Question
I was injured by my gate which fell on me 10 years ago. Apparently something is now wrong with the 6th vertebrae in my neck which causes horrendous pain in my neck, (right side) then goes into my right shoulder and outside of my upper arm. (I also have an extra rib)

I've had numerious cortizone injections over the years as well as thousands of anti-inflamateries and now have an ulcer due to all the medication.

Everytime I go to a surgeon or nuerologist, they say it is not yet an medical emergency, however, I live in pain every single day of my life. I have now heard from a friend with a pinched nerve in her elbow that she had an rhyzotomy and is now pain free. Can you do the same with my type of pain.  

Answer
Hi Jeannette,
Sorry I was a little late getting back to you, I set my vacation dates and apparently they didn't show or work.
Yes, it can be done but only as a last resort since you will loose feeling where you have pain. I would try cervical traction, if that doesn't work, a rhyzotomy can eliminate the problem. I would get a few opinions before doing it, some things are permanent, and that's one of them.

Good Luck!

Dr. Timothy Durnin
drs.chiroweb.com