A year ago I was injured by a drug addicted client (I am a social worker). She jumped on the back of my neck and hit my head several times. MRI showed bulging discs and some compression on spinal cord and nerves. Had pt, chiropractic care and now is alot worse, new mri shows severe herniation, stenosis. Alot of pain down arm and numbness. Now I also have facial/neck paralysis coming and going which was first diagnosed as Bells Palsy, but as it comes and goes this is confounded all my Dortors and they state they have never seen this spinal compressing cause facial/neck paralysis. They have tested and mri for stroke,ms,tumor etc and all are negative. Neuro, Chiro, Ortho and GP all recommend surgery for C5-C7 discs and fussion. Any advice/seen any paralysis with injury like this. Lost muscle tone in neck and arm.
Follow Ups:
Re: C5-C7 & Paralysis
Posted by Walt Stoll on October 05, 1998 at 11:33:53:
In Reply to: C5-C7 & Paralysis posted by Cheri Smith on October 04, 1998 at 11:57:48:
Dear Cheri,
My son needs to read your note, He is just finishing his Masters in Social Work.
Anyhow, with the information you are sharing here, I think it lilely that you will need the surgery. I hope Doc Dave (our resident Chiropractor) weighs in here if he has any other ideas. I would never just get an opinion about something this complex from one Neurologist, one Orthopedic Surgeon and/or one Chiropractor.
However, there are MANY factors that ARE within your control that cause this kind of injury to become chronic AND have a LOT to do with how you would heal from any surgery. You owe it to yourself to use the archives for this bulletin board and read everything you can find about spinal conditions that are frequestly surgerized. THEN, if you still have questions, write again.
Walt
Follow Ups:
Re: C5-C7 & Paralysis
Posted by David Ferguson, D.C. on October 05, 1998 at 13:58:30:
In Reply to: C5-C7 & Paralysis posted by Cheri Smith on October 04, 1998 at 11:57:48:
As a chiropractor with a wife who is a social worker, your story really stands out.
Bad situation.
As much as I hate to say it, surgery is likely to be the only option left.
If I was in your shoes I would probably get an opinion from ANOTHER chiropractor who can actually look at the MRI(something I can't do from here) and decide if some course of cervical extension excercises, skilled relaxation, sleep posture modification, cervical collar, etc.. would be worth a try before being surgerized. These discs were likely force backward by the severe flexion of your neck and the most likely way for these to heal without surgery is by keeping the head from flexing and allowing the area to heal. When the herniation is from a trauma such as this and not chronic spinal misalignments then chiropractic is less likely to be of significant help but it will be a chiropractor or the like that can give you the biomechanical advice regarding positions that can help this problem resolve without surgery.
Best of luck in your unfortunate situation.
Dave
Follow Ups:
Re: C5-C7 & Paralysis
Posted by Cheri Smith on October 05, 1998 at 22:02:11:
In Reply to: Re: C5-C7 & Paralysis posted by Walt Stoll on October 05, 1998 at 11:33:53:
Thank you for your prompt response. I have read everything her and in archives on the spine. I also last Saturday ordered your book from Barnes & Nobles and it should be in this week.
Re Doctors consulted, I have seen one Chiropractor (who made the most sense of anybody and really was anti-surgery til he saw the last MRI, two neurologist, one neurosurgeon, my family GP and one Orthopedic, who had treated me for 9 mo. with pain pills and telling me to learn to live with the pain (no referrel or suggestion as how to). This week I am seeing a neurologist who is "Chiropractic Friendly" and was recommended by my chiropractor.
I do have the one question that no one has answered yet...
About the paralysis.... it started about 2 months ago, has come and gone three time, lower left lip sags, tongue numb and no taste, left lip numb down thur neck and left shoulder area. Again this comes and goes in severity daily when happening then disappears totally and 3 of the doctors have verified seeing it but a "confounded" by it. each time it happens my blood pressure is up and has been due to pain for a few days. So.. the worst the pain the higher my BP is, the more paraylsis is. It has never effected my brow area or gone lower than my upper left shoulder, speach is sometimes effected. Have you ever seen or heard of this with a C5-C7 discs hernaition, stenosis and compressions(C-6 has no opening for the nerve showing at all on the MRI and disk is all dark(smashed) with only a sliver of Spinal Cord showing kinda like a comma.
Will probably have surgery next week, but I really am curious if anyone has seen or heard of paraylsis like this?
Your book and the postings here I feel will help me tremendously with my recovery.
Follow Ups:
Re: C5-C7 & Paralysis
Posted by Cheri Smith on October 05, 1998 at 22:18:21:
In Reply to: Re: C5-C7 & Paralysis posted by David Ferguson, D.C. on October 05, 1998 at 13:58:30:
I do continue to see my Chiropractor and will even if I have the surgery. What lessening of the pain I have had was from his treatment and he is keeping the thoraic area pain free which was getting messed up and painful due to cervical. I also copied about 20 pages from here and took into him and gave him the info on this web site.
Rather than repeat what I responded to Dr Stoll, could you read that also and advise on the Question regarding paraylsis?
Re: Social Work, thankfully the people we do help and make a difference in their lives are more abundant than those that abuse the system and cause damage to others. Unfortunately, that damage can be devastating when it happens. It is also amazing that, my other clients who have so many problems themselves are so patient and understanding of my limitations right now. Thank you for your time
Re: C5-C7 & Paralysis
Posted by Walt Stoll on October 06, 1998 at 09:55:28:
In Reply to: Re: C5-C7 & Paralysis posted by Cheri Smith on October 05, 1998 at 22:02:11:
Dear Cheri,
I have read Doc Dave's comments this morning & see that we both agree that you probably have no options at this point other than surgery.
All the other stuff will help you get a good result from the surgery & prevent recurrence (Unfortunately, once something like this has happened, it takes much less injury in the future to cause recurrence. Even just stepping off a curb wrong can do it all over again.).
Let us know what you learn from all your reading & good luck with your surgery. If it were me, I would start taking about 4 grams of esterified virtamin C, 1000 units of vitamin E and 100 milligarms of zinc aspartate a day from NOW until about 6 weeks after surgery. This can do no harm & has been shown to promote post surgical healing.
Let us know how you do &, if you have more questions, please do not hesitate to ask them right here on this BB.
Namaste` Walt