Herniation in My Neck

Hi,
You could look for some Topricin Cream at a local Health Food store that has a pharmacy section. Some people swear by it. It helps with various kinds of pain and mentions "burning pain" on the print out.

Also, you may want to check out a local acupuncturist. Acupuncture addresses many painful conditions. Check out the Maryland Acupuncture Society website to find a practitioner near you.

Good luck.

A.

Hi B.,
Sorry to hear about the ruptured disks. Although I didn't have ruptured disks in my neck, I did have them in my back and I know that the treatment for both are similar. I had that burning sensation down my leg for months and went to see a back specialist. I was in pain for months! I had an MRI to determine what disks were affected and then tried all sorts of treatment. I tried acupuncture, massage, and finally epidurals. There was a woman in the office who was also getting epidurals for a neck herniation. They worked for a few days and then wore off.
Ultimately I ended up getting surgery because I was sick of being on pain killers. It worked and the recovery wasn't horrible but I would say you need a good week to feel better. The P/T afterwards was annoying but it did help and after a few weeks I knew what exercises to do so I stopped going. I'm doing well now and am happy I chose the surgery.
Good luck to you -- I know how hard it is to be in pain and have to put on a happy face for the kids. Once you have a plan from the doctor, you will feel better.

I have two partially herniated discs between C4,5,6 as the result of a car accident. I would make sure that you get a second or third opinion. One neuroseurgeon told me that the only way to get any sort of relief was through spinal fusion surgery. Another told me that that was absolutely not necesarry and certainly not the first line of treatment.

I had a lot of PT, which provided some relief. Your case seems more severe, so I'm not sure if it will work for you.

Hi B.,
I would try the least invasive options first. Chiropractic has worked wonders for me. It is worth a try - I avoided surgery for my foot. I know of someone great in Rockville, MD. Feel free to contact me if you would like her info.

Good luck,
N.

I don't want to worry you unnecessarily, but if your neck is like my mothers, she had to have surgery. This is definitely not self correcting, and you can't just ignore it, as it usually progresses to worse symptoms. She had both disc herniation and degenerative disease as well. She had the surgery, and was in a brace for between 1 & 2 months. This was in 2004 so maybe things have changed, but the brace held her head straight up and facing forward. She wasn't supposed to turn her neck or look down and couldn't lift anything or drive. Even getting dressed requires assistance, as does bathing. I'm guessing that caring for children would be nearly impossible, as you couldn't pick any of them up, or look down at them. Plus, you must be very careful not to fall down, or otherwise injure yourself while you are healing, as your neck is not strong until the surgery heals completely. I just want you to be aware of the preparations you need to start making now if this surgery is a reality. However the diagnosis goes, my best wishes go with you.

Hi B.,

I am an occupational therapist & have worked with numerous patients who have had neck & back injuries so I can give you some tips on how to protect your neck & hopefully alleviate a little pain while you're figuring out a full diagnosis & medical plan. As a disclaimer, without knowing your full medical history, I can only give you suggestions that I give to some of my patients with neck injuries so check with your doctor to see if they will apply to you. First of all, take it easy & keep your neck in a neutral position as often as possible. Now is not the time to exercise or do anything strenuous (again, unless your doctor or another medical professional advises it for your condition). My father-in-la actually had a similar problem & it was a lot better after his surgery.

One of the big things I tell my patients is to avoid "BLT" which stands for bending, lifting, & twisting. Avoiding bending your neck includes shifting your head forward like when you brush your teeth or eat (bend more at your waist than with your neck or bring a cup to your mouth to spit with toothbrushing rather than leaning over to spit into the sink). Also, minimize how much you shake your head back & forth (for example, to say yes or no, or just to flick your hair away from your face). Don't lift anything heavier than about a gallon of milk. This is a big challenge for people with little kids, or childcare providers such as yourself. Any muscle straining by your arms can pull on your neck muscles which could potentially cause further problems or at least pain. Plus, there's always the chance of dropping whatever you're carrying if you should happen to have a spasm so you wouldn't want to do that if you're carrying a child. As for twisting, driving is a huge no-no for most people with neck injuries. I know it's possible to drive without turning to look behind you but it's really not safe at all, for your sake, those in the car with you, or other drivers or pedestrians. Please, please, please don't drive until you can safely turn your head around quickly to avoid causing an accident (or worsening your condition)--think of the horrible DC area drivers! Try to think of your spine as a log & keep your ears above your shoulders at all times so don't shake your head no. To get in/out of bed, try to not come straight up but rather roll to the side & then push up with your arms as your legs go down to the floor (this is called log-rolling). Speaking of being in bed, make sure you're not using a big pillow, because that can cause you to bend your head forward or to the side too much. Just make sure that your head is as straight as possible, no matter what position you're in (pretend you're a model & look straight ahead). Another thing that I tell my patients is to minimize how much you lift your arms above your head, especially one at a time (doing both at the same time is often somewhat better because it's symmetrical). Keep this in mind when you're getting dressed, washing/combing your hair, etc. Have anything you regularly use in cupboards put in shelves that are easy for you to reach & not way up high or down low. Same with things in the fridge & always keep in mind if you're bending/lifting/twisting when you're grabbing something.

Let me know if you have any other questions about things like this to make your life a little easier. I don't know any neurosurgeons other than those at the hospital where I work, but I can provide therapy advice if you'd like. Good luck & take care of yourself. If you overdo things, it can cause problems for the rest of your life so take it easy as much as you can, at least until you get a full work-up & know what's going on. I don't want to scare you with this information, but I want to give you something since it sounds like you've been getting the run-around by your physicians.

--J.C.

I do not have experience with this, but I did have a few thoughts for you.
I think that therapy might help releive some of your symptoms, but in the end its a temporary fix. Your condition will not just go away. The chiropractor is another good option, but probably temporary. You should meet w/ one and see what they say.
But all in all do what you can as quickly as you can. Because if you do nothing it might get worse.
As for your PCP taking so long: callcallcall. They take their sweet time making calls and faxing and getting things approved. So if you call and check daily to make sure they are on top of things that might speed them along. I never wait to be called cuz the call rarely comes.
Good luck getting releif.

Hi B.,
I am going thru the same exact things. I have a herniated disk in my neck and also degenerative disk desease so you are not alone. I am in a lot of pain myself. I have a 2yr old and a 5yr old. Are you military? We are and I have yet to see someone who can help me. I was in physical therapy for my neck and it didn't help. I have been in physical therapy in the past for my back but it didn't help but then I didn't know what was wrong.

I found out last month about my back and so far I have not seen a specialist. I had an MRI and that confirmed it. Everytime I go see my PCM she doesn't explain any of it to me. It takes her an hr just to come to the room to talk to me. If you are not military be very greatful because I tell you it takes them forever to take care of us and get us to the righ DRS. I have not even been referred to a nerosurgen. They have put in a referral for physical medicine. I feel like screaming. If you end up having to do surgery don't be scared. It does take a while to heal from surgery so you will need help around the house with the kids and so forth for a while. Sometimes it doesn't help either. I have a friend that has a lot of back problems and she has had back surgery and she still has problems.

I can totally understand how frustrated you must feel. I feel the same way and I take pain meds at times. I don't want to have to depend on them but right now nothing else is being done. I wish you the best of luck and I really hope you get yours taken care of.
God Bless.
Feel free to email me if you have any info. you can pass on to me or vice versa.
S. ____@____.com

B.: It would be helpful to know where you are located, so people could refer you to other doctors in your area if you are unhappy with yours. I also have herniated disks in my neck and used to have the numbness down my right arm into my hand that you talked about. I went to an orthopedic surgeon and was given some anti-inflammitants and exercizes. It hasn't been a problem since, altho he did warn me that eventually I would need to have this surgically corrected. The recovery period for that surgery is supposedly 6 weeks. Anyway, I also have a very good physical therapist in Ashburn, VA, if that is anywhere near you, who might be able to help. Good luck and like I said, if you let us all know what area you live in maybe we can refer you to some better doctors.

S.

B. I am with you. If you are in Northern Va I would recommend the Capitol Spine and Pain centers. Yes, surgery is a real possibility, but I have exactly what you have and managed to put off surgery for almost ten years with non-surgical procedures. Start with cervical epidurals. They don't work for everyone but for me they were a minor miracle. After giving birth they are a cake walk. Even after the pain is taken care of you will need to watch out for loss of strength and fine motor skills. The pain masks the other losses. Mine finally reached the point where I was losing my strength and fine motor skills at a noticeable weekly rate. Got two neurosurgeons opinions as well as that of my pain mgmt. doc. Surgery worked and now I am almost 100%. This is very important; at some point in time the nerves will lose there ability to heal so don't wait to long for treatment. DO NOT wait, it will not get better without treatment. Having four kids myself I understand the pressures of being a SAHM but you MUST get this taken care of ASAP. Make the time, because it is stealing time from you and your family right now. If you would like to talk let me know and I will give you my number.

I have the same problem and surgery is a last resort only. I did PT and it did help. They will have you go through that first, then injections, and only then surgery. Mine has been controlled by paying close attention to my neck positioning. Do not lean your head back! This pinches the nerves and causes more pain and numbness. Even putting on mascara, I now use a hand mirror for the top lashes. Also, watch your stress levels. Mine flaired up during the move in September. Don't rush to go under the knife as scar tissue and other problems can result. Good luck and keep that head down.

Dear B.,
Hello! I am so sorry for you for your herniated disc problem! :(
Though your problem MAY require surgery, I would NOT go ahead with it until you have seen a good chiropractor. I have worked for several over the years in the Richmond area. I would recommend either Dr. Mike Wild of West End Chiropractic Care (in the shops at Wellesley on Lauderdale near Church) or Dr. Michael Pollock of Advanced Alternatives in Spine and Health Care (on Jahnke Rd. across from Chippenham Hospital). Both are great and may be able to help you avoid surgery!
Dr. Pollock's office number is ###-###-#### and Dr. Wild's is ###-###-####.
Having worked for both, I can tell you that I have seen folks with herniated discs get so much better under their care, some even avoiding surgery!
You are smart to seek solutions (other than surgery) first! Here's hoping you get the help you need without surgery!
Blessings!
J.