Oh it's been going on a year and a half now, with no result or treatment in sight. Last June 2007, I experienced episodes of "global weakness", "slurred speech" "migraines" and "vertigo" for maybe 5-6 months straight. Luckily at the time I was able to collect short term disability from my company. My primary (who i will keep nameless) performed every test to the best of his knowledge...believe me it's not saying much for him. Lime disease, cancer, and a bunch of other blood tests looking for things they "thought" it could be. AND always glossing over the fact that I had NECK PAIN along with the symtoms.
I was then referred to a Neurologist, who, performed an MRI, and discoverred a contusion in the right frontal lobe. It was referred to as scar tissue. Now, the episodes of weakness were considerred to be CATAPLEXY, or at least that's what I was being treated for. And still this pain in my neck was ignored. I actually felt better for a short time, 2-3 months tops. Still sufferred the dizziness from time to time, but I was able to return to work temporarally.
It was in Dec 2007 that the pain in my neck started to spread into my arms and legs. At this point I orderred my primary to reffer me to Layhe Clinic in Boston for a "proper evaluation"! After a short arguement, he did. I believe he didn't want to reffer me, but I insisted. The Doctor at Layhe did an MRI of my neck and she discovered C4 & C5 discs were buldgeing and I had minor arthritis in the same area. She didn't really give me anything except anti-inflamatories and Motrin. Not much of a help I might add. It didn't help enough for me to return to work again, and by this time my company just gave up on me and laid me off permanently. So I suffered the rest of 2008 in pain. Curiously, my speech,dizziness, and weakness problems seemed to resolve themselves, just the pain remained along with the headaches. I managed to start with another company in July 2008, and then it happened. I was rear-ended by some woman who was not paying attention in Aug. Usually it would be her fault, but when the Police write up the report saying I had a brake light out, then it voids her responsibility. And yes, I was taken to the ER immediately. X-rays were done, but, nobody said "boo" about it. Shot of morphine and the sent me home. Ever since then, I have been in and out of the ER seeking help and a solution, and I'm in MASSIVE PAIN now. So bad that it's hard for me to put on a shirt, or sleep ,or sit up. Not to mention work!
So now I come to it....thank you for reading my history...There is a grape sized lump at C1 that I can feel, hurts to touch it. Can't turn my head without shards of pain, or put my chin to my chest, or throw it back like a PEZ dispenser, too much pain!!! Nausia it always present, and lightheadedness and or dizziness. Very difficult to walk, never mind run. Tie my shoes...ya right!! The pain now radiates down my back, left arm, left leg and butt. And there is a popping noise only I can hear time and again when I move. Does anyone know what I can do? I've since lost my insurrance and employment, nobody will hire me (coz it's obvious when they look at me or see me walk) and the ER keep turning me away....that's right you heard me...turn me away. They think I'm just a "pill chaser". Nothing could be father from the truth. I just want my life back. I'm 39 years old.