Anyone with Neck Herniations-MRI Report shows C5 protrusion
 

Hi,

This is my first time on this website so I will try to me specific but not too detailed with my question. At the end of February I lifted something really heavy and the next day got out of bed and couldn't move my neck, extreme pain. That week I had to continue to lift heavy luggage twice so I am sure it didnt help. The pain went away and 2 wks later went for a short run and my left forearm went ice cold...I got the mri and it said that I had a large C5 disc herniation and that it eventually could have mass effect on my C6 nerve.....so my doc referred me to PT and I didnt start that until April. (In the meantime I went out all day in the middle of march wore high shoes and every morning since 3/18 my feet are tingling when I first wake up only lasted for 5 mins....) So beyond the feet tingling in the morning and left forearm when fast walking I didnt feel anything.
I began PT on a Tuesday they used a heat ultrasound and did repetitive neck motions to try to get the disc to push back into place. They also did this one motion with the hands and tilted my head ALL the way to the left ( they called it traction but it seemed like a chiropractic move?) I went to them Tues and Wed...on wed afternoon when I was repeating the exercises they gave me, I suddenly felt tingles, wandering coldness (parathesia) throughout both of my arms, neck and face...I was nervous and the next morning when I woke up it got worse...it was still all over my arms, face, neck and it was in my chest and running up and down my back! I went back to the pt and they called my doctor and I had to go to the ER...they gave me steroids to reduce the inflammation. Just got my cervical MRI and now it states that I have a moderate paracentral lateral disc protrusion at the C5-6 which appears to encroach upon the left neural foramen. I head to the ortho tom and neurosurgeon on Thurs. It has been 2 weeks since the er and the sensations have diminished although I still feel it in my arms and legs it is no longer constant(is that a good thing??)

So in summary has anyone had a similar experience?? Does it seem like the PT made it worse?? Has anyone had surgery....Oh and I am 28 years old by the way and want children soon...I am so angry right now that this has happened. If you could give me as much advice as possible I would greatly appreciate it.

Thank you so much.

Hi!
My MRI was very similar, except I have degenerative disc disease..(old age) I am 43, and had surgery on Feb 14th. They never tried therapy on me, but I had several steroid shots. My surgery was ACDF on C5/6,6/7. They used cages and plates,and it has worked well for me. I went back to work in 3 weeks, and am relatively pain-free compared to the months before surgery. I work a job that requires heavy lifting and have been doing well. I don't know that therapy caused you to get worse, but my neuro surgeon forbade me from therapy or chiropractic.... he said that the way my discs were, it could only make it worse.
There it is! hope it helps you some... if you want to PM me or leave me a note here, I will be happy to share all I learned.

Be Well!
Dave :)

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Hi there

I am currently going through a HUGE MESS! I have so much pain and I'm so confused. I've been diagnsoed with several different things now and I'm going nuts!

My MRI shows disc protrusion which a neurosurgeon said "two herniated dsics and another on the verge" All are C4-C6 area. Also have an osteophyte complex on C5 with narrowing at C4-C7. Also have cervical spondylosis. Also have striaghtening of the cervical lordosis.

But I don't know what all this means. All I know is that I have been diagnosed with carpal tunnel, thoracic outlet sydrome, myofascial pain syndrome, and nothing is working. I'm only getting worse.

My family has an extensive history of rheumatoid arhritis and degenerative dsic disease. All with the same things going on. But because I'm only 34 nobody wants to touch me with this. They keep trying to pont mypain on something else. So now I'm real confused and I can't find a Doctor on my insurance who has figured it all out yet.

I am now having mid and lower back pain and trouble walking. I can only imagine what this means. I wish there were more better answers.

I hope the best for you.

Yes, those protrusions can cause all sorts of symptoms. I had severe foraminal narrowing and severe spinal cord compression. Had it been anything else I would not have had surgery.

I had a herniated C-5/6 disc which compressed my right radial nerve. I couldn't lay down on my back, right side or stomach. I had to sleep on my couch on my left side for three months and only averaged about 2-3 hours of sleep a night. Needless to say, 24/7 pain that nothing could take care of. v I had a posterior discectomoy/lamenectomy about 7 months ago. I have nerve damage due to the compression and have no idea if it will ever go away. Get this taken care of soon.

TY- I have the exact same things going on. I haven't had a good nights sleep since uh I think December. I too fall asleep on the couch every night on myl eft side but then I force myself upstairs to bed. I get so frustrated and so does my husband because I can't cuddle up with him anymore. I can't lay on my back at all! I can't lay on my right side or my stomach either! I seem to be stuck in one position and one position only and I also need a pillow under my arm to help with my shoulder pain.

I have been dealing with this excruciating pain since December but been passed around like a football with Doctor's. I'm so angry and upset! Nobody listens to me! I tell them exactly what's going on but every doctor I've gone too has a different opinion and a different answer.

My problems originally started last April with headaches, and minor arm pain. I saw a neurologist who only did a head MRI and wanted to put me on medication for migraines. I didn't take it cause I didn't think that was it. Of course I didn't bother going elsewhere so I just dealt with it until it got unbearable.

In January I saw another neurologist who looked at me for carpal tunnel. He did an EMG and saw some weird things but couldn't put it together. He then thought maybe I had MS so he ordered an MRI of the brain and C spine but before he got the results he already determined I had thoracic outlet syndrome and was going to treat me for that with nerve blocks and trigger point injections. Ok, here's the good part...he never told me the results of my MRI of the C spine! Instead I've been through 3 months of nerve blocks and trigger point injections with ABSOLUTELY NO PROGRESS! Actually I am worse now than I was 3 months ago.

I pulled all my records to go for a second opinion and had a shock when I read my MRI report. Then I had 2 other neurosurgeons say all my problems are due to my spine (degenerative disc disease) but of course they said I'm so young to have these problems and surgery is not recommended. But ok, now I have this problem and I guess I'm stuck with it for a very long time. But in the mean time I'm getting no treatment, I'm in pain and I'm scared. I'm really scared that the neurologist i was seeing really missed this and possible made things worse. I can't even get him to return my calls. I'm now sitting here wondering what the heck to do. I want the pain to stop and I want my life back. I'm scared that I'm going to have permanent nerve damage. I have such terrible numbness, tingling, pain and weakness. Everyone just wants to pass me to someone else. I have been on the phone trying to find another Doctor to see. I'm lost...I'm starting to feel like I have no hope for this.

I did actually get two appointments for next week now...one with an orthopedic spine specialist/surgeon and a rheumatologist. I don't know but somebody better take this seriously and SOON! I'm now having bladder and bowel problems too and problems walking.

I was almost ready to head to the emergency room yesterday but no point in that cause they don't do anything. I've been there twice since all this started and they say "go see your Doctor"

Well that's it for now..sorry for the long note...maybe some of you might have some suggestions.

I'm also very worried about rheumatoid arthritis..I hope I don't have that!