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diagnosed with a cervical spine condition

wwanjala

Dear Scope Online Community,
I am reaching out with a heavy heart but also with hope to share my current health situation and seek advice, support and available resources.

Recently, i was diagnosed with a cervical spine condition following persistent neck pain. My MRI report indicated a posterior disc - osteophyte complex at the C5 - C6 level, which is compressing the anterior epidural space and existing nerve roots. This has been causing significant discomfort, restricted neck mobility , and occasional pain radiating to my shoulders and arms.

While i am in the process of discussing treatment options with my doctor which may involve physiotherapy, medication, or in more severe cases, surgical intervention - i would greatly appreciate guidance from the community. Specifically, I am interested in:

Information about living with and managing this type of condition.
Any support networks, peer groups, or online communities for individuals with similar diagnoses.
Resources on pain management , both medical and lifestyle -based.

I value your work in advocating for and supporting people living with chronic pain, and i believe your insight will help me cope better and make informed decisions about my health.

Thank you for your time, understanding , and dedication to this important cause. I look forward to hearing from you.

Kind regards,

Will

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Comments

Mary_Scope

Hi @wwanjala and a warm welcome to the community from me!

Thank you for sharing your experience and telling us a little bit about yourself. How are you doing at the moment?

I will edit the title of the post so its easier for other members of our community to find who may be able to relate and share their experiences and offer support. Hope that's okay!

Have you had any post diagnosis support yet?

There is Pain Concern that you may be interested in as they offers information resources, a helpline, and community support options specifically for people with chronic pain and there is also Pain UK that may be helpful to have a look at!

The NHS has also some living with pain information that talk about managing the mental impact of long term pain that may be useful.

I hope you're able to find a way to manage the pain and discomfort. Do you know when your next appointment with the doctor will be?

wwanjala

Hi Mary,
Thank you for your kind message and for sharing the helpful resources. I truly appreciate the support and guidance. The pain has been quite unbearable lately, so i'm looking forward to my follow - up appointment with the doctor tomorrow, hoping it will help in mapping out the best treatment plan moving forward.

wwanjala

Hi @Mary_Scope , I had my appointment with the doctor today, and he has recommended surgery. I am currently processing this information and considering the implication involved.

Mary_Scope

Hi @wwanjala

Thank you for the update. I’m sorry to hear that the pain has been so intense lately, it sounds very overwhelming! It’s good to know that you’ve had your follow up appointment though and now have a clearer understanding of the next steps so hopefully pain relief is on the horizon for you. Surgery is a big decision so take all the time you need to process everything but the community will always be here if you need some support or even a distraction😊

wwanjala

Hi @Mary_Scope

Thank you so much for your kind and thoughtful words. It really means the world to me right now. This pain has been overwhelming, but knowing i have such support around me makes it easier to cope. I'm taking time to think through the surgery decision, and it's comforting to know i can always turn to the community for both support and a little distraction when i need it.

wwanjala

Hi @Mary_Scope

Thank you so much for being so kind and encouraging, it really means a lot. To be, honest, what's weighing me down most right now is the financial side of everything - surgery, what comes afterwards, and all the uncertainty around it. For now, i'm doing physiotherapy twice a week (i was told i'll need 8 weeks), but I've already exhausted my outpatient cover,so managing the costs has been tough.

I'm just trying to take things one step at a time and stay hopeful, even though some days feel overwhelming. It helps a lot knowing i can count on support from kind people like you.

Mary_Scope

Hi @wwanjala

It's not a problem, I am glad I could help😊

That's understandable, have you looked into Personal Independence Payment (PIP) before? It's good that you're taking one step at a time and not rushing, how are you feeling today?

wwanjala

Hi @Mary_Scope

Thank you for your kind support and sharing the information on PIP. I truly appreciate it. I haven't explored it fully yet, but i will take some time to review the details you've provided.

I'm managing one step at a time as you've rightly said, and today i'm feeling a bit more positive. Thank you for checking in. It really means a lot.

wwanjala

Hi @Mary_Scope how have you been? Hope all is well.

Mary_Scope

Hi @wwanjala, I have been good, thank you! How have you been feeling?

wwanjala

Hi @Mary_Scope
Thank you so much for pointing me toward PIP. I haven’t had the chance to look into it properly yet, but I will. I’m actually based in Nairobi, Kenya, so I’m not sure if PIP can help someone outside the UK. Do you happen to know if there are any similar supports or resources that might apply internationally?

Mary_Scope

Hi again @wwanjala

Ah i see, unfortunately PIP is only for those living in the UK. I was unable to find if there was any similar financial support in Kenya but I did find Kenya Government Disability Services (they also have an online community!) and National Council for Persons with Disabilities that may be good to reach out as they should know if there is and what support is available for you😄

wwanjala

Hi @Mary_Scope
Thank you so much for taking the time to check and share those links. I truly appreciate the effort you’ve made to point me in the right direction. I’ll be looking into the Kenya Government Disability Services and the National Council for Persons with Disabilities to see what support might be available.

Admittedly, accessing public services here can be challenging due to inefficiency and corruption within some government institutions, but I’m hopeful that by reaching out directly I can still find guidance or assistance. With the current levels of corruption, my expectations of meaningful help are low, but I’ll still reach out and see what can be done sometimes even small steps can make a difference. Thank you once again for your thoughtfulness it really does help.