Herniated Disk in Neck?

[Maximum]

Hey all...I've been dealing with this injury since January...and it's getting progressively worse. I'm wondering if I have a herniated disk in my lower neck. I first felt it in January when I shot my first jumpshot, and I felt a shock go from my lower neck down both arms. Then my right forearm and hand was numb for a good deal of hours afterwards. I would feel it off and on when I'm active. I also had pretty intense lower back pain, but I also train in submission wrestling, so I figured I was feeling it from that. Then as the months went by, my right forearm and hand would get numb more frequently, a lot of times from doing nothing at all, sometimes from wrestling and playing ball....and sometimes would last 8-10 hours. Today was more alarming...I shot a jumper and I felt a heavy duty shock go from my lower back up to my back and down both arms. I feel it sometimes when I cough, sneeze or even laugh. I even tried getting a deep tissue massage this week to help alleviate any tight muscles...and it didn't help one bit. It always would feel kinda tight in my lower trap area...and a few months ago, I pulled my lower right trap area...it was hurting like crazy for weeks. Just wanting to see if some of you guys would think this is indeed a herniated disk in my neck. I am going to try to clear a day to go to the county hospital this week- no insurance.

[mashedpotato]

i would go see a specialist or physiotherapist. nobody here will be able to tell what you have because they aren't professionals and you need to probably be x-rayed/physical checkup. Hopefully this stuff isn't too expensive for you, I am insured and in Canada. Maybe you have sciatica, I am just taking a guess from your description of numbess and pain. When I went to physio they tested for that a lot. Maybe a protruding disc as well. Best of luck to your recovery!

[2uantuM]

Stay away from Chiros until you know what it is. It could be a bulging disk, and chiros are infamous for turning them into herniated ones. Go see an Orthopedic doctor. Unfortunately, X-Rays are not very good at picking up disc herniations, so more than likely he will have an MRI taken of your spine and will give you a diagnoses from that. It does sound like a disc herniation though.

Maybe you have sciatica, I am just taking a guess from your description of numbess and pain.

It isn't the sciatic nerve, so its not sciatica.

[gimpy835]

you need to get an appointment with a Neuro and tell them this, need to get an MRI to find out what is going on and how bad it is. after that prob gonna start on some meds, PT, injections etc.

[Maximum]

thanks guys...I'm hoping to get an answer this week. I played basketball yesterday at 1pm...my right hand is still tingling/numb at midnight the next night.

[2uantuM]

Wait until you have a diagnosis until you do anything else. You don't want permanent nerve damage.

[gimpy835]

^yep, it sucks balls. good bit of my left leg is usually numb, bit toe feels like needle is stuck in it a lot etc...

[Maximum]

Ok...got a ct scan and xrays yesterday. I have one, possibly two disks in my neck that are damaged and crowding my spinal cord or something like that. They also worried that there might be a hematoma on my spine.The neurosurgeon wants me back for an mri later next week, but says at this point surgery is going to be needed. I'll fill in more later, cause I don't know the whole story, and he didn't want to guess on anything at this point.

[gimpy835]

would get a few opionions before going under the knife, get your MRI and take it do a few doctors, dont tell them of your doctors other opinions and see what they say.

[Fresch]

Ok...got a ct scan and xrays yesterday. I have one, possibly two disks in my neck that are damaged and crowding my spinal cord or something like that. They also worried that there might be a hematoma on my spine.The neurosurgeon wants me back for an mri later next week, but says at this point surgery is going to be needed. I'll fill in more later, cause I don't know the whole story, and he didn't want to guess on anything at this point.

CT scans are a waste of time..the MRI will tell the story.

[gimpy835]

then you get to move on to the myleogram and possible discogram ( i suggest you self medicate because both hurt like hell).

[oziem]

PM sent.
A real chiropracotor (stress real) can fix this.

[2uantuM]

PM sent.
A real chiropracotor (stress real) can fix this.

The difference between a "real" chiropractor and a "fake" one is very, very, blurred.

[Fresch]

PM sent.
A real chiropracotor (stress real) can fix this.

After all, there is *nothing* a real chiropractor can't fix is there...

[Al Swearengen]

i have been getting great results from an epidural and cervical traction for this and hopefully it will heal itself more in time. for anyone suffering from this don't count the traction out, it works pretty well if you have the right equipment and you do it as prescribed.



one study i found on it here at pubmed.

Department of Neurosurgery, University of Umea, Umea, Sweden.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the use of intermittent cervical traction in managing 4 patients with cervical radiculopathy and large-volume herniated disks. CLINICAL FEATURES: Four patients had neck pain radiating to the arm. The clinical examination was typical in all cases for radiculopathy of cervical origin. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the cervical spine revealed large-volume herniated disks in all patients. INTERVENTIONS AND OUTCOME: The treatment consisted of intermittent on-the-door cervical traction under the supervision of our physiotherapists. Complete symptom resolution for each patient occurred within 3 weeks. One patient who had an episode of recurrence 16 months after the first treatment was successfully managed again with cervical traction and physiotherapy. CONCLUSION: Cervical spine traction could be considered as a therapy of choice for radiculopathy caused by herniated disks, even in cases of large-volume herniated disks or recurrent episodes.


http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1...ubmed_RVDocSum