Spinal Problems Archives

Cervical Herniated Discs

I AM 38 YR OLD FEMALE WHO HAS BEEN SUFFERING FROM STIFF
NECK AT ACHES AROUND THE SHOULDER AREA FOR OVER 9 YRS.
FIRST WENT TO SEE MY GP WHO ADVISED ME TO PURCHASE A SPECIAL PILLOW. HAS SINCE REFERRED ME FOR
PHYSIO WITH NO BENEFIT.I'VE SEEN A CHIROPRACTOR WHO DID NOT HELP. THE PHYSIO SAID I HAVE EXTREMELY
STIFF MUSCLES. AFTER 7 YRS MY GP SENT ME TO SEE
A NEURO CONSULTANT AFTER I COMPLAINED OF SEVERE PAID. HE CONSUTANTS WHO DID PUT ME ON WAITING LIST FOR MRI.AFTER WAITING 2 YRS I DECIDED TO PAY FOR THIS PRIVATELY
I'VE JUST HAD MRI - THE RADIOTHERAPIST HAS TOLD ME I HAVE
SEVERE HERNIATED DISCS AT 4/5 5/6 BOTH SIDES, DEGENERATIVE DISC DISEASE. I NOW AWAIT TO SEE A ORTHO SURGEON. I AM NOW FEELING TINGLING IN BOTH MY ARMS AND MY LOWER BACK IS IN PAIN WHEN STANDING FOR A WHILE. MY LEFT LEG SOMETIMES DRAGS AS I WALK. MY BUTTOCKS ACHE. MY HEAD FEELS LIKE ITS GOING TO FALL OFF MY SHOULDERS.I GENERALLY FEEL UNWELL, BUT STILL KEEP UP A FULL TIME JOB. SURELY I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO WAIT THIS LONG - OVER 9 YRS FOR AN ANSWER. I AM NOW VERY WORRIED AS MY BODY SEEMS TO BE WEAKENING BY THE DAY.

Follow Ups:

• Re: Cervical Herniated Discs (Archive in spinal.) Walt Stoll 06:22:23 11/01/03 (0)
• Re: Cervical Herniated Discs Happygal 07:16:29 10/31/03 (1)
  • Re: Cervical Herniated Discs Marie-Josée 21:39:17 10/31/03 (0)

In Reply to: Cervical Herniated Discs posted by JACKIE on October 31, 2003 at 06:45:43:

Hi Jackie,

You've come to the right place to learn how to help yourself.

Start by reading about "bracing" in the glossary which describes how and why you have such tight muscles. Then read about "Skilled Relaxation" in the article on the home page, in the glossary, and in the archives to learn what to do about it. You need to start doing the Skilled Relaxation right away and continue AT LEAST twice a day for twenty minutes each day. After you do this for a while, you will start to notice your body relaxing more and more and you will start feeling better.

In the meantime, try seeing an experienced, professional massage therapist to help release some of the tight muscles in your neck and shoulders, and in your hips. Focused massage can help bring some relief while you are waiting for the SR to take effect.

There will be some other things for you to do as your body gets better, but this is the best place for you to start.

BTW, please use lower case letters when you write posts because the caps are hard for everybody to read. Thanks.

Best wishes,
Happygal (Certified Massage Therapist/Holistic Practitioner)

Follow Ups:

• Re: Cervical Herniated Discs Marie-Josée 21:39:17 10/31/03 (0)

In Reply to: Re: Cervical Herniated Discs posted by Happygal on October 31, 2003 at 07:16:29:

Hi Jackie,

I would really try Happygals recommendations before having surgery. Some people get a new lease on life after such an intervention, others however, have as intense, or more severe pain afterwards.

Dr Kennedy says that everyone has degenerated discs. By the age of 21 most people have degenerated L5 discs. It is part of ageing, and not associated with pain and disabilty. I would get a hold of Dr John Sarno's book 'Healing Back Pain'. The author associates back pain with 'bracing', though he does not label it as such. He is of the opinion that most back issues are related to the explosive cocktail of personality and stress (even in the presence of hernia's !).

I would also locate a prolotherapist. Look up prolotherapy on the net. Dr Kennedy, previously mentioned, states that back pain, as well as many problems relating to joints are due to ligament laxity. Prolotherapy injections syimulate cartilage forming cells to produce cartilage, this results in stronger ligaments (often stronger than originally). Joints are thus 'stabilized', and pain is either considerably diminished, and often eliminated. Of course, physical therapy has to be part of the program, and sometimes big lifestyle changes, as ligaments do not become lax without reason. There is a delicate balance between hypo and hypertonic tensions in regards to musculoskeletal structures...overusing a joint may be the cause of ligaments laxity or hypermobility, so all these issues need to be addressed. An excellent physiotherapist, or an excellent prolotherpist will help you determine which parts of your skeleton are working too hard, and which parts are not working hard enough.

So resolving bracing, having your musculoskeletal system mobility evaluated, and prolotherapy are my suggestions.

Good-luck !

In Reply to: Cervical Herniated Discs posted by JACKIE on October 31, 2003 at 06:45:43:

Hi, Jackie.

It is a real crime that no one told you about your bracing way back in the beginning. We are not taught this stuff in medical school.

Listen to Happygal and Marie-Josee.

It may not be too late to resolve this without surgery but even if surgery is still necessary, your having dealt with the bracing BEFORE the surgery will greatly increase your chances of a postive outcome after the surgery. If you will go to the spinal archives you will learn that the statistics are: 1/3 get better, 1/3 get worse and 1/3 stay the same after surgery. NOT good odds.

See the bracing archives for your present options and let us know how you do.

Walt