Sydney’s Neck
Not that I can understand the specifics behind my severe neck pain, but here is what I learned yesterday from my Primary Caregiver.
The x-rays showed:
Grade 1 anterior spondylolisthesis of C2 on C3, C3 on C4 and C4 on C5. Plus moderate to severe degenerative changes fron C4-C5 through C6 and C7.
It’s probably fortunate that I really can’t read X-rays with assurance and that I don’t know the ramifications of big, scary-soundy words like spondylolisthesis. Because of my age, “corrective surgery” is not an option, and I’m not sure it would be, anyway. It would involve fusing some of those pesky vertebrae and I would then have little to no ability to move my head.
Sydney, 1941 — In the days when head-turning wasn’t problematic.
So, for the foreseeable future, I will depend upon muscle relaxants every eight hours as needed, tylenol for pain, and giving wide berth to activities that are likely to exacerbate the situaltion.
And, FYI, as of today, I’m up and about and going on with life as usual, but a bit more slowly. End of story. But, probably not the end of the pain in the neck!
Physical therapy can be a good thing.
Good luck and chair yoga and neck exercises might help with takin a tylenol before you do it! Debbie
Sydney, here’s what I found out about this condition affecting you: Spondylolisthesis is the displacement of one spinal vertebra compared to another. While some medical dictionaries define spondylolisthesis specifically as the forward or anterior displacement of a vertebra over the vertebra inferior to it (or the sacrum),[1][2] it is often defined in medical textbooks as displacement in any direction.[3][4] Spondylolisthesis is graded based upon the degree of slippage of one vertebral body relative to the subsequent adjacent vertebral body.[5] Spondylolisthesis is classified as one of the six major etiologies: degenerative, traumatic, dysplastic, isthmic, pathologic, or post-surgical.[6] Spondylolisthesis most commonly occurs in the lumbar spine, primarily at the L5-S1 level with the L5 vertebral body anteriorly translating over the S1 vertebral body. I wish I had a recommendation for you on alleviating all that pain. Have all medical entities who deal with this been consulted on your particular case? It may be some innovative doctor at Mayo can do something for you. I wish you well and will be praying for your recovery.
Hi Joe,
Thanks for your lovely note and for your prayers for my “recovery.” However, I don’t think “recovery” is the operable word with a degenerative ailment which is mainly caused by age. At four months shy of 85, and without getting younger as an option, the best I can hope for is to learn to manage my pain. One of my friends sent me a package of Hemp Oil Patches which actually seem to help, so for the time being all is well.
As they say, old age ain’t for sissies and I’m happy to live with a bit of pain in preference to the alternative…
Sydney