Question
I have had progressive neck and shoulder pain for three years.  In the last three months it has gone from bi-weekly pain to daily non-stop ongoing severe pain.  It hurts even more when I sit or lay down. I can not do anything and I hurt all the time, real bad.  I am not a puss, nor am I a hypochondria.  I had an MRI of the Thoracic spine and it shows three Hemangiomas on T2, T3 and the largest one on T6 at 13 mm.  I also have cervical disc herniation on C5,& 7.  The doctor says that the pain is coming from the cervical area and to not worry about the hemangiomas.  I hurt so bad and my left arm is starting to weaken and go numb.  Should I take my doctor's advice and just get an anterior Cervical discectomy (two levels on c6/7), or go to a doctor specializing in tumors of the spine?  I am worried that the increase in pain and symptoms is a sign of the tumor growing.  I was told that they are vascular in nature.  Thanks!

Answer
The Hemangiomas are considered to be an incidental finding and rarely of any consequence. An incidental finding means it's there, everyone can see it, but it doesn't matter. That is not to say that they never cause problems, but that problems are rare. The nerves that exit from T2, T3, and T6 do not cause neck, shoulder, and arm pain. The nerves that exit from C5,C6, and C7 do cause neck, shoulder, and arm pain. The hemangiomas have been there since your skeleton matured which in females is age 12 to 16. A herniated disc can develop at any time and progressively gets worse - certainly 3 years is enough time to make you desperate for relief.

So, based upon the limited history provided and no physical exam, I'm betting on the disc as the source of your troubles. My advice is to type "spinal decompression" into your browser and see if someone in your area can provide this service.

Spinal Decompression Therapy, first approved by the FDA in 2001, has since evolved into a cost-effective treatment for herniated and degenerative spinal discs; one of the major causes of back pain and neck pain. It works on the affected spinal segment by significantly reducing intradiscal pressures. This is a conservative procedure for patients suffering with bulging or herniated discs, degenerative disc disease, posterior facet syndrome, sciatica, failed back surgery syndrome, and non-specified mechanical low back or neck pain.