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My MRI shows C5-6 moderate left disc protrusion with
accompanying spurring and uncovertebral joint
hypertrophy narrowing the lateral recess and neral
foramen.
The neurosurgeon said that means it's ruptured and not
to go near a chiropractor. The chiropractor says it
is not ruptured, it is like a tire which could blow
out, but currently has only a bulge in it. He insists
he can help me, and that by getting the vertebrae to
line back up properly, keep it from happening again.
I have no pain, only numbness at the tip of my left
thumb, and occasional tingling in my bicep.
I have been to the chiropractor 4 times so far. He has used what I call a clicker (feels like a small ball peen hammer) on my neck, and has applied some electrical impulse stuff in the area. On my last visit on Friday, he manually adjusted me (which he originally said he wouldn't do), because I had a bad day, and he said I needed it. He claimed it wasn't a rotational adjustment. I can't remember his exact terms, but he said he cracked the scapula apart so that fluids could get in and bathe the area. It scared me, and I had another bad day on Saturday, but Sunday, and today, I am doing much better.
Should I be going to the chiropractor?
In Reply to: c5-6 problems-is chiropractic good choice? posted by Mike Gartman [925.1770] on January 31, 2005 at 10:49:15:
I forgot to mention that the chiropractor has me taking b complex for nerve recovery, and shark cartilage, and amino acids, also told me to take glucosamine.
In Reply to: Re: c5-6 problems-is chiropractic good choice? posted by Mike Gartman [925.1770] on January 31, 2005 at 10:52:23:
I went to a neurosurgeon for same problem. I have 2 bulging and 1 herniated
disc. The surgeon told me he could not get me out of pain only restore
feeling in my hand if that occurs which it hasn't. He asked me what helped, I
said only chiropractic. He stunned me when he said by all means do it! He
said his colleagues would kill him for saying that. I also had prolotherapy
done on my neck which was a godsend. Look up on net, it's a series of
injections no cortisone that stimulates new ligament growth. I believe Dr.
Stoll endorses prolotherapy. There are Dr.s all over US that do it. Also, some
chiros are better than others. I personally like chiros from the Life College in
Georgia. Some chiros are too rough.
In Reply to: c5-6 problems-is chiropractic good choice? posted by Mike Gartman [925.1770] on January 31, 2005 at 10:49:15:
A protrusion is a buldge so if that's what the MRI says then that's what you have. If it was "blown out" the MRI would not have used the word moderate and would have said hearniated nucleus pulposis. A herniation is worse than a bulge but can often still be managed through chiropractic care.
Example:
Reduction of a confirmed C5-C6 disc herniation following specific chiropractic spinal manipulation: a case study. Siciliano MA, Bernard TA, Bentley, NJ. Chiropractic: The Journal of Chiropractic Research and Clinical Investigation Vol. 8 No. 1 April 1992.
This is the case of a 39-year-old male cable technician who complained of right neck and arm pain. Twenty years earlier he had a football injury and had some similar, temporary pain at that time. He now had an aching, deep pain running from the base of his neck to the right elbow and sometimes running sharply down his arm.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), thermography and Kronamaz muscle testing apparatus documented a C5-C6 disc herniation.
Under chiropractic care the patient was symptom free. After 13 chiropractic visits, a post-adjustment MRI revealed a reduction in the herniation.
In Reply to: c5-6 problems-is chiropractic good choice? posted by Mike Gartman [925.1770] on January 31, 2005 at 10:49:15:
Hey Mike,
Take a look at a book by Dr. John Sarno and make sure it's not just your brain playing tricks on you..Over 60% of people with a " bad " back never feel any pain..
Silver Fox!
In Reply to: Re: c5-6 problems-is chiropractic good choice? posted by Steve [3019.1399] on January 31, 2005 at 12:33:21:
And about 90% of the people with cavities never feel any pain. That doesn't stop me from going to the dentist.
I grasp what you are saying but those who do not feel the pain are not necessarily lucky in comparison to those who do.
In Reply to: Re: c5-6 problems-is chiropractic good choice? posted by ChironDave [1744.14] on January 31, 2005 at 12:58:00:
My point is sometimes the problem is mental..The pain is real..I know two people very well that have over come back, leg and shoulder pain without chiropactic care..Also many ( my wife ) have surgery and get no relief from pain..Lots of time the pain is just TMS or repressed anger..
Silver Fox!
In Reply to: Re: c5-6 problems-is chiropractic good choice? posted by Steve [3019.1399] on January 31, 2005 at 14:40:30:
Yes, there are many variables to pain. And trust me, I see my share of people who's problem are "up there". As the founder of chiropractic said "Toughts, Traumas, Toxins" as the cause of all disease.
And certainly not everyone needs chiropractic care to overcome their spinal dysfunction.
With all the SR talk on here I think we are well aware of the link between stress and physical problems. However, just as I wouldn't tell someone to ignore a bullet hole I wouldn't tell them to ignore a disc bulge to make it go away.
The mental connection between this type of dysfunction and disc problems is not surrounding "mind over matter" but rather about stress and pressure.
In Reply to: c5-6 problems-is chiropractic good choice? posted by Mike Gartman [925.1770] on January 31, 2005 at 10:49:15:
Hi Mike,
Are you getting massage (in addition to the chiropractic) to help loosen up the muscles of the neck and shoulders? If the muscles are tight, they can contribute to your problem. Often the vertebrae will not stay in alignment if the muscles are tight. I would see about getting some massage and I do not think it can hurt you.
Read also about "bracing" in the glossary of this website and consider starting an SR practice.
Best wishes,
Jan DeCourtney, CMT
In Reply to: c5-6 problems-is chiropractic good choice? posted by Mike Gartman [925.1770] on January 31, 2005 at 10:49:15:
Hi, Mike.
Just remember the old adage: "To a hammer, everything looks like a nail." If you go to a surgeon for advice he will likely recommend a surgical solution. See the spinal archives.
If I were in your shoes, I would certainly try the chiropractic first since it has a lot less potential for harm. You can always go for the surgery. In the meantime intensive SR can only help and may just resolve your problem if done correstly and certified effective. See the Glossary and the archives about SR and about bracing (the proximate cause of this kind of problem). I, personally, had 5 bulging discs and resolved the problem with SR--after I was advised that surgery was my only option. That was more than 30 years ago and I have not had any back pain for those 30 years.
Let us know what you learn and how you do.
Walt
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