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  • Omerinam
    Member
    Post count: 9

    Hi, I have been suffering from straightening of cervical spine for 7 months now. My main problem is the neck tension/stifness and daily headaches I get and it’s been 7months of these headaches/ neck spasm. I got MRI of spine and brain done and also MRV done. all results came out normal except for cervical spine MRI saying “straightening of cervical spine”. I am 30 years old (male) and was a regular at the gym. I am not sure what caused by muscle spasm but it could be due to the following reasons:
    a) workout at the gym combined with boot camp classes
    b) sleeping position – i used to sleep on my chest with head sidewards and used to watch tv in the same position
    c) I had been on Accutane (isotretinoin) for 4 months – I am not sure if this caused by neck spasm/straightening but I read online that isotretinoin has side effects but I couldn’t really find if it causes muscle spasm.

    Currently I am taking Cipralex 5 mg, Prothiaden (dosulepin hydrochloride) 50 mg and Gabapentin 200 mg at night.

    I have also been on Lyrica 75 mg one tablet at night and it helps with my headache at night but i get a headache again in the afternoon the next day which usually last till the evening. I have been to every possible doctor – GP, Neurologist, Physiotherapist but my neck spasm is not going away.

    Is straightening of cervical spine curable? it’s been 7 months and constantly thinking of why this isn’t resolving. I had been a perfectly healthy active man before this took place.

    Please advise what I should do.

    Thanks,
    Omer

    Donald Corenman, MD, DC
    Moderator
    Post count: 8660

    “Straightening of the cervical spine” is not a diagnosis. This may not even be a disorder as many patients hold their neck “straight” on X-ray without any symptoms. Neck pain originates from discs and facets. If the MRI notes no evidence of disc degeneration, then the problem most likely will be in the facets.

    Facet disorders typically do not show up well on MRI as the injury is “smaller” than the resolution of the MRI scanner. Headaches quite commonly are generated by the C2-3 and C3-4 facets. You might try a chiropractor initially for treatment. If that is not successful, see a pain injection specialist for diagnosis and possible treatment of this disorder.

    Dr. Corenman

    PLEASE REMEMBER, THIS FORUM IS MEANT TO PROVIDE GENERAL INFORMATION ON SPINE ANATOMY, CONDITIONS AND TREATMENTS. TO GET AN ACCURATE DIAGNOSIS, YOU MUST VISIT A QUALIFIED PROFESSIONAL IN PERSON.
     
    Donald Corenman, MD, DC is a highly-regarded spine surgeon, considered an expert in the area of neck and back pain. Trained as both a Medical Doctor and Doctor of Chiropractic, Dr. Corenman earned academic appointments as Clinical Assistant Professor and Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, and his research on spine surgery and rehabilitation has resulted in the publication of multiple peer-reviewed articles and two books.
    Omerinam
    Member
    Post count: 9

    Dear Dr. Corenman,

    Thank you for your prompt reply.

    I got MRI done in November 2011 and again in February 2012. The report was as follows:

    – Straightening of cervical spine identified
    – Normal alignment of cervical vertebral bodies
    – Mild right lateral disc bulge at C4/C5 level is identified without any radicular compression
    – Normal vertebral body heights
    – Intervertebral disc appear normal
    – Normal contour and signal from the spinal cord
    – No evidence of thecal sac indentation or spinal cord compression
    – Pre and paravertebral soft tissues appear normal
    – Normal craniovertebral junection

    IMPRESSION:
    – Straightening of cervical spine along with mild right lateral disc bulge at C4/C5 level as described above.

    I have been going for physiotheraphy for 2 months now and it’s only made a slight difference. I wouldnt call it pain, but my neck is stiff and feels streched when I move my neck all the way to the right/left and up/down. Plus I have a constant very mild headache pretty much through out the day.

    I am still not sure how this happened. Like I said, it’s been 7 months of this. Is it going to get better? Do I need to have a surgery done to fix this or will it automatically go away one day? Should I get some more tests done? My neurologist has done all blood test (Vitamin D, C-Reactive Protein, ESR, VDRL/RPR, CBC, Glucose fasting, Cholestrol, Hemoglobin etc) and they all came out normal.

    I am constantly worried thinking that i’ll have to deal with this for the rest of my life.

    Omer

    Donald Corenman, MD, DC
    Moderator
    Post count: 8660

    You do have one degenerative disc based upon the radiologist’s MRI report. Again, neck pain is generated from discs or facets. If you do not want to try chiropractic treatment, then the next step is a diagnostic injection. Based upon your physical examination, a good interventionalist can pick the levels and the structures that need to be injected.

    Look at the section on “pain diary” to understand what the results of an injection should reveal and what you are responsible for reporting.

    Dr. Corenman

    PLEASE REMEMBER, THIS FORUM IS MEANT TO PROVIDE GENERAL INFORMATION ON SPINE ANATOMY, CONDITIONS AND TREATMENTS. TO GET AN ACCURATE DIAGNOSIS, YOU MUST VISIT A QUALIFIED PROFESSIONAL IN PERSON.
     
    Donald Corenman, MD, DC is a highly-regarded spine surgeon, considered an expert in the area of neck and back pain. Trained as both a Medical Doctor and Doctor of Chiropractic, Dr. Corenman earned academic appointments as Clinical Assistant Professor and Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, and his research on spine surgery and rehabilitation has resulted in the publication of multiple peer-reviewed articles and two books.
    Omerinam
    Member
    Post count: 9

    Dr. Corenman,

    Is this injection procedure done at your clinic/hospital? If so, what is the total cost of this procedure? Also, what does the injection do to the neck and what are the significant risks and side effects associated with such a procedure?

    Omer

    Omerinam
    Member
    Post count: 9

    Dear Dr. Corenman,

    I could not find the section on “pain diary”. Could you please guide me as to where it is located on your website.

    Also, if you could please respond to my previous query on the cost, side effects etc associated with the procedure you had mentioned.

    Many thanks,
    Omer

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