Journal of a Back Pain Sufferer Tuesday 30th January 2024…

Today I saw my neurosurgeon for a consultation about my neck pain which has been quite bad for a few months. The lung infection and coughing that came with it definitely seems to have really stirred things up so it was interesting to hear his take on my cervical spinal problem. I have a number of problems in my cervical spine which include DDD, Ankylosis, Canal Stenosis and some Sclerosis.

We chatted first about why I changed my mind about an injection for this problem last January. After a long talk with the specialist who was going to perform the injection last year I felt it was too risky to go for it. I have had this injection twice before and both times been told how it is quite a tricky and dangerous injection  which could result in a major stroke. This time I decided I wasn’t prepared to take that chance as the pain free time doesn’t last long enough to warrant the risk.

My consultant explained that any injection I have carried a risk but I must admit this is the only one where they point out the risk of a stroke which was what frightened me more than anything else. I’ve had several spinal injections over the years for lumber pain but I was never told there was this type of risk so I have never hesitated in having them before.

He then went on to explain that there is really not much more they can do for my cervical spine now as further fusion surgery will just cause more problems so certainly no quick fix. He explained my cervical spine is more like someone 20 years older than me due to my previous surgeries over 30 years ago. Neck stiffness and discomfort he said is what you would expect from someone a lot older than me. 

He also said some elderly people who have a similar degenerative cervical spines like me have no pain at all which I find really puzzling and I have to admit it made me think ‘ Am I imagining this pain’?

Going forward he is sending me for an MRI and has told me that pain management is probably the route for me including physiotherapy and exercises and to not hold my hopes up to highly for anything else. 

I left my consultant feeling a bit flat. I did not expect a quick fix and I always said no more surgery but with the sort of pain I have been having recently I was hoping for some form of help other than from popping pills. 

Of course, it is possible that my recent Covid and lung infection could be a contributing factor to this recent flare up so my fingers are tightly crossed that it calms down. The fatigue it has left me is unreal and after only a very short time of doing anything I feel absolutely shattered and honestly feel when I go for my afternoon rest I could sleep until the next morning.

I have been reading a lot more while I have been unwell this month and although unable to hold my Kindle or a Magazine without pain, I managed to read on my iphone without any discomfort. It's amazing how many types of technolocy there is available to simply read a book.

I am a member of a Book Club and this month's book was The Satsuma Complex by Bob Mortimer and a first for me from this author. It starts with "Gary Thorn goes for a pint with a work acquaintance called Brendan. When Brendan leaves early, Gary meets a girl in the pub. He doesn’t catch her name, but falls for her anyway. When she suddenly disappears without saying goodbye, all Gary has to remember her by is the book she was reading: The Satsuma Complex. But when Brendan goes missing, Gary needs to track down the girl he now calls Satsuma to get some answers. And so begins Gary’s quest, through the estates and pie shops of South London, to finally bring some love and excitement into his unremarkable life… "I am loving this book and would recommend it.

My local library also has an app called "Libby" which has a free library of books, magazines and more that you can read from your smartphone or Kindle and this has definitely got me through my hardest days. It is available free to anyone who has a library card which is easy to get from your local library. There are no subscription costs, no in-app purchases, and no late fees.

My fingers are however getting very itchy to do some proper craft work so I can only hope my neck settles down soon.