Bulging Disc C5 - C6

[christ1]

Could a bulging disc between C5 - C6 give swallowing difficulties, slight facial numbness on the right side of the mouth, and substantial right arm and right leg weakness and tingling?  My neurologist has been pursuing ALS and MS until an MRI showed the disc problem.  I am being treated with 200 mg of Celebrex and am exhibiting the above symptoms and have been having the symptoms for 4 months or more.  My back of my neck presently burns in a generalized way, right now.

[CCF-Neuro-M.D.-CS]

A disc bulge at C5-6 should not result in swallowing difficulties. It may or may not result in facial sensory changes. Without examining you and reviewing the imaging I can not make a diagnosis. If you are concerned, perhaps a second opinion with another neurologist would be helpful. Good luck.

[shead]

History-
Approx. 10 yrs. ago, I dislocated both arms due to a fall.  For the next three years my left arm continued to dislocate about every six months.  My right arm dislocated again by the force of the broom while I was curling.  The force of the broom hit my back shoulder so hard that when the arm shot forward it not only dislocated, but chipped part of the inner shoulder socket. Ever since this incident, I have complained of not only shoulder pain, but neck pain.  
My surgeon wanted to operate on my right shoulder first as it was the less promblematic shoulder and he felt that I would be able to learn the physio etc. with the one that needed less repair first.  Unfortunately, the left dislocated again while working out in the gym and the surgeon was forced to operate on the left first.

I had the left operated on and everything went well.  I did not get along with the surgeon and have never went back to get the right shoulder operated on.  

Problem:  Years have went by and I am in chronic pain.  I have experienced right ear pain for the past 5 years as well as right side pain in my head.  My right shoulder is always in pain in the aea where it chipped from the injury.  I have been to ear, nose, and throat doctor (no infection), massage therapy, physio therapy.  When I was in physio I would get extreme pain in my head after the session and the therapist discontinued me.  A chiroprator told me that I have scar tissue built up over my nerve endings around my shoulder blades and everytime I use my arms - I cause ripping which causes pain???

Question:  I am now experiencing sever headaches at the back of my head, frontal lobe, and behind my eyeballs.  Numbing sensations down my right arm and weakness.  For a temporary time - I experienced tingling down both arms in the thumb and first fingers and the pinky.  If I look way up or down, the pain in my head is unbearable.  I have now had an MRI ordered.
Does this sound like a bulging disk?  Is it possible that the disk slips every now and then and that would explain the on and off extreme pain?  If an MRI was ordered for my spinal column, does that mean that my shoulders will not get covered in the scan?  My biggest fear is that they will examine my spine, but leave my shoulders out of the scan.  I experience more than just nerve pain in my shoulders - it feels like bone pain too.
Any information that you can give would be appreciated.

[kazzy b]

In October 2003 I went to my GP with facial numbness around the corner of my mouth.It felt like a dentist's injection wearing off.  I also had severe headaches.  An MRI revealed C5 and C6 slipped disc and sinus mucas. CT scan showed sinus was clear.
In April 2004 I had shingles. Headaches were worse and was given migraine drugs-which did nothing to relieve the pain. My GP thinks it is a trigeminal nerve problem-but my face is not painful only numb. Its the headaches that are relentless and for some reason unbearable on my monthly period. This week I have been given gabapentin for pain relief and wait to see if that helps.
I wonder if the nerve damage is because of the slipped disc,the shingles or a nasty tooth extraction 1 year prior to symptoms?
It takes a long time to see consultants in th U.K. and would appreciate your comments.

[Nan-sue]

I have multiply bulging disc. I also was told that I have herniated disc at C6-C7. I have chest and shoulder and upper back pain. I was wondering can this cause headaches,ringing in the head,light headness,dizziness. The doctors keep running all kinds of test. But they are still no answers.Thanks Nan-sue

[Sami-Ann]

I, too, have a bulging disc (at C5-C6 as well as C6-C7).  My problems began with facial numbness in January 2002 which I decided was related to starting a prescription for Allegra for allergies since I had no pain.  I stopped the medication and the numbness eventually went away.  In April 2002 I had an episode of heaviness in my right leg which also disappeared.  In July 2002, I began experiencing numbness and tingling in my face and buzzing and heaviness in my legs (right mostly).  I woke up one morning in August 2002 with complete numbness on my right side (although I could move with a small amount of difficulty), heaviness in my right leg, coordination problem (due to the heaviness and numbness) and muscle tightness on entire right side. I've had never had much pain at all.  I had no medical diagnostic testing with the exception of an MRI of my cervical spine which indicated two bulging discs.  If my diagnosis is correct, and I'm not convinced it is, then I would say that yes, your bulging disc can be causing your facial symptoms.  I'm still having symptoms after two years and was told by my PCP that they will never go away so I should learn to live with them.  Generally, it seems that only pain symptoms are taken seriously.