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Esteemed Contributor
Posts: 7,645
Registered: ‎03-28-2015

A herniated cervical disc......

My 32 yr old daughter got this diagnosis from the Family Dr yesterday after just turning her head in the kitchen and getting a shooting pain up her neck.

 They have her on steroids and she is feeling better and had a decent nights sleep....but I was wondering if anyone has any advice if you have suffered with this too?

Esteemed Contributor
Posts: 5,291
Registered: ‎06-15-2015

Re: A herniated cervical disc......

 

I have had 3 crushed cervical vertabrae in my neck since the early 1970's. Your daughter might consider seeing an Ortho Spine Specialist or Nuerologist about this. Did she have an MRI done.

 

Got a doctors appt, gotta go

hckynut(john)
Respected Contributor
Posts: 2,755
Registered: ‎03-16-2010

Re: A herniated cervical disc......

Back in 2008 I had severe pain just below my elbow. The MRI showed that I had 2 herniated cervical discs. The neurologist said I needed surgery right away. The neurosurgeon said to wait and try therapy. I took the neurosurgeons advice and took the therapy. I had some loss of function in my right arm and hand. I am lucky enough to live only 2 miles from one of the best therapy schools in the country. These therapists are "manually" trained which is a special training beyond the regular physical therapy curriculum. Within 2 weeks I was down from taking  a Lortab 10 mg every 4-6 hours to just advil. The manual technique is a slight manipulation that releases the pressure on the nerve, reducing pain. Then I had week and weeks of just muscle strengthening. When I started I could not hold a 1 pound weight and lift it over my head. Now I can do much more. The neurologist was very mad at me telling me "I will have to have surgery". My primary physician says "avoid it as long as you can". I do have neck exercises to do that keep the muscles in the neck strong, which in turn, supports the spinal column The pain I had from those herniated discs was some of the worst pain I have ever had and I am afraid to have it again. .

Respected Contributor
Posts: 2,458
Registered: ‎04-26-2013

Re: A herniated cervical disc......

18 yrs ago, had 2 replaced (they took bone from my hip) had lost the use of my left arm/hand, disc had worn to a point & punctured the nerve, pain was awful, also started to get pain down the right shoulder so told him make sure to check it out & I didn't  want to go thru this again, sure enough it was another disc going bad.  Surgery went very well, want to add they tried everything, meds, etc before doing the surgery, glad I had it done, but everyone is different.

 

Good Luck

Respected Contributor
Posts: 2,905
Registered: ‎06-23-2014

Re: A herniated cervical disc......

Oh yeah, plenty of experience with that unfortunately. They will probably send her to PT after it calms down some and refer her to a neuro or orthopedic doctor. If things don't improve they usually try pain management (injections,and narcotic meds if needed) before they will even think about surgery. In fact, if someone suggests surgery before interventional treatments, RUN!

Esteemed Contributor
Posts: 5,258
Registered: ‎03-10-2010

Re: A herniated cervical disc......

@Nataliesgramma

 

You didn't mention whether your daughter's physician based his conclusion on an MRI or was making a clinical guess.  Bone spurs can also cause the type of pain experienced.

 

Before your daughter's case progresses to the point where permanent damage is a possibility, an MRI is a must. Acting on the Radiologst's report on an MRI is the first step.

 

Having worked in the fields of physical therapy, orthopaedic surgery and neurosurgery, I cannot imagine placing the heath of my central nervous system, which may have suffered a herniated disk in the hands of a person who performs "manual" therapy.  (The disk cannot be manipulated back into place, nor can a bulge.)

Respected Contributor
Posts: 2,572
Registered: ‎07-29-2012

Re: A herniated cervical disc......

Your daughter needs an MRI, if she has not already had one,  of her cervical spine.  That will tell the physician the source of the problem.  

Esteemed Contributor
Posts: 7,645
Registered: ‎03-28-2015

Re: A herniated cervical disc......

She didn't have an MRI done...but when her pain gets better he wants her to get one...

 

Thanks everyone for the nice replies...appreciate it...

Esteemed Contributor
Posts: 5,291
Registered: ‎06-15-2015

Re: A herniated cervical disc......

[ Edited ]

@Nataliesgramma wrote:

She didn't have an MRI done...but when her pain gets better he wants her to get one...

 

Thanks everyone for the nice replies...appreciate it...


 

Back from seeing my doctor, now wait for blood results. Anyways.   I'm kind of curious about her diagnosis. My friend a Spinal Surgeon, would not give a herniated disc diagnosis, without first having an MRI performed.

 

Unless his patient is completely incapacitated, he would do an MRI to find the source of the problem. With me, before he removed my ruptured Lumbar L-3 disc, the first thing he did was order an MRI to be done. Then came the surgery, but first, he had me try Physical Therapy. My pain was not a factor in when he had me get the MRI.

 

Seems a bit strange to me, as with my many Spinal problems, the first thing after the initial consultation visit, came the MRI's for the diagnosis. Same was true with my Cervical diagnosis, except at the original injury, there were no MRI. My spinal disc ruptures back in 1975 were diagnosed via a Myelogram. 

 

Those I listed above are a small part of my experiences with my numerous Spinal issues.  Might pass this info along to your daughter, it might help her a bit.

 

 

hckynut(john)

 

 

 

hckynut(john)
Respected Contributor
Posts: 2,905
Registered: ‎06-23-2014

Re: A herniated cervical disc......

I totally agree with John, not sure how they made that Dx. Sounds like a guess on the diagnosis. You can't diagnose a herniated disc without a MRI or CT scan. As another poster said, bone spurs can cause that type of pain too.