Herniated Cervical Discs

[Rheana]

I was in a car wreck in Apr 2008,  I had severe pain and spasms in my back and neck and was diagnosed with whiplash and referred to PT with no diagnostic xrays or tests ordered.  Eight months later I still had severe neck and shoulder pain, but back pain was gone.  My doctor finally ordered an MRI after eight months which showed cervical disc herniations at C3-C4 and C4-C5 which moderately flatten the spinal cord and mild degenerative changes at C5-C6.  I have limited motion in my neck when turning my head to the right and limited motion in my right shoulder, shoulder pain and arm pain.  I stopped PT in Apr 09 because my pain was not improving beyond a certain point and some pain was even worse.  Recently I am experiencing tingling in my ring and pinky fingers on both hands. Both hands go to sleep occasionally.  I also have occasional (aprox once a week) episodes of severe "pulling" pain on the left side of my neck.  My neurosurgeon and my doctor have left the decision of surgery up to me (this was before the tingling began).  If I leave this alone am I at risk for any permanent disability?

[carrose]

I had about the same thing you have I was in a wreck in june of 08. I had the surg. they fused C5-C6-C7 with cadaver bone.I felt realy good for about a year then all pain came back and more so I wish I had not got the surg. and just let it get better  with out anything.