Spinal Problems Archives

herniated cervical disc

dear Dr. Bill,

I am so grateful to have someone like you to go to with my questions. Thank you so much for this incredible gift of your time and expertise.

I have just been diagnosed with herniated cervical discs (I had a whiplash about 25 years ago) and carpal tunnel syndrome and i have one question about each condition.

I have read your back files on herniated discs and know that you recommend chiropractic treatment. however, my neurologist warned that the discs are only lightly touching the spinal cord and that chiropractic treatment could cause them to press against the cord and do more damage. do you agree that this could be a danger? is it worth the risk?

the mri summary is: "degenerative disc disease at the c3-4 and c5-6 levels with posterior central disc herniations producing ventral impression on the thecal sac. impingement of the spinal cord at the c3-4 level with effacement of the ventral and dorsal arachnoid spaces. no clear evidence ofspinal cord edema."

my current plan is to see what exercises a physical therapist can recommend.

the neurologist also said i've got carpal tunnel in both hands (not related to the neck problem). she recommended that i wear braces at night and and that i stop drumming (which would be a great loss for me). She also said not to start kayaking.

what say you? true, these are both repetative type activities. but the tingling in my hands about a year before i started drumming. (yes i read your info about this and i do have a mouthful of fillings). Just to round out the picture, I'm post-menapausal and not taking hormones.

Thanks again, amalia

Follow Ups:

• Re: herniated cervical disc Walt Stoll 14:26:44 5/28/02 (0)
• Re: herniated cervical disc Happygal 22:59:04 5/27/02 (2)
  • Re: herniated cervical disc (Archive in carpal tunnel.) Walt Stoll 09:37:26 5/29/02 (0)
  • Re: herniated cervical disc Happygal 23:33:07 5/27/02 (0)

In Reply to: herniated cervical disc posted by amalia on May 27, 2002 at 13:03:53:

Hi Amalia,

I can offer my experience with people I have seen who have carpal tunnel syndrome.

There are different causes of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). Some can be treated successfully with massage therapy if they are due to tight muscles and restricted connective tissues in the forearms, wrists and hands. By successfully, I mean, after the problem is better, if you continue to do repetitive motions, you will need to return periodically for massage to loosen up the tight places again.

Massage does not work in all cases of CTS. However, I've also heard lots of stories about how surgery doesn't work in many cases and if it were me, I would try everything I else could find that might heal the problem and avoid surgery. (Stories where people had surgery and it didn't work, or left them in a worse condition -- then they received massage therapy and the problem was resolved.)

By braces I'm assuming that you mean wrist splints. My experience is that they do not solve the problem. They merely hold the wrist in place so you don't make it worse while you sleep.

Especially if you're in pain, I would definitely curtail activities such as drumming and kayaking until you have resolved your physical problem, otherwise you might cause more damage.

The tingling in your hands sounds like it originated from a nerve entrapment or impingement. Usually people I see who experience that tingling have tight muscles in their neck, shoulders, arms and wrists, or there is some other restriction of the nerves that travel from the neck to the hands. I'm surprised that if you have neck problems the doc doesn't think it is related, because the nerves can be entrapped in the neck and you might feel tingling or have CTS-like symptoms from it. There is also a syndrome called Thoracic Outlet Syndrome which is due to tightness in the neck/shoulder area and it can cause tingling in the hands. What about a second opinion for this? Or several opinions from different kinds of practitioners?

Best wishes,

Happygal

Follow Ups:

• Re: herniated cervical disc (Archive in carpal tunnel.) Walt Stoll 09:37:26 5/29/02 (0)
• Re: herniated cervical disc Happygal 23:33:07 5/27/02 (0)

In Reply to: Re: herniated cervical disc posted by Happygal on May 27, 2002 at 22:59:04:

Oops, I forgot to tell you I'm a Certified Massage Therapist.

In Reply to: herniated cervical disc posted by amalia on May 27, 2002 at 13:03:53:

Hi, Amalia.

I think your neck and wrists ARE related, not as cause and effect but as both are caused by chronic bracing. See the glossary and then the archives for what that is and what to DO about it.

If you take all of your medical records and the xray films and reports to the Chiropractor, she will be able to tell if she could help or if there was any risk of harm.

Let us know what you learn.

Walt

In Reply to: Re: herniated cervical disc posted by Happygal on May 27, 2002 at 22:59:04:

Thanks, Happygal.

Would that ALL physicians try the simpler and more effective approaches first!

Namaste`

Walt