My husband was just diagnoised with herniated disk of C-5 & C-6, whatever that means, and his chropractor said that maybe he should go and see a neorologist instead of a orhopedic surgeon because a neologist is less likely to do any cutting.
Is there anyway to repair this without surgery???
And what can be done for the pain until we get in to see him?
Should he be up and moving around with this injury or should he stay in bed?
And could this have just developed or was it due to an injury?
THANKS
Follow Ups:
Re: cervical herniated disk of C-5 & C-6
Posted by Lincoln on February 01, 1999 at 14:51:27:
In Reply to: cervical herniated disk of C-5 & C-6 posted by Lynn Johnson on February 01, 1999 at 12:59:58:
>And could this have just developed or was it due to an injury?<
It could be degenerative (such as posture problems) or from an injury (such as a car accident) or both.
Follow Ups:
Re: cervical herniated disk of C-5 & C-6
Posted by Walt Stoll on February 02, 1999 at 13:03:31:
In Reply to: cervical herniated disk of C-5 & C-6 posted by Lynn Johnson on February 01, 1999 at 12:59:58:
Hi, Lynn.
Welcome to this BB. I know you are new since these kind of conditions have been discussed, exhaustively, for years right here on this BB. I hope you will get a response from Doc Dave. If you don't (within a few days) repost your note with his name in the title to draw his attention.
In the meantime, both of you should go to the archives for this BB and read everything you can find about spinal conditions frequently surgerized.
THEN, if you still have questions write again.
Walt
Re: cervical herniated disk of C-5 & C-6
Posted by David Ferguson, D.C. on February 02, 1999 at 18:57:20:
In Reply to: cervical herniated disk of C-5 & C-6 posted by Lynn Johnson on February 01, 1999 at 12:59:58:
Much depends on the severity of the problem. If there is neurologic deficit like a loss of deep tendon reflexes or muscle weekness that can be DIRECTLY linked to these levels then sometimes surgery is what's necessary. I'm suprised your chiropractor isn't able to work you through this whole problem with adjustment and sound advice regarding posture, sleeping, skilled relaxation, etc. I would agree that a neurologist is who I would see rather than and orthopedist if I were going to have this surgery. Undoubtedly there are a lot of orthopedists who are better than some neurologists but if I were bargaining with my neck I would play the odds which have repeatedly shown to me that neurologists are 1000 times more qualified to do the surgery and 10000000 times more likely to try and avoid having to do it.
Without some outside force on the disc it cannot just herniate all by itself. There is force from the vertebrae, which is abnormal force when they are misaligned. There is muscular tension forcing the vertebrae together which can be a result of compensation from misalignments in areas above and below OR it can(and likely is to some degree) be from muscular tension as a result of 'bracing' which is very well effected by skilled relaxation. Flexion of the neck(chin down to chest) is a posture that is terrible and definetly accentuates a problem like this, like reading with your head down. Sleeping with too many pillows or with no support under the neck creates this same cervical flexion at night.
Hopefully a search through the archives here will give you a few more ideas as well. I can't tell you what you should or should not do because I haven't seen your husband or his MRI. Even then, there is a fine line between what can and can't be done. I can tell you that I would try ALL of the things I mentioned, ESPECIALLY the skilled relaxation if I could. And even if I did have the surgery I would start doing all of these things because surgery does NOTHING NOTHING NOTHING NOTHING NOTHING NOTHING(have I made my point) about WHY the discs ended up herniating to begin with.
Re: cervical herniated disk of C-5 & C-6
Posted by Lynn Johnson on February 03, 1999 at 22:19:44:
In Reply to: cervical herniated disk of C-5 & C-6 posted by Lynn Johnson on February 01, 1999 at 12:59:58:
My husband went to see an Orthopedic surgeon today and he showed us the X-rays and showed us the severity of the herniated disk and said it had to come out, because he already is showing signs of paralysis has lost strength and use of his right arm.
We dont know what to do-he made it sound like no matter what kind of doctor we went to because it was so bad that surgery would have to be done, there is nerve damage.
THANKS
Follow Ups:
Re: cervical herniated disk of C-5 & C-6
Posted by David Ferguson, D.C. on February 03, 1999 at 22:26:19:
In Reply to: Re: cervical herniated disk of C-5 & C-6 posted by Lynn Johnson on February 03, 1999 at 22:19:44:
Sounds like a surgical case to me.
HOWEVER.....Do something PRO active and start the things that will keep it from occurring again since surgery can't correct that.
Re: herniated disk
Posted by Teresa Pay on March 20, 1999 at 01:54:40:
In Reply to: Re: cervical herniated disk of C-5 & C-6 posted by Lincoln on February 01, 1999 at 14:51:27:
Hello, While attempting to discover the cause for my abdominal and back pain, my Dr. ran a Lumbar MRI. The radiologist's report state that there are "several mild herniated disks" and degenerative spinal disease. I have also lost muscle tissue in my chest 180 deg. from one of the "herniated disks" and the abdominal pain is 180 deg. from another. Would herniated disks cause this, and NOW what should I do?
Follow Ups:
Re: herniated disk
Posted by Walt Stoll on March 21, 1999 at 10:39:08:
In Reply to: Re: herniated disk posted by Teresa Pay on March 20, 1999 at 01:54:40:
Dear Teresa,
The answers to your questions is in the archives for this BB. Read everything you can find about spinal conditions frequently surgerized. It will take you a couple of hours--
a small price to pay to resolve what you have.
THEN, if you still have questions, write again.
Walt
Re: cervical herniated disk of C-5 & C-6
Posted by Michael Majerek on April 14, 1999 at 20:33:03:
In Reply to: cervical herniated disk of C-5 & C-6 posted by Lynn Johnson on February 01, 1999 at 12:59:58:
I have a herniated disk in the c6-7, and I am not sure what to do? I am seeing a chiropractor and waiting to see a neurologist. I am doing exercises it has been 4 weeks and nothing is improving. What is best procedures or newest achievments or excercises? Any suggestions?
Follow Ups:
Re: cervical herniated disk of C-5 & C-6
Posted by Walt Stoll on April 15, 1999 at 12:26:50:
In Reply to: Re: cervical herniated disk of C-5 & C-6 posted by Michael Majerek on April 14, 1999 at 20:33:03:
Hi, Michael.
Go to the link below and spend a few hours.
You need to understand what options you have & WHY.
THEN, if you still have questions, write again.
Walt