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badneck · Jun 22, 2013, 11:39 PM

I have a neck injury and I feel its broken. The vertebrae is loose at c-7. Its unheard of and not in any literature. Something is also wrong at c-2 or c-3 not sure. All x-rays and ct's and MRI's have came back negative. Been injured since 2005 and heard many different reasons with what's wrong. Sprain strain nerve impingement herniated disks , severe central stenosis but no doctor believes me that it's a loose vertebrae. My chiropractor believes me and anther chiro said it was broken. I demonstrate it to every body and they say its creepy. I can only sit up for so long as the weight of my head is unbearable. Can only do so much each day. I need it fixed but the neuro said he would do surgery then changed his mind after I told him it was a loose vertebrae. Im taking hydrocodone and it helps at times but not always as the pain is unbearable. 5 MRI's 1 CT countless x-rays. The ER said it was the hardest place to diagnose. I feel it's a miracle I'm still alive and not paralyzed. It takes me an hour or more to get the strength to get out of bed each morning. Seen 4 surgeons with mixed reviews. Seen over 25 doctors and each seems to have a different perspective. I have urinary incontinence at times and off an on numbness in arms and hands. I get dizzy all the time. Non stop noises in my neck and deep and loud pops every day.

Im at a loss for what to do. Any ideas anyone? I'm only 31 and too young for all this as the last 7 years have been hell. I have countless other symptoms as well.

I just woke up one day like this after working for 3 years straight and had to duck under a 3 and 1/2 foot panel for the last 6 months of working. I no longer trust W/C Dr's they are uncompassionate towards my pains. I need a Digital Motion X ray but can not afford 1000 dollars. I think it would show the bones in motion.

anyone every heard of anything like this or have any ideas what I should be doing for a proper diagnosis?

Much love and Respect to All

joypulv · Jun 23, 2013, 03:40 AM

I'm not going to get into the words 'broken neck' and 'loose vertebrae' because of course that just makes people shake their head. They aren't really meaningful without a detailed description of what has happened to the connections between each vertebrae or to the bone itself.
Years ago I watched a film on forensics, and one segment was about whiplash complaints that were never resolved by medical exam. Autopsies showed a series of small, solidified bruises along the vertebrae that had been pressing on the spinal nerves, but which hadn't shown on X-ray. Now this was a LONG time ago, and might have been before MRI was common. Why don't you tell us about the injury of 2005?

badneck · Jun 23, 2013, 01:37 PM

Joypuly,
Thank you for the quick reply. I had to repeatedly duck stoop underneath a 3 1/2 panel to get in and out of my cashier area to also fill coolers and propane containers which are very heavy when filled. Very interesting about the forensic film. Just turning my head or looking down makes me dizzy as also walking makes me dizzy at times. After some time of pain while working and thought of being paralyzed from the waist down from intense pain I kept on working until I had to days off work and the day I was supposed to go back to work I could not get out of bed. I was basically paralyzed that day. I did not go to the emergency for lack of money and therefore had to wait 7 to 9 days to see my PTP. 1 - 2 days I was able to sit up for a brief time and went to my neighbors to talk about what happened. After about 15 - 20 minutes the weight of my head was just unbearable to say the least( tears rushed down my face of fear and pain. After seeing the doc and getting meds I could not see him anymore cause of insurance reasons. The next doctor I saw was a jerk and in disbelief and I requested to see another doc because of this. By the time I was able to see the 3rd doc I was basically frozen and could not turn my head. 2 or more visits go by and he referred me to the chiro was nice enough to see me without approval. I went in to the chiro frozen and crying and he unlocked my neck and gave me hope. 8 months of seeing the doc with no MRI and he thought the problem was from c-7 to t-2. he eventually discharged me from pressure of the insurance and said nothing was wrong. But I called the to ask what the MRI said after I received one and they said nothing. In fact it showed a c-6 disk bulge. In 2007 I had a special weight bearing MRI done and showed multiple disk herniation and many other things including disk indenting the spinal cord. Some MRI's show more than others. There is a difference in quality and interpretation from diagnostic to diagnostic. From about 2005 to 2008 every breath was excruciating especially deep breaths so I tried for years not to breath deeply. Now just by leaning forward and lifting my arms up and pushing the c-7 vertebrae left and right it slides back and forth. If I just use my right hand and do this it feels as if its popping out and I can push it in to the left like the right side is just floating there. The left side of the vertebrae is more stable. Any more questions just ask. Can't give out personal info on this matter though. Edit I have the same predominant bone as the above questing about what is the big bone on my back. It feals as if my neck is not even connected to it. Its very pronounced.

joypulv · Jun 23, 2013, 01:47 PM

You could be getting poor diagnostics simply because it was work related and they didn't want a claim against them. Were you sent to company doctors?
I wonder if you have some sort of occlusion in blood vessels aside from disc bulge, and the movable vertebrae (which I believe but know nothing about).
I don't think you'd have hardened blood pressing on nerves because you didn't have a traumatic injury. But I still think your pain is pinched/pressed on nerves. And perhaps the dizziness is blood not getting to the brain quickly enough. An MRA (not MRI) of the neck might show something. But all this is expensive.
Did you get a work related disability, or what happened with that job, and what is your insurance status now? And where do you live?

badneck · Jun 23, 2013, 03:13 PM

yes I believe this is the case as WC has most doctors in there pockets or in the middle of lawsuits. Mostly seen company docs but now I'm seeing P.A.'s outside the WC through the county. Im in California. My main concern is still paralyzation as I am often bed bound day and night. Still many days my neck can't support my head or neck in the upright position. Laying down cause different pains as well. I have been denied all WC benefits aside from dr visits and consultations. I am way to familiar with the WC system and think it stinks. Nobody knows really anything about The loose vertebrae but my chiropractor agrees this is the case and would testify If I want him to. I am in a depression because of all this and am also getting treatment from the Psychiatrist and counseling. I used to have the worse ever head aches and still get them from time to time. Many times when I breath I hear popping noises at c-7. Also when I lift my arms up sometime I hear and feel A clunk sound and deep feeling right at c-7. This happened about an hour ago when taking a shower. At times I feel I'm running out of time. I am also currently seeing a Physical Therapist and I'm not sure if it's the best thing for my situation. She has never here of a loose vertebrae and only herd of a instability which this is but I think its much more serious. Many professionals say if it was broken or loose I would be dead or paralyzed and are in disbelief. I know from what happened it's a miracle I survived and wish to live as long as possible and still have hope There will be a fix in the future. But first I have to find out the exact problem before there can be a solution. The neuro said he would not even know what do do. But he was in cahoots with the insurance but was supposed to be independent wich he turned out not to be. His claims administer was working for both sides(conflict of interest. There is no way I can ever settle the claim because I don't fully understand what's wrong and either does anyone. Sorry for the ran but its complex. Edit I got sdi for a short time but am applying for ssi. The boss told me to turn in my shirt which I did. He also paid me under the table for my over time and made me work nights mornings and afternoons and I did some double shifts.

here is a recent x-ray sorry about the bad quality. I took it with my camera

joypulv · Jun 23, 2013, 03:50 PM

Try UCLA Medical Center. You need a teaching hospital.
My brother in law has had excellent care for his cervical vertebrae at U of Washington.
Most university medical centers are best for unusual conditions.

Handyman2007 · Jun 29, 2013, 03:59 PM

After having a severe C& injury many years ago, I can tell you that, unless the disk is blown out or has shrunk for some reason, it cannot be "loose". The C7 vertebrae , if loose, would cause partial paralysis. It is the most structurally important vertebrae in the spine. If you have seen 25 doctors and untold specialists, I would seek help at a teaching hospital.

And the fact it may be work related possibly may be a reason for the undefined results from the doctors.
But they also have a responsibility to diagnose you properly. You keep telling the story of how you got "injured" by repetitive motion at work. The WC courts need to verify that it could be a "work related" injury.
None of the actions you describe sound like unreasonable physical demands for the type of work you did. People bend, stretch, lift, etc on their jobs all of the time.
Have you worn a cervical collar for a time to see if it helps alleviate some of the inflammation after a while? I am not going to say much about what I really think but You are exhausting your medical possibilities here. If you C7 were "loose" it would have been addressed by now.