Bulging Disks - cervical spine

[navalgazer]

I have multiple bulging disks on my cervical spine C2-C7 and straightening of of the cervical lordosis. I've been in pain for a while and I have numbness and tingling in my fingers and my arms from the elbow down.

I have some other health issues that my doctor wants to concentrate on first but the pain is driving me and keeping me up at night.

What can I do to relive some of the pain?

I don't bother with pain killers, I have such high tolerance to pharmaceuticals they don't do anything for me.

I have a stim machine, feels good on my neck but again does nothing for pain.

Is chiropractic a good or bad idea?
PT?

Any ideas or suggestions, experiences would be appreciated.

[slappydog]

Im week 9 post op cervical fusion C6/C7 with nerve damage in my left hand. Pain meds were a blessing for me and the only way I could sleep. I got a EMS also but it only short term relief. I dont know about the chiro, for me I dont trust them with my neck especially when it involves nerves. Just get it taken care of asap. Im not sure I will regain my left fingers because I waited so long. I can't train and it sucks just walking on the treadmill watching other train. I may have to have C5/C6 taken out too.

[solidspine]

I would see a spine surgeon not a chiropractor.

ASAP,


if you tell me where you want to see this Surgeon, I may know someone.

[navalgazer]

I made an appointment with an orthopedic surgeon by me that I know is one of few good doctors in my neck of the boonies - at the very least I know he will know what he is looking at when he looks at the MRI.

The pain is insane, it's just constant now from my shoulder blades up and over my entire skull.

[motoxer125]

Yes, go see an orthopedic surgeon. That's the best thing you can do for yourself is have it checked out and see how bad the discs are. As for now, I would suggest ibuprofen. I am sure there is a lot of inflammation and sometimes that is what causes the pressure on the nerves. Physical therapy is also a good idea. See what the orthopedic surgeon says but many times some good PT can help tremendously.
Hope this helps

[Halfway]

Sorry to hear that, is this a chronic long term problem or somethign that came on recently?

I'm totally anti-spinal surgery after rehabbing discs I was told 'must be' operated on, but it would make sense to get opinions from both sides if the pain is so severe

[BIGBUCK$]

oh my sciatic

[jnuts]

Okay, I'm with you on this one, since I'm getting a c5-6 fusion at the end of the month. Thanks to the dipshit 18 year old who ran into my car seven years ago.

It's up to you, but I wouldn't go anywhere near a chiro and let him fuck with my neck. I know someone who woke up one morning and couldn't move his arm due to a disc that went to far - I'm all about taking prudent cautions with the treatments.

The disc swells slightly at night. Laying prone removes some of gravity's effect on the disc. For me, it takes about 3 hours in the morning for shit to mellow out back to "normal" as the disc shrinks back to normal size. Try sleeping upright - it may help relieve some of the pain. Believe me, I feel your pain - I haven't had a solid night's sleep in a VERY long time.

Is there a possibility some of your problems are spasms from the disc impingement? I have that problem. Flexeril will sometimes stop them...sometimes not. It's been the most consistent with helping ease some of the issues. They tend to wack me out a bit, though. So I try not to take them too much.

PT was some minor manipulation and cervical traction - they hook you up to a machine that yanks your neck a wee bit (weight adjustable). For me it didn't provide relief...for you it may. They also have home units that allow you to do your own traction.

I believe there is also the possibility of direct steroid type shot into the disc area to reduce swelling - I didn't go there.

Ibuprofen didn't do shit for me. They put me on Mobix... made my stomach feel nasty and didn't do much else (also have arthritis in the neck)

Tried heat, ice, combos, etc... none of that has worked for me.

FWIW, you are in the same boat I'm in. Multiple levels with bony stenosis, no lordosis, and a couple of bulging discs, one of them bad. Seven years of X-rays and MRIs to prove it. I fought this best the I could and decided to go under the knife.


See a neurosurgeon... not an ortho. Use the ortho to setup an MRI and a neuro consult. Whoever performs the MRI will provide a report. Depending on the neuro they might or not might look at the report. They'll look at the slides and probably form their own opinion.

If you need relief now I'd go in this order:

Quick fixes
1) Sleep upright!
2) PT for cervical traction

Mid Term
1) MRI
2) Xray (got arthritis in there?
3) Neuro surg consult

[takniteasy]

Okay, I'm with you on this one, since I'm getting a c5-6 fusion at the end of the month. Thanks to the dipshit 18 year old who ran into my car seven years ago.

It's up to you, but I wouldn't go anywhere near a chiro and let him fuck with my neck. I know someone who woke up one morning and couldn't move his arm due to a disc that went to far - I'm all about taking prudent cautions with the treatments.

The disc swells slightly at night. Laying prone removes some of gravity's effect on the disc. For me, it takes about 3 hours in the morning for shit to mellow out back to "normal" as the disc shrinks back to normal size. Try sleeping upright - it may help relieve some of the pain. Believe me, I feel your pain - I haven't had a solid night's sleep in a VERY long time.

Is there a possibility some of your problems are spasms from the disc impingement? I have that problem. Flexeril will sometimes stop them...sometimes not. It's been the most consistent with helping ease some of the issues. They tend to wack me out a bit, though. So I try not to take them too much.

PT was some minor manipulation and cervical traction - they hook you up to a machine that yanks your neck a wee bit (weight adjustable). For me it didn't provide relief...for you it may. They also have home units that allow you to do your own traction.

I believe there is also the possibility of direct steroid type shot into the disc area to reduce swelling - I didn't go there.

Ibuprofen didn't do shit for me. They put me on Mobix... made my stomach feel nasty and didn't do much else (also have arthritis in the neck)

Tried heat, ice, combos, etc... none of that has worked for me.

FWIW, you are in the same boat I'm in. Multiple levels with bony stenosis, no lordosis, and a couple of bulging discs, one of them bad. Seven years of X-rays and MRIs to prove it. I fought this best the I could and decided to go under the knife.


See a neurosurgeon... not an ortho. Use the ortho to setup an MRI and a neuro consult. Whoever performs the MRI will provide a report. Depending on the neuro they might or not might look at the report. They'll look at the slides and probably form their own opinion.

If you need relief now I'd go in this order:

Quick fixes
1) Sleep upright!
2) PT for cervical traction

Mid Term
1) MRI
2) Xray (got arthritis in there?
3) Neuro surg consult

I agree with jnuts on all of this. DO NOT GO TO A CHIROPRACTOR.

I have had 3 cervical fusions (including a redo) in the last 12 years - C4 through C7 are fused. I am ~16 weeks post-op from the most recent surgery which was the redo @ Level C6-C7 and removal of a bone spur @ C6. I was able to resume strength training @ 8 weeks post-op. Minor restrictions included no weight bearing across the shoulders/base of the neck and no overhead pressing/pushing. At 12 weeks post-op, those restrictions have been lifted and I resumed my training normally, using discretion on certain movements.

There are things to help in the interim. Motrin/ice will help with inflammation. PT can offer at home traction devices. I have one that you lay down on; it does help to some extent. You may be able to get relief with epidural steroid injections. For the muscle spasms, try massage therapy. MT may also help with your loss of lordosis. In place of RX pain relief, try magnesium. It helps relax muscles and provides some anti-inflammatory relief.

I normally would not recommend surgery but when you have that many levels of disc protrusion, you have got to be more aggressive in your treatment in order to get relief. I feel like a new person (more like a bionic woman now) since my last procedure. I have NO PAIN. Where as before, I was in pain 24 hours a day. No exaggeration.

I did not realize how many people suffer through the same kind of pain I have had. I feel for you.:rose:

[richd328]

jnuts is 100% on the money, get a nuerosurgeons opinion.

[victoria stiles]

Bulging discs in the cervical spine will not only cause neck pain, but you may also experience headaches, shoulder, arm and hand pain, numbness or weakness, chest pain, thyroid problems (which could lead to weight problems), as well as ringing in the ears and blurred vision.

[BioLemm]

You need to see a neurosurgeon.