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Buldging Neck Disk
- Thread starter Lauren CA
- Start date
shakiliah.lt15
New member
Hi Just Asking.
This is my experience. Two years ago I was diagnosed with severe cervical spinal stenosis. I had a neck bulge at c5-7 and it was causing compression on my spinal cord. I was in pain for 3 years until I found a dr. who did an xray. Then I was sent for an MRI and to a neurosurgeon. Both drs. told me that I had to have surgery immediately or I could be paralysed. I spoke to the nurse in my PCP's office today and she stated my condition was debilitating. Anyway, I had gone to a chiropractor who offered a free visit with an xray. He told me he could help but he did not see what my PCP saw when he looked at the xray. I had the surgery and my pain was immediately gone. About 3 weeks ago, approximately 2 years post op, I am now having pain in my arms. I've had a stress test, an MRI showing new bulges at c3 and c7-t1. I saw my neuro who said it was unusual to have a bulge at c7-t1. Lower back pain began about 2 days before I saw him at my tailbone. He said it could be arthritis, but has requested an MRI. He took additional xrays of his own in his office after reading my MRI. I'll be hearing soon, I hope, from a pain specialist who will give me an injection to calm the inflamation. He did not want to rush into surgery yet. I really trust both of these drs. because of my past history with them. Every situation is different, but please don't ignore persistant pain in your neck or back. It could really mean something is wrong. I'm afraid of chiropractors.
Hopefully this helped. Take care.
Swartzie
This is my experience. Two years ago I was diagnosed with severe cervical spinal stenosis. I had a neck bulge at c5-7 and it was causing compression on my spinal cord. I was in pain for 3 years until I found a dr. who did an xray. Then I was sent for an MRI and to a neurosurgeon. Both drs. told me that I had to have surgery immediately or I could be paralysed. I spoke to the nurse in my PCP's office today and she stated my condition was debilitating. Anyway, I had gone to a chiropractor who offered a free visit with an xray. He told me he could help but he did not see what my PCP saw when he looked at the xray. I had the surgery and my pain was immediately gone. About 3 weeks ago, approximately 2 years post op, I am now having pain in my arms. I've had a stress test, an MRI showing new bulges at c3 and c7-t1. I saw my neuro who said it was unusual to have a bulge at c7-t1. Lower back pain began about 2 days before I saw him at my tailbone. He said it could be arthritis, but has requested an MRI. He took additional xrays of his own in his office after reading my MRI. I'll be hearing soon, I hope, from a pain specialist who will give me an injection to calm the inflamation. He did not want to rush into surgery yet. I really trust both of these drs. because of my past history with them. Every situation is different, but please don't ignore persistant pain in your neck or back. It could really mean something is wrong. I'm afraid of chiropractors.
Hopefully this helped. Take care.
Swartzie
moniquee248
New member
I concur with Swartzie - the chiropractor is not the proper medical person to evaluate your cervical spine. Too much of your body is controlled throughout your spine. You will want to seek out a ortho spine doctor or a neuro surgeon. Do you know for certain you have cervical issues? Have you had an MRI - you absolutely must have one to determine to the best of medical practices what is going on. Unless you have an acute case , were recently injured or some other unknown situation - most doctors begin with the conservative approach, of physical therapy, massage therapy, theraupeutic massage, epidural steroid injections, facet injections - all sorts of possibilites. No one can say or guess what you need until you see a doctor. Perhaps it is time to be proactive and seek out a doctor. We are here to cheer you on, listen to you vent and lend moral support. Good luck!
Rose
Rose
Hi Rose and Just Asking.
I never thought I'd have these problems, I certainly didn't see them coming. I had pain for 3 years before my now PCP did the right thing and asked for an xray. Luckily they were in the position to provide one immediately. Just from the xray, he knew what he was reading. Then I had an MRI (which of course the surgeon would have to have) he stated the exact same thing my PCP did. I can relax easier and take care of myself knowing they are both working together to find out what's specifically going on now. I'm doctor appointmented out for the rest of the month. Right now, that is my number one priority. I don't haggle with appointment times (non emergency, I would). These doctors are busy and hard to get into. My PCP and nuerosurgeon gets me in whereever I need to go immediately. It could end up to be minor and treatable without surgery, but they won't make that decision until they know what they need to know. I am so relieved I have two GREAT drs. Please get in for an appointment. I have to always see my PCP first, who refers me. I have AETNA. I hope you have insurance, my surgery was totally paid for. Anyway, I think a chiropractor is a waste of time and money. They might be able to diagnose a stubbed toe, but they want to give you treatments that may or may not help. I went to get the free xray. Not that it did me any good. He didn't report the injury in to my c5-7 two years ago - yet he assured me he could help me. I left and kept driving!!!!
Thank care.
Swartzie
I never thought I'd have these problems, I certainly didn't see them coming. I had pain for 3 years before my now PCP did the right thing and asked for an xray. Luckily they were in the position to provide one immediately. Just from the xray, he knew what he was reading. Then I had an MRI (which of course the surgeon would have to have) he stated the exact same thing my PCP did. I can relax easier and take care of myself knowing they are both working together to find out what's specifically going on now. I'm doctor appointmented out for the rest of the month. Right now, that is my number one priority. I don't haggle with appointment times (non emergency, I would). These doctors are busy and hard to get into. My PCP and nuerosurgeon gets me in whereever I need to go immediately. It could end up to be minor and treatable without surgery, but they won't make that decision until they know what they need to know. I am so relieved I have two GREAT drs. Please get in for an appointment. I have to always see my PCP first, who refers me. I have AETNA. I hope you have insurance, my surgery was totally paid for. Anyway, I think a chiropractor is a waste of time and money. They might be able to diagnose a stubbed toe, but they want to give you treatments that may or may not help. I went to get the free xray. Not that it did me any good. He didn't report the injury in to my c5-7 two years ago - yet he assured me he could help me. I left and kept driving!!!!
Thank care.
Swartzie
alphaflyfish
New member
have you actually had an MRI done just to really 'see" what in the heck the more 'underlying' problems are at this point? please read thru a thread right here on THIS particular forum posted by 'odra' just a few inches down from here? its about spinal problems, but i cannot for the life of me remeber the exact title of it? if you are seeing a chiro, trust me here, you DO need to at least read thru it.
the mere fact that you are having ANY real radiculopathioc types of symptoms simply means that there IS 'something' at the very least impacting nerve roots up there,could be from that bulge or it can also be from stenosis or a bone spur,or alot of other things that just are all possibles to even have going on within our spinal columns and cord levels too. this is what a good contrasted MRI would show you in most cases, the areas of real true impact upt there. and that just IS what YOU need to know,levels of impact.
any real surgery that may or may not be realistically needed is pretty much dependant upon your findings and what any real impingement is actively going on to very particular stuctures within that c spine itself. once you simply obtain that MRI, that is when your primary can send you off to a really good neurosurgeon for a simple eval/consult(does NOT always mean surgery is the answer but you just DO need that expert type of opinion to really even know what you are dealing with here) of what your findings really mean to you, and your abilities.
but personally, just knowing what i know and hearing from alot of others who have had potentially devistating issues come from what they 'saw' as 'simple' chiro adjustments done for particular problems, i would seriously stay the heck away from ANY adjustments within youir c spine at least til that area has been looked at really in depth and more importantly that a good knowledgable NS has cleared your c spine and told you it is okay to continue at all. some findings, esp within that c spine could be potentially devistating if any 'blind adjustments" are even done and the chiro moves/adjusts anything the wrong way? since he cannot actually even 'see' the area he is adjusting at all, it simply IS what is called a 'blind adjustment". not saomething you want to have done up in your c spine level,trust me.
but please DO read thru that thread made by odra about spinal adjustments?? like i said i cannot recall that title, but i do think you will know it when you see it. it has a TON of really good solid info about the c spine and most importantly, chiro adjustments up in that highly much more innervated C spine level. that c spine level also carries all that critical bloodflow both too and from our brains that CAN become impacted with certain problems and the wrong adjustments too. ya just have to actually KNOW with at least a constrasted MRI being done what you actually have, then what it actually means to YOU and ANY potential treatment options. trust me, i DO have spinal cord injury here and i would NOT wish this crappy he** on anyone. this is simply an area where you HAVE to take that better safe than sorry approach, seriously. good luck and please DO simply ask your primary to refer you for a contrasted MRI of that c spine before anything else gets 'moved' in that area? then wait til at least that good NS even says a chiro is okay from there. honestly, you just really do NOT know what you actually have going on in any real area of your own body til it gets that more in depth look into it with the right scan being done. hopefully things are not as bad as you think or they could be,but either way, you just really do need that info now. please keep us posted, FB
the mere fact that you are having ANY real radiculopathioc types of symptoms simply means that there IS 'something' at the very least impacting nerve roots up there,could be from that bulge or it can also be from stenosis or a bone spur,or alot of other things that just are all possibles to even have going on within our spinal columns and cord levels too. this is what a good contrasted MRI would show you in most cases, the areas of real true impact upt there. and that just IS what YOU need to know,levels of impact.
any real surgery that may or may not be realistically needed is pretty much dependant upon your findings and what any real impingement is actively going on to very particular stuctures within that c spine itself. once you simply obtain that MRI, that is when your primary can send you off to a really good neurosurgeon for a simple eval/consult(does NOT always mean surgery is the answer but you just DO need that expert type of opinion to really even know what you are dealing with here) of what your findings really mean to you, and your abilities.
but personally, just knowing what i know and hearing from alot of others who have had potentially devistating issues come from what they 'saw' as 'simple' chiro adjustments done for particular problems, i would seriously stay the heck away from ANY adjustments within youir c spine at least til that area has been looked at really in depth and more importantly that a good knowledgable NS has cleared your c spine and told you it is okay to continue at all. some findings, esp within that c spine could be potentially devistating if any 'blind adjustments" are even done and the chiro moves/adjusts anything the wrong way? since he cannot actually even 'see' the area he is adjusting at all, it simply IS what is called a 'blind adjustment". not saomething you want to have done up in your c spine level,trust me.
but please DO read thru that thread made by odra about spinal adjustments?? like i said i cannot recall that title, but i do think you will know it when you see it. it has a TON of really good solid info about the c spine and most importantly, chiro adjustments up in that highly much more innervated C spine level. that c spine level also carries all that critical bloodflow both too and from our brains that CAN become impacted with certain problems and the wrong adjustments too. ya just have to actually KNOW with at least a constrasted MRI being done what you actually have, then what it actually means to YOU and ANY potential treatment options. trust me, i DO have spinal cord injury here and i would NOT wish this crappy he** on anyone. this is simply an area where you HAVE to take that better safe than sorry approach, seriously. good luck and please DO simply ask your primary to refer you for a contrasted MRI of that c spine before anything else gets 'moved' in that area? then wait til at least that good NS even says a chiro is okay from there. honestly, you just really do NOT know what you actually have going on in any real area of your own body til it gets that more in depth look into it with the right scan being done. hopefully things are not as bad as you think or they could be,but either way, you just really do need that info now. please keep us posted, FB