Hello HB users,

I'm writing because I am 24 years old, and have been having chronic, sometimes severe pain in my upper back for the past 3 or 4 years. The only way I could, initially describe my pain was that I was always trying to push my elbows behind my back to "crack" it but never was able too. (Sounds crazy?)

Since this started, it has gotten extremely worse. Been to chiro to chrio, pt, nothing and I mean NOTHING has helped. I have the worse trigger points in the upper back/shoulders.

Recently my PC sent me to have an MRI and this is what it says:
"Early disc desiccations at the C5-6 and C6-7 levels with small posterior annular bulge formations"

My doctor described it with a picture but I dont get it.

Is that what is causing all my pain?? Ive been on vicodin, percocet and it works but I do not want to become addicted to this medication.

Ive been seeing a specialist at the spine institute of ny... but its in the early stages of seeing that doctor... but I feel like im getting the only RUNAROUND. One chiro tells me im not strecthing enough. I look like a freak I am constantly trying to self adjust and movve my head around but I just cannot help it.

Is surgery an option for a bulging disc?? I'm so frustrated with the pain I will do ANYTHING it is completely consuming my life I don't know what to do!!!!!!!!!!

SORRY TO HEAR YOU ARE HAVING SO MUCH PAIN. I CAN'T SAY I KNOW ALL THAT MUCH RELATED TO YOUR QUESTIONS, BUT WHAT I CAN ADVISE YOU TO DO IS TO FIND A SPINE SPECIALIST, NEUROLOGIST OR ORTHOPEDIC SURGEON WHO CAN GO INTO DETAIL WITH YOU EXACTLY WHAT THE FINDINGS REALLY DO MEAN, AND WHAT YOUR OPTIONS OF TREATMENT ARE TO CORRECT IT. AFTER ALL, YOU DESERVE TO KNOW AND HAVE THINGS EXPLAINED IN TERMS YOU CAN UNDERSTAND. 7 YEARS AGO I HAD A BULDING DISC AT THE LOW L5-S1 LEVEL, AND HAD A MICRODISCECTOMY (A TRIMMING OFF OF THE PEICE OF BULDGING DISC THAT WAS PRESSING ON THE NERVE.) I NEVER AGAIN HAD ANY TROUBLE WITH THAT DISC. MORE RECENTLY THIS PAST YEAR I HAD DIFFERENT SYMPTOMS IN THE MID BACK. AN MRI SHOWED A HERNIATED DISC WITH BROKEN FRAGMENTS PRESSING ON THE SPINAL CORD WHICH IS GOING TO REQUIRE A FUSION TO CORRECT. I AM SCHEDULED FOR OCT 4TH. I'M A LITTLE SCARED AND NERVOUS, BUT I THINK I AM MORE AFRAID OF LIVING THE REST OF MY LIFE IN THIS PAINFUL CONDITION. BACK PROBLEMS ARE SO DIFFICULT TO GO THROUGH BECAUSE THE SPINE IS THE CENTER OF OUR BODIES, AND WHEN THAT SCREWS UP, EVERYTHING GOES HAYWIRE. ANYWAY, I SURE HOPE YOU FEEL BETTER AND FIND THE ANSWERS YOU NEED SO YOU CAN GET THE APPROPRIATE TREATMENT YOU NEED. GOD BLESS.

LISA

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Thank you

Thank you mod7 !!!

HI,
I have a sister in law that had a very bad bulging disc, she had injections and then slight manipulations and after several months, like 6-7, she is better with no surgery. She has very slight exercises that she did, but it can be done. It takes a long time and very very slight movement in PT. She was so bad she was actually bent to one side, we called her ilean, lol. She is better now and so happy she did not have surgery. I would recommend not having surgery, my dr. told me once you have surgery your never back to normal again.

I do hope you find help soon, you sound like you have suffered enough.

Good Luck & God Bless

Carol

Looking at your MRI report it would indicate to me that #! you should take that MRI to a nuerosurgeon just to be sure the radiolgist read it correctly and nothing else is going on.....Most likely the nuerosurgeon will send you to a doctor who does epidural pain blocks. Since the disc is bulging it is quite possible if you have a series of three blocks and STOP manipulating the area(ie. no chiropractor!) You might very well find this is all you need to have done.....................Since there is no bone involvementyou stand a good chance of this getting well with the series of blocks...........IF you did have to have surgery the disc could be trimmed out as one of the posters was saying about the less invasive surgery. The recovery after that would be quick.,