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Herniation at C6/C7 - neck collar and conservative care info please (m)..
I am 38 yo female with a diagnosis of osteoarthritis throughout my whole spine.
Last week Monday, I woke up could not get my head off my pillow. I was in excruciating pain on the right side of my neck, shoulder and pain going down my arm. My husband came in after I called him and helped me get up to a sitting position. Got me dressed and hauled me off to my chiropractor. Every bump on the way there, hurt and I could not move my neck either way. Chiro could feel inflammation at C6/C7 and extremely tight muscles and spasming muscles. I did not have the strength to hold my head up while going down to a laying position, or getting up from that position - it was way too painful.
He said I probably completely herniated that disk (that was already herniated). He fitted me with a neck collar which I wore for about 3 days off and on during the acute phase. Also going through conservative care of cervical traction, elect stimulation. No Chiro manipulations yet, but I'm guessing this week he may do that. He says 3 weeks of conservative care, then if not much better, will order an MRI. The reason he's waiting is because I just had one in Oct/07 (they thought I had MS and were checking for plaques) and this is what that one said below. Is this the right route I should be taking (conservative care)? I am feeling a bit better, but range of motion is still not good, pain is "ok" on a scale of 1-10 I would say about a 4-5 but my right shoulder and arm are still in a lot of pain. I was just curious of your opinion on this. I have read in serveral places that any disk impinging the spinal cord requires surgery to be done to fix this problem very quickly - but no one seems to think it's a problem. Thanks.
"**MRI Cervical Spine without Contrast. The vertebrae are normally aligned. Stature of the vertebral bodies is maintained. Spinal cord is of normal morphology with exception of ventral impression on the cord in the left paramedian location at C6-7 secondary to moderate protrusion of the nucleus pulposus. There is no evidence of tonsillar herniation, and the foramen magnum is normal in appearance. There is mild/moderate broad-based bulging in the disk/endplate complex at C5-6, but this finding does not cause impression on the spinal cord, there is no spinal or foraminal stenosis at this level.
Impression: Significant protrusion of the nucleus pulposus at C6-7, finding is positioned in the left paramedian location and causes mild ventral impression on the spinal cord. It is also possible that this finding may impinge the traversing left C8 root. Otherwise unremarkable MRI of the cervical spine."
Last week Monday, I woke up could not get my head off my pillow. I was in excruciating pain on the right side of my neck, shoulder and pain going down my arm. My husband came in after I called him and helped me get up to a sitting position. Got me dressed and hauled me off to my chiropractor. Every bump on the way there, hurt and I could not move my neck either way. Chiro could feel inflammation at C6/C7 and extremely tight muscles and spasming muscles. I did not have the strength to hold my head up while going down to a laying position, or getting up from that position - it was way too painful.
He said I probably completely herniated that disk (that was already herniated). He fitted me with a neck collar which I wore for about 3 days off and on during the acute phase. Also going through conservative care of cervical traction, elect stimulation. No Chiro manipulations yet, but I'm guessing this week he may do that. He says 3 weeks of conservative care, then if not much better, will order an MRI. The reason he's waiting is because I just had one in Oct/07 (they thought I had MS and were checking for plaques) and this is what that one said below. Is this the right route I should be taking (conservative care)? I am feeling a bit better, but range of motion is still not good, pain is "ok" on a scale of 1-10 I would say about a 4-5 but my right shoulder and arm are still in a lot of pain. I was just curious of your opinion on this. I have read in serveral places that any disk impinging the spinal cord requires surgery to be done to fix this problem very quickly - but no one seems to think it's a problem. Thanks.
"**MRI Cervical Spine without Contrast. The vertebrae are normally aligned. Stature of the vertebral bodies is maintained. Spinal cord is of normal morphology with exception of ventral impression on the cord in the left paramedian location at C6-7 secondary to moderate protrusion of the nucleus pulposus. There is no evidence of tonsillar herniation, and the foramen magnum is normal in appearance. There is mild/moderate broad-based bulging in the disk/endplate complex at C5-6, but this finding does not cause impression on the spinal cord, there is no spinal or foraminal stenosis at this level.
Impression: Significant protrusion of the nucleus pulposus at C6-7, finding is positioned in the left paramedian location and causes mild ventral impression on the spinal cord. It is also possible that this finding may impinge the traversing left C8 root. Otherwise unremarkable MRI of the cervical spine."
Are you having any problems with your hands?...Like if you lay on your back for a while do they or one or the other go numb?....you probably have a herniated disc if so....keep us informed and I will watch for I have this problem also....Mal...
anyone? Dr.? I would really appreciate your opinion on this? I am on my last week of conservative care (week 3) and still have neck/shoulder/arm pain although my ROM is a bit better. I'm hoping that my CHiro will order an MRI at the end of the week.
Is it true, that if i were to have an accident of some kind, where my neck was involved, I am at very high risk of paralysis because I already have a disk impinging my spinal cord? This really worries me. Thanks.
Is it true, that if i were to have an accident of some kind, where my neck was involved, I am at very high risk of paralysis because I already have a disk impinging my spinal cord? This really worries me. Thanks.
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