Any DUers with herniated discs in their necks?

[GoddessOfGuinness]

Not quite a year ago, Mr. GoG was diagnosed as having two herniated discs in his neck. The neurologist recommended that he treat the symptoms as long as he could with medication, since the surgery is pretty risky.

He's done pretty well until last week, when he caught a cold, and the coughing/sneezing attacks jerked things around in his neck a lot. Now he has some numbness in his left hand and he's having difficulty walking. He's stalling on calling the doctor, and insists on going to work.

Does anyone have any experience with this sort of injury? Could a chiroprator help or hinder the problem? What if he continues in his untreated state...could he do permanent damage to himself?

[democrat in Tallahassee]

1. I have 2 discs in my neck that have deteriorated to the point

that, well, they are no longer there. It hurts and I take Ibuprofen and get regular massage therapy, which helps immensely. Also heat compresses help, as does ice. There really isn't much they can do for it--I've just learned to live with it.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

9. Ouch!

What a thing to live with!

So there's no such thing as disc replacement surgery?

I'm sorry that you suffer like that...

[commander bunnypants]

2. Get him to a Doc as fast as you can

The symptoms you are describing is that tthe discs are compressing the nerves. Good Luck.

and have a :beer: on me


DDQM

[GoddessOfGuinness]

7. Thanks Demman!

With what it's gonna take to get him to the Dr, I'm gonna need a brew! :-)

[Bake]

3. I had it a year ago

I had a herniated disc at C6-7, with this godawful pain down my left arm (and I'm left handed) that virtually rendered it useless, numbness in my fingers, etc. I was taking Vicodins like candy for a couple of months. If it remains untreated, the nerve will be permanently damaged. I don't recommend a chiropracter. I had a discectomy and fusion, and from the moment I woke up from surgery, the pain was GONE and has never returned. It was wonderful, and I would do it again in a heartbeat. I had the surgery last November and by Christmas I was 100%.

I had a good result. Some people, for various reasons, do not. Talk to a good neurosurgeon. There are other treatment options (steroid injections, e.g.), but if it has gone untreated for very long, they will probably recommend surgery.

Bake

[GoddessOfGuinness]

8. His neurologist moved from the area...

Fortunately, he recommended another; and suggested that a second opinion is always a good idea. He also recommended someone that he felt was a top-notch surgeon.

Thanks so much for your input!

I'm going to show these posts to Mr. GoG...I hope they'll inspire him to make an appointment!

[Raven]

4. YES!!!

I have had the problem for about 6 years, maybe longer. Last year the pain became unbearable. Tingling and numbness in my arm and fingers and awful awful pain. I saw the pain docs and the Pain Clinic at Brigham & Woman's hospital in Boston who offered to shoot steroids in the disc area. I refused that because I have heard so many bad things about the side effects of steroids. They then prescribed Nurontin (SP?) which knocked me out so I stopped taking that. I finally got an appointment with a neck specialist at BWH who said that it was too soon to operate and that with many people this condition gets better. One year later I'm here to say that the pain is all but gone.

BUT, and a big BUT...your guy should see a doc and someone who specializes in this problem. He should avoid physical activity that irritates his neck and he may do well with some physical therapy. Physical therapy helped me because they showed me how to use the right muscles when lifting and sitting. I also got one of those neck pillows which I think has also helped. If your guy continues to have the numbness and the trouble with walking, he should definately see the doc. Good luck! :hi:

[GoddessOfGuinness]

6. Thanks...

I'll get one of those pillows, and suggest the possibility of physical therapy as an option. I know he's scared of the surgery...

[chiburb]

5. Me too...

With bone spurs compressing the spinal cord and aggravating the nerves. Traction bought me 6 months, Vicodin (double dose) wasn't even enjoyable, finally surgery: Cervical laminectomy to ease the stenosis. Instant relief from the pain, but still have tingling and numbness in my hand and fingers. I knew going in that there'd be that risk of permanent nerve damage, but the pain is gone. More importantly, if I slipped on the ice or fell down the stairs, I'm no longer at risk of having my spinal cord severed.
"What a drag it is getting older..."

[GoddessOfGuinness]

11. It's good to know that the surgery has helped...

I hope he doesn't wait for permanent nerve damage to occur. He's a guitarist, and it's pretty important to be able feel what your left hand is doing...

[Bake]

13. I couldn't play at all with the pain

And my brother is going through his SECOND one now, and he can't even reach down the short neck of a mandolin! Actually, it's the angle he has to turn his head to look down the neck of the instrument that sets it off!

Mine made me just miserable, depressed, stoned, etc. I couldn't do anything active without it flaring up, and that pain was just about unbearable. My left arm was virtually worthless, and I couldn't raise it above shoulder level. Surgery was the best thing for me.

The only thing that took a while to recover was the incision on my hip where they took the bone chip for the fusion graft. They had to use my own bone because I smoke -- otherwise, they would have taken a chip from the "bone bank." That was pretty sore for several months, but not debilitating. I now have a titanium plate in my neck, but I don't set off airport or courthouse metal detectors or anything like that.

Get your hubby to the doc!

Bake

[GoddessOfGuinness]

18. He fell when he was leaving work tonight...

Because he was trying to carry his guitar and books to the car by himself; and he really isn't walking properly. I think that scared him enough to call the doctor tomorrow.

He can play a bit; but he's having trouble with moderately difficult stuff. He's pretty bummed...

[alfredo]

10. yeah, get him to the doctor. They may have him in Traction to relieve

pressure on the nerve and to allow the discs to reseat themselves.


Ibuprophen is good, but in time it will tear up his stomach. vioxx is good, but in time it will be tough on his stomach.

surgery should be the the last option.

I have the numbness in my arms. My C-4 C-5 C-6 are affected. It sucks, but it can be treated. He may end up like me, on Soc Sec disability. Make him see his doctor now.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

12. Hi there!

First off he needs to stay away from chiropractors until he gets an updated diagnosis. Chiropractic adjustments can be dangerous for the neck and disc herniations.

Secondly, in finding a new doctor he should go to a board certified orthopedic surgeon who do NOTHING BUT SPINES.

I may have a referral to a teaching/academic treating doc depending on where you live. Feel free to PM me if you need assistance.

Also Raven's recommendations were excellent as well.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

19. Thanks NSMA...

I may ask for referrals if he doesn't feel comfortable with this doctor.

[Blue-Jay]

14. I'm waiting on my x-ray results right now.

Man, I hope there aren't any disk problems. I wouldn't wish that on anyone, least of all ME. Meanwhile, I'm going to take another vicodin and hope that the feeling in my left thumb comes back. Oy.

Send my good wishes to Mr GoG.

[alfredo]

15. vicodin is good, but doesn't taste near as good as a good

double bock beer.

[Blue-Jay]

16. Very true.

Still, nothing beats a vicodin/bourbon combo when you're trying to get some sleep.

[liberalhistorian]

17. I had a couple herniated disks

in my lower back about ten years ago, the only pain worse was childbirth and it was HORRIBLE I could hardly do anything at all. Then I had microscopic laser surgery, and it was WONDERFUL! I was in and out of the hospital in one day, and on my feet ready to rock and roll not even three days later. I almost cried, I was so grateful to that neurosurgeon. And it hasn't bothered me since!

I'd been going to a chiropractor for years, and it turned out (as another chiro told me) that he'd screwed me up by not getting me the treatment I needed from the neurosurgeon, thinking he'd just handle it himself when chiros are taught to know their limits and know when they should refer someone for surgical or other treatment that they can't provide.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

20. That's great!

I'm hoping there's some sort of laser surgery they can use on Mr. GoG. It's remarkable how it's changed people's lives!

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

21. Necks are trickier than backs

and they generally do necks anteriorly (from the front) rather than posteriorly. I had back surgery and stopped all meds one week later and was walking several miles daily within three weeks (helped that I was pretty athletic to start with)

If his problems are due to degeneration rather than a frank herniation, it is more difficult to expect good results.

Either way a course of physical therapy should be undertaken first to see is strengthening and stretching will make a difference. Williams and McKenzie exercizes as well as isometric exercises can be very helpful.