others who have similar conditions can provide emotional support and practical advice on coping mechanisms and therapies they have found useful.
Please remember that persistence is key in finding the right combination of treatments. This journey can be frustrating, but continuing to advocate for her needs is vital. Let me know if you need more details on any of these suggestions.
Related Questions
Concerns About My Daughter's Morning Health Issues
My 17-year-old daughter experiences troubling symptoms each morning, particularly on days when she needs to rise early for school or work. She often wakes up feeling dizzy and nauseated, accompanied by a rapid heartbeat exceeding 100 beats per minute. This situation prevents her from being able to eat and may persist for several hours, or in some cases, throughout the entire day. Standing at 5 feet 8 inches tall (172 cm) and weighing 121 pounds (55 kg), her physical health otherwise seems fine. I have a personal history of inappropriate sinus tachycardia (IST), which is why I take beta-blockers for management. A few years ago, she consulted a cardiologist regarding her frequent episodes of near-fainting, who recommended increasing her water intake and adding more salt to her meals. Given the persistent nature of her symptoms, I am contemplating whether a follow-up appointment with the cardiologist is warranted, especially since all previous tests, including ECG and ultrasound, came back normal. This situation significantly affects her daily life, restricting her ability to engage fully in school and work. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
A Mysterious Illness That Resembles Strep Throat
As an 18-year-old college student, standing at 5'4" and weighing 140 pounds, I maintain an active lifestyle. I do not smoke or have any preexisting health issues, aside from the vitamins and supplements I take daily. Approximately five days ago, I began to feel unusually fatigued and achy. Within just a day, my symptoms escalated to include a high fever reaching between 101°F and 102°F that ibuprofen couldn’t seem to alleviate. I experienced extreme tiredness that kept me bedridden all day, along with a persistent headache and intense throat pain, which was compounded by swollen lymph nodes and the familiar white patches often associated with strep throat. Having dealt with strep throat before, I recognized a need for antibiotics. Two days into feeling unwell, I visited an urgent care facility for an assessment and received a rapid strep test, which unfortunately came back negative. I recalled a previous incident where my rapid strep test also indicated a false negative, only for the culture sent for further testing to confirm the presence of strep bacteria. Given my symptoms and the findings from the examination, the healthcare provider prescribed Cefdinir, as I am allergic to amoxicillin, despite the negative rapid test results. The antibiotics proved effective, and I felt nearly back to normal, leading me to believe that my culture results would also come back positive for strep, suggesting a recurrence of my previous infection. However, I received the culture results yesterday, and to my surprise, they came back negative for strep. While I lack medical expertise, I’ve been led to believe that false negatives in cultures are exceedingly rare. Now, I find myself puzzled about what kind of bacterial infection I might have had if it wasn’t strep. Any insights or information regarding my situation would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!
Bleeding Concerns with IUD and Yeast Infection Treatment
I’m a 20-year-old female, standing at 5’4” and weighing 155 pounds. Hello everyone! Approximately three weeks ago, I had the Kyleena IUD placed, and everything felt fine afterward—I can still feel the strings. I noticed some mild spotting that was brown for about a week, followed by my menstrual period, then continued with light spotting. Recently, I suspect that I might have developed a yeast infection, which I am currently addressing using Monistat 7. I applied the first dose yesterday. To clarify, I am certain that I am not dealing with a sexually transmitted infection. However, I’ve observed an increase in bleeding, significantly more than what I’ve experienced before. The blood appears to be light red, and I would compare the amount to the lightest day of my period. I could comfortably go an entire day without needing to change my pad, though I still do it for hygiene reasons. Is this a common occurrence? Most of the bleeding took place this morning after I woke up, coinciding with the Monistat cream leaving my body. Under what circumstances should I seek medical advice regarding this issue instead of waiting to see how the treatment progresses?
Chronic Joint Pain Since Childhood
Since I was eight years old, I’ve endured intense and persistent pain in my joints. Initially, the discomfort was primarily in my knees, characterized by a sharp sensation right beneath the kneecap. As someone on the autism spectrum, I often visualize a strange, soothing thought: the idea of removing my kneecap and using an ice cream scoop to relieve the pressure underneath it. My parents sought help from several medical professionals, all of whom attributed my symptoms to growing pains. I even underwent cancer screenings at the age of nine because doctors felt my level of discomfort was excessive for mere growing pains. At school, I frequently had to wear dual knee braces. When I turned 14, I had a CT scan, but the results were inconclusive; doctors continued to insist it was just growing pains. At 18, I had an X-ray that also revealed nothing abnormal. Now at 20, my joint pain persists and is progressively worsening. My hands now ache in addition to my knees, and on particularly bad days, the pain radiates down to my ankles, making walking and sleeping almost impossible for half the week. The discomfort has entirely hindered my ability to work. My family and I strongly suspect that I may have some form of arthritis, but I struggle to convince the medical community of this due to my young age. My father, who suffers from arthritis himself, often empathizes when I express my pain, telling me, "that sounds familiar." I have broken down in front of numerous doctors, pleading for assistance, yet I consistently leave without answers, only to be scheduled for more scans that come back normal. The medical care I have received thus far has been far from satisfactory; for instance, I was prescribed eye drops that nearly resulted in serious damage to my vision when I consulted an eye specialist. This is just one of many frustrating experiences I’ve faced. I feel completely overwhelmed and in agony, and I have no way to reach out for specialized medical help since my only means of transportation is my father, who is also afflicted by arthritis. I feel lost and in deep pain without a clear path forward.
Seeking Guidance on Persistent Chest Discomfort After Extensive Testing
I'm a 43-year-old male, standing at 5'11" and weighing 180 pounds. My journey began around March to April of 2025 when, despite regularly hitting the gym four times a week, I was struck by severe chest pain along with frequent belching and a tight feeling in my diaphragm. At times, the pain became so intense that I feared it might be a heart attack. **Medical History:** In May 2019, I received a diagnosis of **PVS** and have since been under the care of a cardiac electrophysiologist. Upon experiencing these new symptoms, I consulted my EP, who conducted an EKG right then and set me up with a 7-day heart monitor. The results showed no irregularities. Subsequently, I was directed to a cardiologist, who carried out both a **stress test** and an **echocardiogram**, both of which yielded normal findings. Afterward, I returned to my primary care physician, who speculated that my gallbladder might be involved. An **ultrasound** was performed but revealed no issues. I then requested a **chest X-ray**, which also came back normal. My PCP then considered the possibility of a **hiatal hernia** and referred me to a gastroenterologist; unfortunately, that appointment took almost **five months** to materialize. In the meantime, my symptoms persisted, prompting me to cease weightlifting and switch my focus to **cardio and running**. Surprisingly, these activities didn’t exacerbate my symptoms, though the chest pain remained constant. When I finally saw the gastroenterologist, they suggested an **upper endoscopy**, which took another roughly three months to arrange. During this procedure, I was diagnosed with **Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EOE)**, a condition I had not previously experienced. The doctors also placed a pH monitoring device for acid reflux assessment, which indicated **no unusual acid exposure**. Following this, I began a treatment plan that included a swallowed steroid inhaler and an increased dosage of **omeprazole**. Sixty days later, I underwent another endoscopy, which showed that the EOE had largely resolved, with minimal residual symptoms. Unfortunately, my chest discomfort persisted without any improvement. It has now been about **a year** since these issues emerged, and I still have not found substantial relief. A recent chest MRI completed at a dedicated imaging center revealed no abnormalities. I entertained the idea of **costochondritis**, but again, the MRI did not support that hypothesis. The only minor relief I find comes from consciously pulling my shoulders back and expanding my chest. I continue to experience discomfort around my **diaphragm** and tenderness in the area of the **xiphoid process**. My PCP prescribed a steroid pack, which was somewhat beneficial for the pain but failed to alleviate the pressure or constant discomfort. At this juncture, I feel quite lost and uncertain about my next steps. I would greatly appreciate any insights or experiences from others who have faced similar issues. Additionally, if there are any physicians here willing to offer advice, I am open to traveling to find the answers or relief I'm desperately seeking.