Off-and-on for a few years now I've had this deal right at the back of my neck where it would hurt if I tilted my head back more than a little bit. It'd flare up every six months or so and last for a week and then it would go away. Well, back in August it flared up and didn't go away--in fact it got worse and began affecting my left arm and shoulder with pain and tingling. The medical term for it is cervical radiculopathy. I was prescribed meloxicam and hydrocodone for the pain, and was scheduled for an MRI followed by physical therapy. Meanwhile I have been unable to sleep on my left side or sit at a computer for extended periods of time.

This week the MRI results came in: I have moderate cervical stenosis on my left side, meaning the hole in the spine where my nerves to my arm pass through is smaller than normal, causing pinching and pain. It's a progressive condition that gets worse as you get older. My dad has something similar but not as severe.

My first physical therapy appointment isn't until next week, so until then I basically have to keep enduring the pain and taking hydrocodone.

If physical therapy does not help my doctor said I will need to see a surgeon.