c4-5 c5-6 bulging disk

[rshall]

I had surgery in June to reapir a frayed labrum in my shoulder. My range of motion and strength came back but the pain never subsided. Cervical mri in sept shows c4-5 mild diffuse disk bulge,c5-6 mild central disk bulge and c6-7 minimal diffuse disk bulge. Disk materail appears to abut against the ventral surface of the cervical spinal cord at c4-5 and c5-6. My EMG shows right c6 radiculopathy with evidence of reinnervation without denervation. My ct scan shows osteoarthritic degeneerative change at the acromioclavicular joint. Ok there is the med terminology. Now my pain-it starts in my right shoulder blade as a a tight sore muscle and them moves into the joint and eventually into my upper arm-both front and rear. Recently I am having pain in my elbow and some slight tingling in my right pinky and ring finger. Chiropractor and phys terapist say I have a trapped nerve only solved by surgery. I see a neck and back specialist oct 31. I have been through 2 epidural injections with only minor short term relief. My pain gets to a 10 daily. I can not sleep, play with my kids or work very well at my desk. I have started on elevil, pretinisone and tramadol-getting some relief. Does anyone have any experience with these types of pain from their disk in the neck? Any advice is greatly appreciated as I feel I am running out of options-thanks!

[julesm1]

Hi all,
I was hosptialised for a week to try to get my pain under control. Have never felt anything like it. Began in the neck and travelled down my arm to the hand, including some numbness. I had a prolapsed disc at C5/6.Tried a number of painkillers and ended up on Tramadol slow release.(after ODing on a synthetic morphine). Well it worked to a degree but the side effects were horrible...massive muscle twitching so i couldn't sleep, lack of appetite, shaking and restlessness. Then when my sister convinced me to wean off them that was also not nice as it is addictive. I still could'n't sleep and was having panic attacks(racing heart,breathlessness and very deressed). I am on antidepressants now and am slowly recovering. I exercise daily in that I walk and do my special physio strengthening for my arm/shoulder/neck. It all began back at the end of Feb. From what I have read on various forums I am glad they waited and didn't fuse the vertebrae as it appears to be a short term fix and then the other vertbrae suffer from the extra load. I have been told that I will make a full recovery but it sure doesn't feel like it even nearly 4 months down the track.But I have come a long way and am not giving up.They say it can be 6 months to a year.Am looking forward to getting back to work in a months time.

[richmill1]

see 2 neurosurgeons..I am 3 months post op and feeling much better..sounds like fusion
might be needed...you will be fine

[looBloo]

i have severe neck pain MRI shows degenerative changes in c4/5 & C5/6 with foraminal narrowing.  I have limited movement of my right arm, cant raise it without pain, find it difficult to dry my hair, hold phone etc. My shoulder kills  and my middle back is so tight.  Ii also have a lot of pain across the bottom of my back and hips.
I get tingling and numbness in my smallest 2 fingers & my hand goes extremely red as if there is a problem with circulation.  I have seen an orthopaedic surgeon who ruled out any problems in his dept. I have had many sessions of osteopathy, to no avail.  I was seen by the physio in the orthopaedics who is also an extended practitioner, she actually did a full assessment on me and believes I have a condition called Thoracic Outlet Syndrome.  When reading about this, it makes me wonder.  I am going to see a vascular surgeon on 4 June about this, will let us know how I get on.

[promaro]

I have had a cervical fusion at C6/C7.  Before surgery I suffered for a very long time with shooting pain down my arm and eventually loss of feeling on the left side of my left hand and wrist.  MRI showed a 10 milimeter blowout.  By the time I had the surgery my pinky and ring fingers had dropped and I was unable to move them and the wrist the same thing.  The disk was pressing on the spinal cord as well as compressing the ulna nerve.  So it can get worse if not dealt with. I waited to long and surgery became an option I had to do.  Surgery for me was successful.  I woke up from the surgery and I regained the movement in the fingers, with therapy I also regained the movement in the wrist.  All the pain is gone.   With that being said.   Right now I'm six years out from that surgery and am beginning to show more symptoms.  One of the warnings I was given of fusion surgery is other discs can weaken over time because they are taking on the work of the disc fused.  MRI now shows I have 2 milimeter buldges at C4/C5 and C4/C6.  argh.

[Fran651]

I have a bulging disc on right side of my cervial spine at C6 which causes incredible shoulder pain, pain in my right upper arm and tingling in my hand and finger of my right hand.  My MRI also shows a bulging disc a C2.  All my pain and symptoms come from C6.  The doctor explained it like a tire bulging with cracks in it which in turn pinches the nerve in my right shoulder and down my arm.  I have been taking Soma and Advil.  I sleep with a heating pat and watch tv with one as well.  This condition has gotten better only to go back to the intense pain felt when the injury first occurs.  I am seriously thinking about surgery as at this point I do not think I can go on living life this with this pain.  Has anyone one had success with the surgery?

[SYL1VIAA]

i HAVE HERNIATED 5TH AND 6ST DISK.  LIMITED MOTION WITH LEFT ARM.  UNABLE TO USE RING FINGER ON LEFT HAND.  MY HAND SHAKES WHEN RESTING. WHAT IS GOING ON?  DOES SYMTOMS SOUND FAMILIAR?.  

[TanishatheGemini]

I feel your pain. I have the same issues. I have a bulge in my C4/C5 as well. I got this from using my laptop and sitting incorrectly on the couch as I go to school from home and have been messing up my spine. Initially I had numbness in my thumb and point finger which was caused by a pintched nerve. After therapy the pain released and everything was normal. Well it came back about 6 months ago and its back with a vengance. I feel like people with back packs full of bricks are stomping over my shoulder blades, I have limited motion in my neck, and my lower back is constantly hurting. The only releif I have found while trying to resolve the problem are frequent massages (twice a week), heating pad with some steam, or a jacuzzi. I know these may seem minut by they have brought some comfort to my back and neck while I await for steroid injections. I hope you get some relief as I know this amount of discomfort causes other issues. I know my patience level is very limited. Take care and God Bless you.