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Anyone have this problem? What did you do to feel better and did the pain ever go away? My pain travels all the way down my arm and centers in my forearm where it feels like it's being stabbed.
Also what type of treatment worked for you. I don't know if I should see a physical therapist or chiropractor.
I have sciatica but never had neck problems till recently. Some days it's good, and some days I get a tightening feeling in my neck, feels like swollen glands. I tried a different pillow. If I turn my head to quick, not good.
Puffle,
Ordinarily, I would recommend a chiropractor. My chiropractor has helped me a lot. But then I don't have a herniation problem. Have you seen a neurologist or a pain specialist? What is your dr recommending??
I would not necessarily rule out seeing a chiropractor either, but, again, because of the herniation, I would want it to be someone who was very competent and they would certainly need to know where your location is located. (I would have no qualms, for example, about you seeing my chiropractor.)
Thanks kaykay. Texas may be a wee bit far from Concord, Ma.! I have seen an Ortho and a Neurologist. Tomorrow I am seeing the Neuro for nerve testing and the next day my primary who thinks the next step is a Neuro Surgeon and P.T. It's a drag because nothing stops the pain and I have tried many different types of pills. The strongest pain relievers make me feel good but not my arm. So many issues health wise in one year. It really is the pits.
I have a herniated disc at the C6-7 level. I woke up one morning thinking I'd slept on my neck wrong...The pain that followed was unbearable! I had pain shooting down my arm and spasms in my shoulder. I didn't know what was going on, but I did suspect a disc...
I went to my Chiropractor, but treatments didn't help. After suffering for 3 months, I finally got the MRI to diagnois the problem..By that time, I was feeling better and decided not to take actions, ie, surgery....
My Chiropractor will not adjust my neck now as it's not a good idea with this problem. So, I woudn't advice having an adjustment...
I slept in a recliner for 3 months as I couldn't lay on my left side. I swollowed every drug I could get my hands on, and nothing helped..Physical therapy only made the spasms worse...the only thing I found that helped, was putting pressure on the pounding nerves in my neck/shoulder area with my fingers..The physical therapist said they're pressure points and was on the same line as accupunture...I just know it helped...
Don't let them talk you into a fusion. Give it time to heal and just wait and see how you feel...
sound exactly the same! It's two months now and I had that painful nerve response test yesterday! I felt like Frankenstein with all the impulse things and needles. Other than the pain, I felt like maybe the needles did something in a positive way. Waiting to see my primary to go on from their. I'm wondering if being on the computer eight hours a day brought it on? Have you tried a cervical neck pillow yet? I just ordered a memory foam mattress to see if that helps the other aches and pains.
Anyone have this problem? What did you do to feel better and did the pain ever go away? My pain travels all the way down my arm and centers in my forearm where it feels like it's being stabbed.
Also what type of treatment worked for you. I don't know if I should see a physical therapist or chiropractor.
After several mris and x-rays I was dxd with degenerative changes at C5-6, C6-7 levels with end plate spurring. C3-4 level demonstrate broad based disc bulge. C5-6 level reveal end plate spurring and associated stenosis of the left nueural formen. C6-7 broad based disc bulge with mild stenosis. (1996)
Like you, the pain would radiate down left arm, get tangled near elbow and travel down to fingers. The thumb and pointer finger were numb most of the time. This was when the nerve was somehow STUCK in the verts.
Time and physical therapy and TRACTION eventually unstuck it and the pain was alleviated. It comes and goes. I have to remember to keep my shoulders back - good posture and not to force my head in an upward motion and/or do headstands ever again!!!
All of the nueros were after me for surgery. NO. C3and 4? Are you kidding me??? Twelve years later I am ok. I am careful: no roller coasters. I do see an ART (active release technique) specialist at times. I also cannot pull the start on a lawnmower, it is key start now. Life is good. Haven't had the numbness in years. But I am sure degenerative changes are still going on?
I hope you find healing and comfort. During the most painful I was on muscle relaxers, E S vicodin and valium. And I was still very much in pain.
(Very close to considering surgery--rod reenforcment along C spine).
The nerve popped out and I am very grateful it did and it's staying out!
Edited to add: Also saw an amazing accupuncture specialist who somehow released the pain in my elbow
and some things she discovered with my stomach??? It was wonderful and it worked.
After several mris and x-rays I was dxd with degenerative changes at C5-6, C6-7 levels with end plate spurring. C3-4 level demonstrate broad based disc bulge. C5-6 level reveal end plate spurring and associated stenosis of the left nueural formen. C6-7 broad based disc bulge with mild stenosis. (1996)
Like you, the pain would radiate down left arm, get tangled near elbow and travel down to fingers. The thumb and pointer finger were numb most of the time. This was when the nerve was somehow STUCK in the verts.
Time and physical therapy and TRACTION eventually unstuck it and the pain was alleviated. It comes and goes. I have to remember to keep my shoulders back - good posture and not to force my head in an upward motion and/or do headstands ever again!!!
All of the nueros were after me for surgery. NO. C3and 4? Are you kidding me??? Twelve years later I am ok. I am careful: no roller coasters. I do see an ART (active release technique) specialist at times. I also cannot pull the start on a lawnmower, it is key start now. Life is good. Haven't had the numbness in years. But I am sure degenerative changes are still going on?
I hope you find healing and comfort. During the most painful I was on muscle relaxers, E S vicodin and valium. And I was still very much in pain.
(Very close to considering surgery--rod reenforcment along C spine).
The nerve popped out and I am very grateful it did and it's staying out!
Edited to add: Also saw an amazing accupuncture specialist who somehow released the pain in my elbow
and some things she discovered with my stomach??? It was wonderful and it worked.
Thanks for the info. I'm going to see if an accupunturist is covered on my plan. Oddly enough after getting stuck with pins yesterday, I feel a little less pain, although that wasn't the purpose! How long did it take till you could resume a normal life? Up until now, sitting in a car, movie or on our couch is very painful.
I have just recovered from two herniated (bulging) disks in my neck. It was awful for months. My first doctor and physical therapist treated me for over a month with no relief. I was sent out for an MRI. That's how I found out what was going on. Same as you, radiating pain down my arm, spasms, numbness, tingling.
Then I went to a different doctor. She put me on a 6 day course of prednisone. That reduced the inflammation and the pain almost immediately. It was nothing short of miraculous. She also sent me to a physical therapist who specializes in industrial medicine. After almost two more months of physical therapy to help rebuild wasted muscle in my arm, I've just been released.
I am so happy to have gone to a second doctor. The neurosurgeon I went to see shortly after I took the prednisone, said that if I had not started to recover like I did, he would have recommended surgery.
Now that I'm an expert...what I've learned is that you have to reduce the inflammation. Your neck will heal over time. PT gets your strength back and teaches you correct posture. Strength and posture will help prevent re-injury as well as make you feel better sooner.
Don't be afraid to find a second doctor or another therapist. They're not all the same.
Thanks ellie. The neurologist I saw this week put me on a steroid and something for the pain called neurontin which increases in dosage after three days. If you had a job were you able to function? I already had to turn down one because laying in bed with a heating pad was my only relief.
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