Neck to Neck Battle – Part 2
10:45 am. From the airport, we decided to go home. Instead of visiting a nearby tertiary hospital to get my dear Laura checked by their doctors and specialists, we nonchalantly opted to drive straight to our loving house. My game plan was very clear the moment Laura felt better and was able to finally move and walk after minutes of agony on the plane. I will definitely contact my reliable and trusted telehealth doctor for Neck Pain and book a consultation with him ASAP. I will certainly book an online consultation with the same doctor who helped me with my excruciating knee pains for weeks. Without a doubt, Dr. Martin Curtis Smith, the middle-aged former professional football player turned doctor, will be able to help my wife as well.
There was no objection from my wife about my Online Pain Management plan for Neck. She was actually very excited to schedule a consultation with my virtual physician, Dr. Smith, because she witnessed herself how my anguish and suffering were ended with the help of my amazing and talented online doctor. My dear Laura was even suggesting and insisting to be alone with the said doctor for her medical consultation, claiming that it would be the best and right thing to do for a more efficient and accurate diagnosis. If that’s what my wife wants, that’s what my wife would get. If she thinks and believes that she would feel better discussing her health and condition with a talk, dark, and handsome telehealth doctor alone, then so be it. I fully support her. Go girl! Go Laura!
Smitten by Dr. Smith. No problem!
Actually, I guess my wife just has a huge crush on the stud muffin. That’s normal. That’s my doctor.
I have no issues with that. I have nothing against that. That’s my online doctor.
I am definitely cool with that. I am totally fine with that. That’s my virtual doctor.
I am not jealous. Not at all. That’s my telehealth doctor.
This 70++ year-old retired civil engineer is not jealous. Not at all. In Doctors We Trust.
Alright, I am getting jealous. I am getting a bit jealous. Just a bit.
11:30 am. Hallelujah! We finally got to book a consultation with our chosen and dependable telehealth doctor. Hallelujah! We were really ecstatic to find out that there were still consultation slots left before dinner time on that day. Hallelujah! It was smooth and easy to schedule a consultation via their website! Though there were other options, more credible and trustworthy virtual doctors like Dr Smith who are willing to serve and are waiting for patients, my dear Laura’s crush was our one and only choice. And you can’t blame us for playing favorites since we owe it to Dr. Smith for helping me manage my knee pains for weeks especially during our Las Vegas trip. In Dr. Smith We Trust.
Dr. Smith is the man! He is the right Doctor to help manage my wife’s neck pain! I thank him for that!
But I remain to be the only man for my wife. I have always been the man of her dreams. Huh!
For better, for worse, for richer, for poorer. I am not jealous! Huh!
In sickness and in health, to love and to cherish. I am not jealous! Huh!
Until parted by death. I am not jealous! Huh!
12:00 pm. We all had a great lunch including our lovely children and adorable grandchildren. We feasted on pan-seared filet mignon, creamy mashed potatoes, crunchy Caesar salad, and cheesy carbonara.
2:00 pm. My dear Laura took a nap while the rest of us watched the latest series on Netflix. We just chilled and relaxed in the entertainment room as we enjoyed the most popular Korean dramas.
5:00 pm. My dear Laura finally woke up. We indulged in silky vanilla and caramel ice cream, hefty clubhouse sandwiches, and some luscious New York cheesecake all prepared by our two affectionate daughters.
My wife’s neck pain was totally gone at that moment. We all knew that she just really needed some good rest and peace of mind. It was so ecstatic seeing her passionately sharing stories and laughing out loud with our grandchildren. But matter of fact, she will experience some neck pain again sooner or later. The consultation with Dr. Smith was about to happen. It should happen.
7:00 pm. And so it did. The one-on-one consultation with the talk, dark, and handsome Dr. Smith, as requested by my dear wife, finally took place. And it was very reassuring for my wife and my entire family that her neck pain will be managed accordingly. My dear Laura can and will be better!
My dear Laura shared with us some of her takeaways from her consultation with her new telehealth doctor. Dr. Smith explained and emphasized that her neck pain isn’t rare at all. Matter of fact, neck pain is bound to happen to the greater majority here in the US.
According to Harvard Medical School’s Harvard Health Publishing,
“If you’re bothered by neck pain, you have plenty of company. Doctors estimate that seven out of 10 people will be troubled by such pain at some point in their lives. But if you were to ask each of these people to describe their neck pain, you would probably get seven different stories. By clearly describing your specific neck symptom, or combination of symptoms, you can help your doctor determine what’s wrong and how to help.”
My wife also told us that she might have experienced facet joint pain according to Dr. Smith. Based on her description of what she really felt, on what areas of her neck was the most painful, and some other details that she shared with Dr. Smith, the humble and unassuming doctor made an initial diagnosis that it was indeed facet joint pain. But her telehealth doctor also shared with her and explained that there are actually different types of neck pain.
Online Neck Pain Management
Harvard Health Publishing describes some of the Common Types of Neck Pain:
Muscle Pain. Aching or sore neck and shoulder muscles may occur in response to overexertion or prolonged physical or emotional stress. The neck muscles may develop hard knots that are tender to the touch, sometimes called trigger points.
Muscle Spasm. This is a sudden, powerful tightening of neck muscles. Your neck may hurt and feel tight or knotted, and it may be impossible to turn your head. When you wake up with a painful, stiff neck, that’s likely a muscle spasm. Muscle spasm can result from a muscle injury, but it may also occur in response to a spinal disc or nerve problem, or even emotional stress. However, there is often no clear cause.
Headache. Neck-related headache is most often felt in the back of the head and upper neck and is usually the result of muscle tension or spasm. Neck-related headache pain is usually dull or aching, rather than sharp; the neck might also feel stiff or tender. Moving your neck makes it worse.
Facet joint pain. Often described as deep, sharp, or aching, pain in the facet joints (part of the vertebrae of the neck) typically worsens if you lean your head toward the affected side and may radiate to your shoulder or upper back. Arthritis in the facet joints, as in other locations, may feel worse in the morning or after a period of inactivity.
Nerve pain. Irritation or pinching of the roots of the spinal nerves causes pain that may be sharp, fleeting, severe, or accompanied by pins and needles. Depending on the nerve involved, the pain may shoot down the arm or even into the hand.
Referred pain. Referred pain is pain in one part of the body that is triggered by a problem in another part of the body. For example, neck pain that worsens with exertion may indicate a heart problem, while neck pain that occurs when you eat may stem from a problem in the esophagus.
Bone pain. Pain and tenderness in the cervical vertebrae are far less common than neck pain from the soft tissues. Bone pain needs medical attention because it may signal a more serious health problem.
No More Neck Pain. No problem for now!
Laura felt so relieved after he scheduled consultation with Dr. Smith. For the meantime, she has been advised by the good doctor to carefully observe her neck, limit her highly active movements but do some daily stretches and exercises, and find more time to rest and relax. They are bound to meet again for another consultation after a week or two. Hallelujah! Thank you Dr. Smith.
Truly, In Doctors We Trust.
In Telehealth Doctors We Trust.
Read the Online Neck Pain Management Part 1 Neck to Neck Battle here.