Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group MRI for neck

Hi there! Well, my rheumatologist has decided that it's time for me to get an MRI done on my neck. In addition to AS my neck and I suffer from degenerative arthritis. Is this common? I have bone on bone with a couple of vertebrae and a disk that is getting squeezed on a couple others. Does anyone know what treatment options are available for this? I've been doing my darndest to maintain a low starch diet - I bought some Ezekiel bread yesterday - but I don't think the LSD works for degeneration does it? Any help, suggestions, or whatever will be appreciated. Thanks! Helen

Hi, Helen:

I don't know what Ezekiel bread is, but suspect that it would not even pass Ebringer's 'four major poisons' test. Many people have tried starch restriction, but it takes quite a long time to 'learn' what to eat and what to avoid. The iodine evaluation is always the best way.

Honestly, in his book Campbell shows X-rays of regenerated bone after many months on his programme, so LSD might work to some extent, albeit perhaps not fast enough in many cases.

Starch restriction did not prevent my fracture and the kyphosis that occurred before I was able to halt the progression of the disease will assure that I cannot heal, so I am looking at bone chip placement and 'instrumentation.' These may be an option for you, also, but less likely if in cervical area. I have seen the best bone guys at Scripps and they will not even touch my neck...

Good luck to You,
John

A punk stopped me on the street and said: "You got a light Mack?"

Thanks John - Ezekiel bread is a protein, flourless bread. It's made from sprouted grains. My degeneration is in the cervical area. I'm pretty sure C-4 & 5 are where the bone is rubbing against bone The bulge is just below that. I don't know if there is anything that can be done - I might just have to live with it. It does cause some of my headaches especially at night when my neck gets tired of holding up my head all day. I guess it might help if I took off the lead helmet I wear so that the aliens can't read my thoughts...but then they would start their darn conversations with me again...Wait did I just say that out loud? Thanks - Helen

Hey, Helen:

I should have mentioned that my neck pains are much decreased since I have been taking nerve blocks, even injected at the L1-L2 level. You might look into this option; they work for quite a long time before requiring another treatment.

Thanks for the infor on Ezekiel bread. I had something similar once...hopefully not too similar!

Best Regards,
John

A punk stopped me on the street and said: "You got a light Mack?"

Hi Helen,

I am currently crapping myself waiting for the outcome of of PT appointment - that I have yet to have!!

My Osteo said he thought that I already had fusion - my GP had already identified a problem at C5-T2 which really freaked me out and had me on the fastest route EVER as to being strictly NSD!!!!

This week I learnt that my PT appt would be soon (yeah, like 3/12 after the event!) but I know it is PT rather than Osteo opinions than gets 'results' here...

So, let's be cynical here and guess my outcome??!

(a) let's just wait and see
(b) let's xray lower C spine and upper T spine
(c) a variation of (b) (ok, so I'm being generous??!!!)
(d) let's do bone density scans
(e) lets do a MRI scan

Answers on a postcard please!!!!!]

Not Holding My Breath,

Jan

If my life is for rent and I don't learn to buy

Well I deserve nothing more than I get

'Cos nothing I have is truly mine

- Dido

Hi Jan - You're right. PT expertise does get results. I love my PT - she is the one who helped me get my TENs unit. And because she actually touches me and can feel how tight my muscles are she knows my body better than most doctors ever will who just take blood and xrays. I've had all the spinal xrays but I don't think they show what needs to be seen at this point. My neck problems are fairly recent, within the last year.

I really am doing what I can to change my diet. I had no problem last spring giving up dairy (of course I immediately discovered goat products) but the sandwich thing really has me in a tailspin. I don't even mind giving up sweets even though parents are great about supplying teachers with cakes and pies and other assorted goodies.

I have no idea what I have to look forward to with my neck. One of life's great mysteries I guess. Good luck with your PT appointment. I hope you get what you need. Love - Helen

Helen,

bone on bone, sets my teeth off in sympathy your poor thing.

I do n't know what to do to help.

The MRI I had made me claustophic, so close your eyes and take some music......I do n't normally suffer form that! but being in pain not able to move etc does n't help! I kepy my eyes closed (what a woos)

Have you tried that glutatimine stuff? I think it's claimed to be good for carthidge healing/regeneration it may help.

I'm just waiting for a rhemmie thing to happen if there's nothing going I'm trying for injections in the neck........then it's the glutty stuff or SAMe a precursor and green lipped muscles every night for a week. that worked on the hips knees years ago.

Hope you get comfortalbe soon

david

Helen : I had the back of my neck opened and spurs cleaned out by the best Neurosurgeon on on the SF peninsula in 2/02.It did not help and the wound took months to closedue to infection.I let the same surgeon open the front right in 7/02 and replace a disc with cadaver bone and instrumentation. Neither of these helped me.the surgeon did me no harm and I think he sincerely tried to help me ,but no improvement.My neck has been fused for 15 years with little movement in any directionsince I had open heart surgery at 36 for WPW.my wrists are fused in the palmsdown trying to raise them up direction and my low back will no longer flatten which makes under car work quite difficult or impposssible.I was too mechanically damaged before I learned about the LSD to be much help.Dragonslayer seems to have the best hope for those early in this nasty disease.
Kev

Hi David - Thanks for the reply - I do take glucosamine. I take all sorts of supplements that I think do help my AS but the pain in my neck is getting worse every day. My day to day AS pain is tiring but manageable. But I can't seem to get much info on degeneration. I guess I'll have to get to the library and see what I can find. My rheumatologist is good and will fill me in on the rest. At least I know I can trust him and that seems to be a lot considering how many people here post complaints about their doctors. I've had CT scans before - is the machine similar? The technicians had me close my eyes while I was in that contraption. I wanted to open them and see what was going on. I'm a very curious person and am fortunate not to suffer from claustrophobia (I wouldn't have survived with all my many brothers and sisters if I was claustrophobic). Are your problem with your neck AS? Good Luck - Helen

Hi Kev - Your surgeries sound awful! I haven't ever had surgery and run as fast as my creaky knees will let me when the word is mentioned. I'm not sure if there is anything that can be done surgicially for my neck anyway. It sounds like you've been opened up a few times. My mother had open heart surgery several times for a leaky valve due to rheumatic fever. I think watching her suffer before and after the surgeries is what scares me. I don't think I know what WPW is... Words Per Minute...no that wouldn't work Words Per aWhile? I can't guess... And it sounds like you have quite a bit of fusing. I don't think I have any of that either. Fusion in your wrists must make it difficult to do a lot of things. I am so sorry. Thanks for the response. Love - Helen