Car accident/cervical MRI bulge? and xrays-alot of pain-can u help?
Hi, I am recooping from a car accident less than a week ago, was stopped in traffic and hit from behind at about 40mph. I am 9months post op from a lumbar fusion as well.
I have pain in my neck shoulders right forearm and inner part of arm to 2fingers on hand go numb. The more I am up, the more severe it gets, as well as the jolting nerve pains in my legs and area of fusion again. ER did xrays and MRIs.
My cervical xray says mainly that C4-5 has moderate disc height loss.
My cervical MRI states overall:
c4-5 narrowing of interspace.
c4-5 mild to modrate posterior ridge asymmetric to the left relatively mild left foraminal narrowing.
C5-6 hint of annular bulge.
The ER initially said cervical and lumbar strains, then when the numbness in my arms started and I returned to ER (said to if any of that happened) that i have parethesias.
Can anyone help? In alot of pain, and am stiff sore and have numbness and nerve jolts.
Re: Car accident/cervical MRI bulge? and xrays-alot of pain-can u help?
It sounds like you have whiplash, exact same symptoms I had after my car accident. I had x-rays, they showed nothing, I had severe neck pain and stiffness that went into one arm, alot of numbness in one hand, and jerking , I couldnt move my head at all! I saw a neuro., who checked my nerves for any damage, then had an MRI, and I only had a mild bulging disk, all the pain and symptoms were coming from severe muscle strain. I was sent to physical therapy, soft tissue massage, and started getting better immediately from the first day on. This was not exercises, as that made me worse, but deep tissue massage where they knead the knots out. I believe this may benefit you so I would suggest going to an ortho or neuro. who can refer you to therapy or you may be able to make an appointment on your own depending on your insurance. Good luck to you
Re: Car accident/cervical MRI bulge? and xrays-alot of pain-can u help?
You can start by seeing your primary care physician if you have a good relationship with him/her. They can recommend medications and check to see how you are progressing. If you have whiplash, as Kasey said, it takes quite a long time to heal as the soft tissues have been traumatized. If the disc or disc height is a concern then you may need to have your PCP get an MRI and then, if needed, get a consultation with an orthopedic spine surgeon and/or neurosurgeon just to get their perspective on where you are at and what treatment options there are.
Unfortunately often whiplash is painful and takes a long time to heal, so most doctors will supply you with some pain meds, muscle relaxers, and recommend PT or massage. If the MRi doesn't show anything urgent it may be that you need a bit of time before you should see a specialist unless symptoms worsen.
Re: Car accident/cervical MRI bulge? and xrays-alot of pain-can u help?
Quote:
Originally Posted by rosespetal
Hi, I am recooping from a car accident less than a week ago, was stopped in traffic and hit from behind at about 40mph. I am 9months post op from a lumbar fusion as well.
I have pain in my neck shoulders right forearm and inner part of arm to 2fingers on hand go numb.
Hello rosespetal. I had a severe whiplash 4 years ago. Never had any numbness etc(no pain in arms, hands etc). The pain in the neck never got any better. In fact, it gets worst as years go by. I'm now on narcotic pain meds till the rest of my life, plus muscles relaxants plus nerve pain meds.
Re: Car accident/cervical MRI bulge? and xrays-alot of pain-can u help?
Hi, thanks so much. I did go see a neuro, I wound up back in the ER because both arms went numb in my sleep and sometimes awake, and my right arm to my 2 fingers still goes numb. Neuro said myofascial pain and therapy, and depending on how things go possibly other things up the road.
I've never had anything like this, and still recovering from my fusion surgery 9 months ago this is difficult as I have nerve pains in my legs again, even though I am on an extremely high dose of neurontin.
With my neck, it is moving now some, but I get bad headaches, jolting pains, auditory sounds that are magnified 'amplified' weird buzz for 30 seconds, and if I tilt my head in bed alittle it goes numb up my neck into my face. This is just ridiculous!!!
Thanks so much. I am now on percocet and muscle relaxers, atop of the pain meds i was already on from my surgeries.
Even my wrist are hurting typing this. Cant believe this anymore I swear!@
thanks again..
Re: Car accident/cervical MRI bulge? and xrays-alot of pain-can u help?
If you are not any better within another week, I would go back to your doc who can then refer you for treatment on your muscles. Just the muscle strain I got took months to heal, and would not heal with rest and meds, only therapy. Good luck to you, I know it gets old doesn't it? I have been there.
Car accident/cervical MRI bulge? and xrays-alot of pain-can u help? 
