help...have Slipped Discs in Neck...

Greetings R.: I am so going down memory lane thinking of my life before surgery on 3 dics in my neck and the horrible life I led. How much I HATED that neck brace!! I did have have the surgery done 2 times becasue I waited to long and the bone Dr. Randall, used didn't work. The 2nd time I had Dr. Takeman, at Alta Bates do the surgery and it has been terrific since.
My daughter in law has the same problem.Like you she is trying to avoid surgery. Unlike me, she is also, refusing pain medication.
I tried everything possible before doing surgery and wish that I had had it 2 1/2 years sooner.
I have done the accupunture,& acupressure which is great for several reasons. I had a wonderful man as a chiropractor. Who knew I was scared to have him touch my neck and was very respectful of that feeling. The only problem was -- he wanted to adjust my neck and I would end up going to the ER for a Toradal injection, for a migraine nearly everytime. Kaiser, was not thrilled about that either. Dr. Aubin, I will say, was a miracleman and did neck traction and that would help for awhile, and adjusted above and below the problem area. At one point for nearly a year I was back up to 4 times a week to see him. I found that I was curving my spine as a way to avoid the pain so that had to be corrected as well. I remember having to have foil on the windows because any light, sent me over the moon- all from migrains caused from the neck. I also ended with having carpool tunnel surgery because of the nerve damage.
This was a 5 year process. I would think carefully and ask for xrays and mri's again if you choose to keep having the neck adjusted. Also talk to your chrio. about traction and get his/her input. That way your well informed on how things are. I know that Kaiser, may say that if you choose to keep up with the chrio. against their advice you may have to pay extra for the xrays and mri. But that goes with your decision process.
I am grateful that I tried everything before the surgery because I would not know if I made the right decision or the easy one had I not. I do know that if you are going to use cadavorus bone, or anything like it please check into in carefully and have the doctor watch it for a long time. Mine was gone in less than 6 months. So it does work for some but not for others (lucky me I was one of the others). The other thing I learned from our car insurance agent while talking to him at one point--- if you have an accident because you couldn't turn your head enough to view while driving your insurance may be invalid, and you may find that you are held responsible for the accident, because of the neck brace.
Please let us know how things go for you. I wish you well and pray for your full recovery what ever you decide. Nana G

TRUST YOUR CHIROPRACTOR... NOT Kaiser MD. Md's are narrow minded even though overwhelming proof exists that Chiropractics works and will save you from an unnecessary Operation. My own chiropractor says to see him first and avoid surgery. PLEASE LISTEN. It can only help to see the Chiropractor. It is all about alignment not about sever and fuse. You will never have the motion in your neck again is they fuse your bones together and there is NO GUARANTEE that you will be pain freee after the operation. Read the small print. Grill your doctor. Then go to your trusted chiropractor.
VERY GOOD LUCK.

I would try the Chiropractor. They will usually tell you if they can't help you and will recommend surgery if it is necessary.

No cortisone! That stuff shreds your muscles. I don't know if Kaiser has any osteopaths (who practice osteopathic manipulations, not general docs), but I highly, highly recommend seeing one instead of a chiro. I've seen both, and I have had chiros I like, but osteopaths use a different technique (more direction and less force), which most people find far more effective. Their training also tends to be far more extensive (four years of med school). I also agree with those who suggested physical therapy and yoga. Please beware of orthopaedic surgeons. They are, as their name suggests, surgeons. Ever heard the saying "If all you have is a hammer, than everything starts to look like a nail"? Well, if all you have are anti-inflammatory drugs, cortisone and surgery . . . I'm sure you get the point. If you need any recommendations for osteopaths in the Bay Area, please feel free to send me a personal message. Best to you!

I know exactly the pain you are going through. I too have a herniated disc impinging a nerve going down my arm and spinal cord. 2 years ago I was in serious pain, but no longer (it only took me 1 year to come back to normal.) I did stop seeing the chiro for a while and saw a physical therapist which helped tremendously, but didn't quite get me to the place where I was completely pain free without meds (which was my goal.) During that time I took 300mg (baby dose they tell me) of Neurotin to keep the nerve pain down but not so much so that I didn't feel it when I did something wrong. The pain was my barometer. I also used 800 mg Motrin at times. After 6 months of PT, I took one private lesson of yoga that specifically targeted retraining my musculo-skeletal issues in my upper back, shoulders and neck which were contributing factors to the herniation. The yoga took me over the edge and I was able to get off meds. I also received massage to help release muscles in my neck (the front) and upper back, learned Qi Gong, and just recently learned a simple technique to deal with the occasional headaches: slow shoulder rolls while taking deep breaths down into the belly 2 - 3 times a day and anytime I am in a car of at the computer, I take 3 or 4 deep slow equal belly breaths (inhale for 4, exhale for 4.) I did not use cortisone, so I can't speak to it.

Just to recap the steps that worked:

Physical therapy
Neurontin and sometimes Motrin to keep the pain tolerable
Private Yoga that I now do at home
Qi Gong
Shoulder rolls and breathing throughout the day
Massage and now back to chiropractic

If you have any questions feel free to write. I also used acupuncture, but I wouldn't say that was a major contributor to my healing process. I hope you have a quick and full recovery!

R.,

If the discs are not pressing on the spinal cord and only on the nerve you can improve your situation and hopefully without surgery. Besides trying the passive treatment of cortisone ask your MD to refer you to physical therapy. The Kaiser system traditionally has good physical therapists. They can do any manual work plus educate you in exercises to unload the spine and in body mechanics to decrease stress to the neck. Not only do I do a home based business but I am also a physical therapist (not with Kaiser). I have seen enough neck patients that do very well once they are referred to physical therapy. With our current system it is usually meds and if that does not work then surgery when there are other effective approaches to treatment between those two extremes. I also agree it never hurts to get a second opinion by a neurosurgeon. Good luck!

C. B Palmer
____@____.com

Have you ever tried Yoga? My yoga instructor is also a chiropractor, but she makes her patients try yog stretches before she will do any adjustments. She was in a terrible accident years ago and was told she may not walk again and would never have range of motion in her legs. She just kept doing her yoga and now has no apparent loss in range of motion and the most amazing flexibility.

I personally was harboring a lot of tension in my neck and shoulders as well as my lower back from sitting in front of a computer all day. I have found that with the yoga, my neck, shoulders and lower back "adjust" naturally now that I practice the yog a stretches and poses. Perhaps yoga could help you. I would look for a very experiences instructor or if you want to email my instructor, Paula, she may be willing to give you advice or a lead to a yoga professional in your area. Email me if you want this contact information.

R.,
I have not had this problem in that area. I can say that I too love my chiro doc, but I have gone too much at times.
I worked with a girl that had this problem, she had the surgery and did great afterwords. She was very much relieved. Also, if you tip your head back when applying mascara it will exacerbate the problem.
W. m

Hi R.,

I also have 2 herniated discs in my neck. After the MRI, I saw a rehabilitation specialist that did a nerve conduction study (NCS) to test to see if there was any nerve damage. I was given powerful pain meds & anti-inflammatory drugs to decrease the pain & inflammation. I STOPPED seeing my chiropractor and instead went to physical therapist for about 2-3 months. I also saw a neurosurgeon which advised against surgery because my symptoms (pain, numbness, tingling, etc.) had completely resolved after physical therapy. He told me that 90% of all neck herniations do not require surgery.

My advise is to take the conservative route. Get a NCS to see if you have any nerve damage caused from the herniation. If you don't, then stop seeing the chiropractor & try physical therapy. You still may need to get cortisone shots, but at least it's better than having surgery. Best of luck on your recovery!

I agree with Tanya and Caroline. A second opinion with a neurosurgeon or an orthopedist specializing in spinal injuries should be considered. I was a claims adjuster for over 20 years and we never recommend chiropractic treatment. Good luck!

R.,

I experienced the same type of treatment for my neck when I began having pain radiating down my arm. I was given cortisone shots in my arm followed by Physical Therapy.
5 shots in 9 months and still no relief; 1 month was the longest. I found a great chiropractor to discover I had
herniated discs in my neck taken from a MRI. Long story short I went for spinal decompression for my neck and finally found relief.

My husband had the same thing. It was slightly impinging on his spinal cord too, so if he would have gotten into even a minor fender bender car accident it could have permanently paralyzed him. Honesly, the surgery was MUCH easier than getting your wisdom teeth extracted. He went in in the morning and was released the next day. He had to have some time off work. Scarring was extremely minimal and he had NO pain at all beyond a sore throat -probably from the tube. He threw out the percocet first thing and just took a couple of ibuprofen the first day at home. People would ask him if he was having any pain in recovery and he'd say, honestly none. He knew he wasn't supposed to lift much for 10 days, but after 10 days, he was cleared to do most all activities. I would trust your doctor on this one. Get a second opinion from another neurosurgeon, but don't risk paralysis. We lucked out and got in with one of the top neuros in the country and your advice from your doc seems to be consistent with his.