New Here, Possible C5-6 Herniation, Lots of Questions - Hernia Message Board

neckache35 · 05-28-2004, 06:01 AM

Hi Everyone,
I am a 35 year old [ removed ] and have been suffering with right sided neck, shoulder and arm pain for about 2 months. Approx 2 weeks ago I started getting numbness/tingling in my right shoulder and down my arm into my thumb. I had an MRI 3 days ago and the report said "Normal MRI", no evidence of disc bulge or herniation. Yesterday I went to see an Orthopaedic Surgeon to figure out what else could be going on. He looked at my my MRI, and basically said that it was a "poor quality film", and he is pretty sure he sees a disc herniation at C5-6. So now I am even more confused. He wants me to get a repeat MRI, which I am going to do next Wednesday. In the meantime he gave me a Medrol Dose Pak and ordered PT for 3 weeks.

I have been diligently reading as many posts as I can on this site. I like to gather as much information as possible. Some of the posts are very encouraging and some scare me to death. I have had "neck problems" for years which I see a chiropractor for. I get the occasional headache and stiff neck, but nothing like I am experiencing now. My ortho doc said that "most" people with herniated discs get better without surgery. I'm really hoping I'm one of those people. Besides, I don't even know if that's what the problem is. Although I have a pretty good idea. I'm honestly scared about PT. I'm so afraid that will just make it worse. I'm really hoping that with time it will get better. The pain isn't too bad. What really bothers me most is the numbness/tingling and the slight weakness I have in my right hand.

Being a [ removed ] and obsessive/compulsive about everything, I have worried myself sick about this. I am fearing for the worse and hoping for the best. The thought of neck surgery terrifies me. But then the thought of permanent nerve damage and muscle weakness scares me even more. My ortho said that after PT and steroid injections if I am not any better he would consider surgery at that point. I think that's probably about 4 weeks down the road.

Anyways, I am sorry to be rambling on and hopefully not boring too many people. I would be grateful for any advice or suggestions that anyone would like to give me, whether you have had surgery or not.

Thanks and God Bless Everyone on this site! I'm so glad I found it.

Debbie

boxer_dog_luv · 05-28-2004, 08:08 AM

Your symptoms almost identical to mine. I spent 20 years as a "[ removed ] before retiring before a second career in education. I woke up one a.m. in 2001 like so many others thinking I slept wrong. After a week, went chiropractic x 2 years who treated w/o benefit of MRI. I regret this decision but felt like a physical manipulation could "work out" original prob. Like yourself, I had first MRI in May 2003 with no stenosis or obvious herniation, just a bulging C6-7 right but symptoms always left. After lots of research, now I know why the NS felt the MRI results didn't look that bad. Over this school year, symptoms worsened, numbness 24/7 on and off all day started 3/1/04 down left arm and I re-presented or "complained again" in May 2004. NS thought I had new injury. Second MRI=same as first, no change. Now until 6/10 I am on a one month course of NSAID (Arthroflex), Soma and Darvocet for extreme pain. I know I have no improvement. If I am still complaining, then he will schedule to "remove the disk" (his words) when I return on 6/10. Bless my family MD, he understands what I am feeling and saying & has ref. for a 2nd ortho (neck spec.) on 6/14. From my research, MRIs may miss some things; myelograms are billed as more definitive.

I am just like you--reading every post and now more frightened. I didn't fully realize the gravity of the recovery. My family MD is encouraging the neck surgery--says I should do fine, not that bad and is being very positive. To me, numbness is more serious than frank pain indicating nerve damage. Also the whole entire time, I have been having left sided tinnitus/snapping that coincides with my neck symptoms and the left muscle tone (cheek) feels more loose than right when I shake my head. Is it related? Some posts also ref. the tinnitus. I notice all these little things & wonder if they add up to a cervical problem that is screaming to be fixed? I am agonizing in my own mind if this is the "time" to have surgery. Nobody wishes a myelogram on themselves but I don't want to stumble through each day doing irreparable damage. The NS was very busy, a man of science/objective findings, rather than patient complaints. My husband who is a weight lifter (never injured) doesn't want me to have surgery, "You may be sorry." This board has been a great source of information to see that others do have very similar symptoms. I appreciate the candor and pros/cons of this board. I am far better armed with all the information gleaned here. Good Luck! You are not alone.

garion64 · 05-28-2004, 11:30 AM

all i can say is when i woke up from my surgery i noticed right away the feeling came back to my hands the pain i had was gone and im 3 weeks post op all pain is still gone. the pain from the surgery it self is bad the recovery is tuff. but id do it 10 times over if i had to. the pain i had before surgery was awful the headach was blinding to the point where i could not even hold my eyes open for long the pressure in my head was so painful . at least now each day i feel a bit better. and im also a bodybuilder so each day passed is one day closer to getting back to the gym i wish you both luck and my prayers are with you

pattymelt · 05-28-2004, 11:43 AM

I certainly would not undergo surgery without a second NS opinion. I had been treated conservatively by three separate neurosurgeons for over a period of 15 years for degenerative disc disease. I underwent physical therapy, arthritis pool therapy, Medrol Pak (three times), epidural steroid injections three times, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (many different kinds), four MRI's, traction, before I would agree to surgery this Spring. The fear of paralysis was the deciding factor. In March I finally had ACDF and PCDF at four levels - C2-3, 3-4, 4-5, and 5-6 and believe me this surgery is no picnic and the recovery is slow, but I feel it is worth it if conservative measures cease to work. The numbness and pain in my arms is gone, although I still have the feeling of a lump in my throat and pain in my shoulders which hopefully will go away with time. As I said, please consult more than one neurosurgeon before you make a decision. This is major surgery and if your problem can be treated with conservative therapy, I certainly would go for that before considering surgery. Good luck!

starrfish · 05-28-2004, 02:59 PM

I have a c5-6 herniation with cord compression and have been ordered a short course of pt by my neuro. He says if this does not work, he will discuss surgery. My Family Doc is saying surgery is likely, as this is the only way to repair the damage. He thinks the Neuro just didn;t want to order surgery after only seeing me 1x, so as not to seem too eager to cut. He makes it sound like a piece of cake, but it sounds alot more than that to me. He explained that the disc will only continue to degenerate further exacerbating my symptoms and that surgery is inevitable. He says pt will only possibly "give me more time". I am not to keen on surgery, but if it only gonna get worse, I think I would rather have it done before there is permanent damage.