Good News...

Well, here's my final update and blog post about my neck pain and left arm dysfunction.

On Thursday, my MRI showed mostly moderate generalized stenosis along my spinal column. Some foraminal stenosis was shown for all the vertebrae from C4-T1. In addition, there appears to be some disk degeneration from C2-T1.

The most notable findings were at C5-C6 & C6-C7. These areas showed moderate disk degeneration and moderate to severe central and foraminal stenosis. It appears that much of my recent pain has been associated with these two areas.

In the region of C7-T1 the disk generation and stenosis is accompanied by spondylosis, or spinal osteoarthritis, which is often associated with aging. I guess I'm getting old!

After seeing the MRI, the neurosurgeon referred me to a neurologist for further testing. On Monday I saw Dr. Julia Jones, a delightful and compassionate specialist. As expected, she subjected me to electromyography (EMG) tests. Basically, they shock my nerves and muscles to determine nerve and muscle function. I know I'm crazy, and I probably wouldn't do this voluntarily, but it was fun! Yes, it hurt, but Dr. Jones and her tech, Ron, bantered back and forth with me so much during the testing that I left in a great mood.

One of the interesting things about the EMG was the tools. Ron used what is equivalent to a "cattle prod" device. Having grown up on a farm and having used a cattle prod myself on occasion, I noticed the similarity immediately. And boy does the EMG "human prod" make you jump like a cattle prod! Of course, Dr. Jones did not use the cattle prod; she used long thin needles that she plunged deep into my arm muscles; and from there she delivered "delightful" electric shocks to my muscles! Ouch!

Kidding aside, the results of the EMG were encouraging. First, Dr. Jones found no permanent damage to the nerves and muscles in my left arm. She expects a full recovery of the strength in my left arm, or at least nearly full recovery. She said I may experience some minimal loss of strength, but most of my strength will return if not all of it. That's very good news.

Dr. Jones also found that my left arm pain and loss of strength is not due entirely to my recent inflammation of spinal stenosis. In addtion to the complications of my stenosis, I also suffer from Thoracic Outlet Syndrome. Basically, the nerve bundles that come out of the spinal cord at C5-T1 travel from the spinal column along the clavical and through the shoulder down into the arm. Somewhere along this route the nerve bundles that service my arm muscles are being compressed, probably in the area of the shoulder. This is causing me pain in my shoulder and arm, and is affecting my left arm's ability to function properly. So, I have one more problem!

However, the news is good. Both Dr. Jones and my neurosurgeon think that I may be able to avoid surgery for the time being. Because of the recent improvement in my pain levels and arm strength (I'm slowly getting my strength back!), my doctors would like to try physical therapy for six weeks, accompanied by a regimen of medicines, and see if this will help postpone my need for surgical intervention for a longer period of time.

Thank you all for your kindness, your prayers, and your many words of encouragement. My pain is not "gone" but it is manageable at the moment. I am still unable to sleep through the night; though my pain is much less than it was even a few days ago. My neck pain has dwindled to a chronic low-level pain for much of the time. As long as I'm careful, it's manageable. My left arm pain is worse as night, but I only infrequently need pain medicine now. My left arm strength is not 100%, but I can sense the improvement. The arm weakness and severe pain only return when I look down for too long or turn my head certain ways. So, I just try to avoid those positions!

I know so many people who have gone through their neck problems in silence. I have never heard from them about their pain or struggles. It is not that I needed to know. I just feel that a blessing is missed when we keep our pains and sufferings to ourselves. I know that I personally struggled whether or not to publicize my painful path these last few weeks. But I am thankful that some of you have encouraged me to do so.

Your words of wisdom have opened up many blessings from so many people that I cannot adequately express my gratitude. I think this is why it can be good for us to share our sufferings with those we love and care about. I did not want to sound like I was complaining, but at the same time I wanted all those for whom I care so much to know how much I was struggling and how much I needed their prayers and words of encouragement. And I have found myself so blessed by those who have responded to my "public suffering" with such generosity, love and encouragement.

Please know that YOUR PRAYERS AND WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT have greatly impacted me and have sustained me in this time. YOU HAVE BLESSED ME SO MUCH THROUGH YOUR KIND WORDS, YOUR GENEROSITY, AND YOUR ENCOURAGMENT. When we share in each other's sufferings in this way, we are all lifted up and made stronger. Thank you for walking with me in this journey. Do not discount your simple Facebook posts of "I'm praying for you," or "What's going on? Are you okay?" Even the smallest gesture of concern has been richly appreciated.

To think I have been blessed by such beautiful and wonderful friends as you... THANK YOU.

David A. Adcock
College Station, Texas