My wife has been suffering from mid-back/shoulder/neck pain for an extensive amount of time now 3-4months. I thought I had it narrowed down to the serratus anterior muscle because her main trigger points were at the C4 vertebrae and she has a bulge just below the hair line on her neck that comes and goes along with the pain. We transitioned to a firmer mattress after the initial sign of issues, she no longer participates in yoga, we eat a plant based diet so her blood screens are almost perfect and she is not overweight. She does have a desk job but practices great posture. Seen a chiropractor tried dry needling, myokinesthetic therapy, tennis ball, massage therapy, trigger point massage, physical therapy. Now she gets an odd tingling sensation closer to the T8 to T10 vertebrae. Who do we go see next??? Would sonography or an ultrasound provide any answers? Now I'm thinking a displaced or floating rib? Any help would be appreciated!!! Thanks guys!
Medical advice?
- Thread starter chrsmneric
- Start date
I would seek a certified medical professional.
Figure out a good Orthopedic to be referred to from friends and family.
Need to get an MRI. But thoracic disk is my guess. MRI would show that or if there are any lesions, which could signal something different including MS.
Also if by plant based diet you mean no meat, it's time to eat some rare beef. I might be wrong on what it means, but I'm also not kidding.
Also if by plant based diet you mean no meat, it's time to eat some rare beef. I might be wrong on what it means, but I'm also not kidding.
My dad had much the same years ago. Couldn’t hardly raise his arms. Went to a neurologist and found out the real culprit was carpal tunnel in both hands. Surgery and 6 months later all the neck and shoulder pain and symptoms gone for good. Just one possibility if it seems like a disc issue but they don’t find anything there
Go to a doctor. And start eating meat you hippie.
An appointment with an orthopedic surgeon, who might recommend a cortisone shot to calm the inflammation. That can be the difference from feeling as though the world is ending to unimaginable relief.
A message board absolutely can't give you reliable or accurate medical advice, but there is some good that can from your approach: doctor recommendations. It can at least narrow your search for a physician down from hundreds of unknowns to a handful of local names (along with testimonials) from posters you trust.
And the last thing I can recommend: do not Google for answers. Make the appointment.
I sincerely hope that your wife is ok, and that everything works out for the both of you.
At minimum go to a physical therapist. They may suggest referring on to a spine specialist (either neurosurgeon or orthopedist).
Thank you all who took my post seriously, the trouble has been we've spent $1500 with no relief and zero answers so we are self educating as best we can prior to going to another clueless doctor. The goal is to know which doctor will get to the root of the problem not send us to someone else after a $200 consultation. I will just laugh off the "eat meat" comment, we eat predominantly whole non-processed foods and occasionally meat, but not eating meat would have no correlation with the issue at hand. Thanks again for some insight. We have 4-6 days of nothing better to discuss any how right?
Last edited:
Oakview orthopedic something or other, they did a chest x-ray but didn't even x-ray the spot of pain. A "real doctor " you really think we just went to the Hindu lady down the street?
Try Golnick. He will give you 90min to 2 hours first appointment to really get to the root cause of the issue. The guy is amazing and he will either fix her or get her to the RIGHT doctor to do it. He is a neurologist.
That sounds promising! That is precisely why I jumped on the board to ask around. Figured a handful of you guys are past athletes or labor-beaten bodies like myself that has had pain or known someone who has had issues. Thank you for the recommendation. Either that or you are Dr Golnick, in that case good marketing
Has anyone had personal experience with a Herniated thoracic disk? The odd tingling sensation has just recently started and most of her pain seems distant from the spine. It's pretty much right underneath the shoulder blade into the trap and up to the top of her neck
i agree with the advice of seeing a neurosurgeon. Although, t-spine disk issues are much less common i have seen many patients get miss diagnosed when this occurs. i would return to low intensity yoga and perhaps see an accupuncturist as well.
I’ve had cervical pain. Doc suggested a foam rolller. Lay on the floor with the roller under the base of neck. Elevate your back off floor looking up at the ceiling. Roll back and forth (or north and south) slowly. Do it as long as reasonable to give a deep massage and stretch the muscles. Also an excellent book is Pain Free on amazon for neck pain
I have arthritis in my spine. Not the same as your wife, but back pain is awful.
1. Run, and I mean sprint, away from the stupid *** chiropractors. They are quacks who are the spinal equivalent of cracking your knuckles to make your fingers feel better. Gotta keep going back because it is ********.
2. Don't listen to the naysayers about the plant based diet. The number one issue you have to deal with is reducing inflammation. A plant based approach works wonders in that regard. I don't go full vegan since I do eat eggs. I have my own free range chickens and organic eggs have high content of omega 3 oils. Eat those moderately too.
3. Find a very, very good orthopedic doctor who specializes in spinal issues. I started with an ortho guy who came highly recommended. But he was not helpful because his specialty was sport's related knee injuries. He was a nice and honest dude though and finally referred me to a spinal guy. Big help.
4. Do NOT engage in some nonsense "back exercises" recommended by someone on YouTube. The wrong exercises can make things far worse. Especially the "you gotta strengthen your core" type exercises. Ugh. Exercise will be essential but it has to be mild and directly targeted to your wife's specific problem. That can only be diagnosed with an MRI and a few other tests.
5. Don't get discouraged and best of luck to your wife. Back pain blows chunks
1. Run, and I mean sprint, away from the stupid *** chiropractors. They are quacks who are the spinal equivalent of cracking your knuckles to make your fingers feel better. Gotta keep going back because it is ********.
2. Don't listen to the naysayers about the plant based diet. The number one issue you have to deal with is reducing inflammation. A plant based approach works wonders in that regard. I don't go full vegan since I do eat eggs. I have my own free range chickens and organic eggs have high content of omega 3 oils. Eat those moderately too.
3. Find a very, very good orthopedic doctor who specializes in spinal issues. I started with an ortho guy who came highly recommended. But he was not helpful because his specialty was sport's related knee injuries. He was a nice and honest dude though and finally referred me to a spinal guy. Big help.
4. Do NOT engage in some nonsense "back exercises" recommended by someone on YouTube. The wrong exercises can make things far worse. Especially the "you gotta strengthen your core" type exercises. Ugh. Exercise will be essential but it has to be mild and directly targeted to your wife's specific problem. That can only be diagnosed with an MRI and a few other tests.
5. Don't get discouraged and best of luck to your wife. Back pain blows chunks
I have a similar pain spot going on for about 7 years now. I believe it is a herniated disk C4 or C5, and I don't wish it on anyone. A chiropractor has helped a bit, but I have also found some relief using a simple $20 traction device. I would caution you to NOT over do the traction.
Doesn't need to be rare but people who subscribe to the vegan or vegetarian diets have to be very aware of their intake of essential amino acids and minerals in particular. Man was not designed as a vegan or vegetarian. Humans are omnivores.
Don't screw around with it. Get her to a board certified orthopedic doc preferable who specializes in spinal surgery. You usually can get a referral or at least recommendation from your family doc or internist. Quit messing around with a chiropracter. Chiropracters can be very good at relieving symptoms of muscles spasms etc with their manipulation, BUT If she's having tingling, there is nerve tissue being damaged and it can become irreversible. No amount of "adjustment" is going to stop that. Positional irritation to a nerve or nerves is possible so a change in work routine may be necessary as well.
Some of the "The highest sources of amino acid are: watercress and spirulina, pumpkin, leafy greens, hemp seeds, chia seeds, soybeans, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds and sunflower butter, almonds, avocados, figs, raisins, quinoa, and wheat". We shall have to agree to disagree, see Pennyhusker post
Not a doctor, but I had a similar situation about 15 years ago. After buying my first house, I bought several tons of material and landscaped the entire back yard with dry creek beds, stone paths, etc. Despite "lifting with my legs," it turns out a computer guy who sits on his butt 9.5 hours a day can't suddenly do several days' worth of strenuous manual labor without consequences.
I started having all sorts of problems. Lower back pain, burning and tingling down my leg, little spikes of pain behind my knee. The stiffness and pain got so bad I could hardly get out of bed in the morning. Turns out I had inflammation around the sciatic nerve in one of my legs. I was only 35 years old, how could I have sciatica like some old granny?
The first thing I learned, is that every back problem is different. People will give you all sorts of advice. Some people swear by chiropractors, they did nothing for me. I tried a vibrating massage chair, Icy Hot strips, sleeping on the floor, doing this and that...and it if anything, it only made things worse. My first visit to the doctor didn't help, and it was only when I went back and saw a different doctor that things improved.
Prescribed a combination of Hydrocodone (pain), Carisoprodol (muscle relaxer), and Vioxx (inflammation, pain), I felt better within hours of my first dose. That was a short-term solution, though. What really made me feel better was walking, so I walked and walked. Sometimes four hours a day. Combined with targeted exercises, I improved strength in my core, and within a few months I was off the meds and totally fine. Haven't had an issue in 15 years.
Your wife's situation is not similar. But like I said, each problem is different. Keep trying different things, and stay on her doctors to not dismiss her concerns. It may be surgery is the only option. It may be that things will never improve. But I think those are extreme cases. Just don't let the doctors push you around. You have to be your own advocate, because they are not going to go out of their way to try different approaches.
I started having all sorts of problems. Lower back pain, burning and tingling down my leg, little spikes of pain behind my knee. The stiffness and pain got so bad I could hardly get out of bed in the morning. Turns out I had inflammation around the sciatic nerve in one of my legs. I was only 35 years old, how could I have sciatica like some old granny?
The first thing I learned, is that every back problem is different. People will give you all sorts of advice. Some people swear by chiropractors, they did nothing for me. I tried a vibrating massage chair, Icy Hot strips, sleeping on the floor, doing this and that...and it if anything, it only made things worse. My first visit to the doctor didn't help, and it was only when I went back and saw a different doctor that things improved.
Prescribed a combination of Hydrocodone (pain), Carisoprodol (muscle relaxer), and Vioxx (inflammation, pain), I felt better within hours of my first dose. That was a short-term solution, though. What really made me feel better was walking, so I walked and walked. Sometimes four hours a day. Combined with targeted exercises, I improved strength in my core, and within a few months I was off the meds and totally fine. Haven't had an issue in 15 years.
Your wife's situation is not similar. But like I said, each problem is different. Keep trying different things, and stay on her doctors to not dismiss her concerns. It may be surgery is the only option. It may be that things will never improve. But I think those are extreme cases. Just don't let the doctors push you around. You have to be your own advocate, because they are not going to go out of their way to try different approaches.
Sounds yummy.
Get her to an orthopod and ask them what they think about vegan diets. You can make a completely balanced diet from old shoe leather and various other inedible things. Is it digestible and absorbed by an omnivores digestive tract? I'm not going to argue that with you because it is possible to design a sufficient diet. Most people who follow vegetarian/vegan diets think they have the knowledge to design a sufficient diet but they don't. It isn't as easy as it sounds and more of certain things isn't necessarily better. Balance is good.I understand your concern as many "vegans & vegetarians" are uneducated and eat a very unhealthy diet. We have done enough research that I am confident in our current eating habits, it is trial and error and we have been at it for several years now adjusting accordingly. But to be honest I've never felt better in my life, can't say it's just due to the plant based portion alone as I've removed processed sugars and bleached flours and reduced wheat consumption to a minimum.Sounds yummy.
Also taste is not priority #1 in food consumption, that's eating for the wrong reasonsSounds yummy.
I choose to eat a balanced diet from all the major food groups. Hamburger, steak, roasts (both pork and beef), BACON, cheese, butter, whiskey, gin, potatos, and waffles....I do like a little jelly on toast. Gotta get that vitamin C somewhere.Winking
Neb Spine Center. This place is as good as it gets. Amazing results and great surgeons and staff. I can recommend from personal experience.
Man don't ever invite me over for dinner. Must suck to be your kids....Also taste is not priority #1 in food consumption, that's eating for the wrong reasons
I haven't reproduced yet. I'll contradict myself in saying our food tastes phenomenal but I eat what makes my body feel good not my tongue (not in it for the quick fix). How many meats do you eat without seasoning... technically meat has little flavor without putting plants/herbs on them first...or sodium lots of sodium...one of those key ingredients to make a not so good tasting food worth eatingMan don't ever invite me over for dinner. Must suck to be your kids....
the 2 most important factors to humans in palatibility studies are fat and salt in that order. I can and do eat roast or steak without adding any seasonings. A good steak or roast doesn't need salt but you usually won't find those kind of items in the grocery store. Salt isn't the death sentence for a healthy human that some make it out to be. That said, keep doing what you're doing if that makes you feel good but never ever turn down BACON....
I dont fear salt, the right kind of salt in moderation is good for you. Bacon on the other hand...can't remember the last time I ate bacon.
Not to start a pissing match I disagree somewhat on you assumption about a chiropractor, what I've found out is you need to see a good recommended one from Kansas, Nebraska only acknowledged chiropractor the last 15-20 years most ones in Nebraska are a joke nothing more than a massage therapist. I've been seeing one from Kansas for over 25 years I only go 3 maybe 4 times a year if they insist you need to see them like once a week that's garbage you need to let things go back to there original spots. Plus a good chiropractor will tell you if he can't help you that you need to see a spine specialist
Totally agree. We are certain the chiropractor did more harm than good. The unfortunate thing about doctors and specialist in general is the lack of broad knowledge, they are trained to focus on a particular part of the body and don't keep in consideration that the body is working together collaboratively. Saw a dermatologist awhile back and he said diet has little impact on skin health... SERIOUSLY?
That is why I take my eating habits so seriously.
Food is thy medicine ~ Hippocrates
The doctor of the future will give no medicine, but will interest her or his patients in the care of the human frame, in a proper diet, and in the cause and prevention of disease ~ Thomas Edison
You said "seen many patients" so I assume you are in the medical field...do you have a recommendation for a neurosurgeon?