Bulging disc pressing on spinal cord - Spinal Cord Disorders Message Board

Marywoo · 05-27-2008, 05:34 AM

i was told i have disc pressing on spinal cord does anybody know what that means,and what what symtoms it may cause,i am barely getting around and wondering if this could be cause.thank you so mush for any help in advance. the disc is in my neck. marywoo

Fiona_Jo_324 · 05-27-2008, 06:38 PM

I had issues of a Disc flattening the spinal cord and I had a large amount of pain and nerve related issues (I had an EMG - Nerve study). And it showed nerve compression as related to the issues with my Discs.

Are you currently seeing a Spinal Specialist? If you haven't seen anybody yet, I would recommend you see a Specialist. Especially, if you're having symptoms as a result.

What type of symptoms are you having?

I hope you get some answers and pain relief soon.

~ Fiona

Marywoo · 05-28-2008, 05:28 AM

fiona, thank you so much for your response,i am not seeing a spine specialist because my insurance says if i dont have so many shots in such a period of time they can not send me to neurologist,i tried to tell them i could barely get myself dressed,and they just dont care.i went to pain management dr yesterday and he says hes going to give me facet shots and then burn the nerves,in the meantime iam only walking because i had shot in lower back and that helped my legs but seemed to make upper area worse.i have radiating pain all around neck under arms down rib cage.i also have nerve damage severve stenosis in both sides,worse on left,i have been unable to do chores around house,and do not go out any more because i have no strenth i have osteoporsis too,i am 48 and scared because my family does not understand,and i dont understand why i have to have more shots,my memory is also affected by this iam like an 80 year old,i cant remember anything,the dr told me i need exercise and when i tried i got worse and then he said i should not have done that particular exersise,i dont understand these drs.i just want some relief.fiona thank you for replying it meant so much because i am at my wits end. thanx for listening. marywoo

Fiona_Jo_324 · 05-28-2008, 05:04 PM

Mary:

I'm so sorry about what you're going through. It is sometimes difficult for family members to understand, especially when the pain is chronic and ongoing. When I was first diagnosed with Lupus 11 years ago, my husband had a lot of trouble coping with it. Not only was I the primary bread winner in the home, but I also did most of the chores in the house. One morning I awoke and couldn't get out of bed. Talk about a HUGE shock for my husband, he was coping with my three year old twins and our 9 year old son, while we tried to figure out our financial situation with me unable to work. So, here he needs to do more around the house and deal with the reality of finding a more stable job. (He had been the stay at home parent and just work PT to get out and bring in a little extra income). So, I understand completely how family members can react. I think a lot of times it's just because they want us back to where we were. Even if it's unrealistic, they're trying to cope with the reality that what we're feeling is impacting how much attention we can give things that were previously taken for granted.

I had the injections as well (for my cervical problems). And unfortunately I did not react well to them. I had tremendous migraines afterwards and had difficulty functioning. A lot of people have great results from them. So, I don't want to discourage you. I would however start keeping documentation of what you're feeling and how the injections impact you. Any symptoms you develop - new or increasing. Hopefully, this will help get you into a specialist as soon as possible or at least help you when you DO see a specialist communicate your symptoms, so your issues are addressed.

I will keep you in my thoughts. Please keep us posted on how you are doing.

~ Fiona

lilydilly · 05-28-2008, 05:14 PM

Marywoo, I haven't really got any advice, just sympathy. I am 52 and am presently almost bedridden with neck issues. I am waiting to see a surgeon in 6 weeks and had this acute episode with my neck for 4 months now. The tests I've had so far haven't shown much up. But the specialist wants me to have an EMG before I see him.
So far I've been coping ok, but lately, the pain has become a bit unpredictable, and I find my emotional nerves are becoming pretty frayed, because I don't "trust" my neck anymore. I don't know from day to day what it's going to do next.
So I can relate in a way to how you must be feeling... sometimes I get "mad" with my neck as though it's my enemy, and other times I get so frustrated, because life seems to be going to waste while I'm just lying around waiting. But then I try to think of people who are totally disabled, and living with terrible diseases, and I feel like I'm a whiner. But as someone said on this board, "when it's happening to you, it matters a lot".
Don't give up on seeking the right medical help. Sometimes you have to be persistent in getting through to them.
I like really my own GP a lot, and he is very kind and caring, but he didn't understand what I was trying to tell him. When I told him about the pain I was having, and how whenever I moved, my neck cracked, he said "Oh yes, I know how you feel. I get that too when I've sat my desk a while. I have to stretch and rub my neck and then I go, aaaah that feels so good".
Well, I felt like wrapping his neck with his stethescope, jabbing it with his reflex hammer and then turning it backwards for good measure, and saying, "No, NOW you might know what it feels like." Because that is just what it feels like and the "crack" I get is more like a bone snapping. Instead I just sat there wanting to cry, and wondering how I could explain how bad the pain really gets.
Finally, on my last visit, I said to him, I've given birth 4 times with no drugs, I've had back surgery, a hysterectomy, and 3 other surgeries, all without one whimper. I don't think I'm a sook, but this pain in my neck actually has the power to drop me to the floor, and make me yell.
That's when he decided to give me a referral to the surgeon.
I find it does help to read on here and know that there are people who will understand your fears and frustration and pain.