what type of doc should i see?? CERVICAL SPINE GETTING MIXED MESSAGES

[rdt]

Hello everyone. I could really use a recommendation of where to go next!!!! who to see.. I LIVE IN MA, SO IF YOU KNOW A GOOD DOC, PLEASE LET ME KNOW.

two years ago, i planted a number of rose bushes in one day and became so still i could not move. i could not sleep and my neck and upper back hurt. it got better, then worse, and now, i have pain, burning and tingling down my left back, my shoulder blade hurts most of the time, my neck feels stiff and hurts and my head and ear feel full. i also at times have pain in my arm but it is my upper back/shoulder that hurts the most. i can't sleep, can't exercise, can't clean my house.
my mri shows:
c5-c6 broad based disc protrusion, posterior osteophytes and degenerative changs resulting in moderate canal stenosis, indentation of the anterior cord and moderate to severe bilateral neural forminal stenosis.

c4-c5 central disc protrusion minimally indenting the spinal cord, mild canal stenosis and mild/moderate left forminal stenosis.

my promary care doc sent me to physical therapy (it helped a bit), BUT NOW I AM RIGHT BACK WHERE I STARTED ...STIFF AND IN PAIN..A SPINE DOC READ MY RESULTS AND CALLED TO SET AN APPONITMENT FOR AN EPIDURAL, WITHOUT EVEN SEEING ME, BUT I HAVE HEARD THAT REALLY DOESN'T CURE OR HELP LONG TERM, A NEURO DOC SAID TAKE NSAIDS AND LIVE WITH IT AND GO TO PT AGAIN..

I AM NOT SURE WHO TO TRUST, WHAT TYPE OF DOC IS BEST TO SEE OR WHAT TO DO AT THIS POINT. IF ANYONE CAN AFDVICE ME, I WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE IT. ALSO, IF YOU KNOW OF A DOC IN MA, PLEASE LET ME KNOW .
THANKS SO MUCH IN ADVANCE..

[acwb]

Has none of the doctor's discussed spine surgery with you? I am facing cervical spine surgery to decompress discs in C-3 through C-7 and just want to hear from others with neck problems.

[bobtisoy]

Hi rdt,

I suggest that you go see a neusurgeon, they are best doctors for this type of ailment. I am confident, an expert neusurgeon can do the job and offer you the best possible cure available.

I really wish you the best of health! :p

[dmongking]

RDT,

This is the skinny: get a referral for a neurosurgeon or a orthopedic spine specialist. Either is okay. They will examine you then probably order a cervical spine xray (Anterior-posterior view and lateral). IF needed later, an MRI may be ordered. IN general initial treatment is usually conservative such as NSAIDS, then it may progress to epidural steroid injections (ESI), then to surgery. This depends on what is your problem. YOur problem dictates the therapy. There are many excellent spine specialists in MA so I am sure you can find one. Where in MA are you?