they did surgery on my shoulder but not my neck.they couldnt see surgery helping get rid of my neck&shoulder pain either.this c4-c7 disc stuff seems to effect the neck and shoulder,but unfortunately surgery to the neck will not relieve it.it seems to always effect that certain part of our body.all they give me is nerve block injections and "400mg of gabapetin".thats it and still have pain now its in my right arm now.so its in both....oh well

Hi Don--thanks for responding. Did your get a recent MRI?? once my right arm and hands were affected mri changed drastically in just one year. I had 3 consults all agree 100% without surgery would have gone paralyzed. I dont regret surgery but new symptoms of shoulder are painful as heck.

yes I got quite a few of them.they give me nerve block injection and im on "gabapetin".but they don't help much.they don't want to do surgery.it can fix the disc's but the function and pain will still be there.there damage.plus I have arthritis there and a "tear".all in my neck and shoulder.it just keep compounding

Hey Don, your tear is it in the rotatar cuff? It really hard to live in pain everyday ....one breathe i feel lucky from surgery and next I was hoping to have alot less pain or at leat not daily. Keep me update how things work out for you wish you the best !!!

No doubt that having surgery can create new problems on top of what you had prior to surgery. I think surgery is an absolute last resort and anyone considering surgery should have at least 2 consults before deciding to go for it.

All the Doctors want to do is injections. I order my MRI results and look up on line what it meant. My neck is in serious shape. I will eventually need surgery.

I also have herniated disc. But no Doctor told me. I requested my MRI report. Look it up on line. I am really in a lot of pain. I wake up with pain. And go to sleep with pain. I feel that my head is going to explode . Now my Dr. That I have seen want to do injections. Why? The shots will not help. I finally went to ER. The pain has went to my left side of my neck. All the way down to my left arm. Now my lower back is hurting. No one will give out meds. But ER did. Finally some relief . I have a follow up again. With a internal medicine doctor. ER gave meds for 2 days. Whew I am impressed. Injections scare me. Now that their finding out the shots are not so good. I am going for a second opinion for neck surgery. The one surgeon was gun hoe to do the surgery. Not sure what to do.

I Gracemary--I live In Ohio too!! Anyways what I would advise also get 2 or 3 consults before surgery. Most good surgeons would not even consider acdf surgery unless you spinal cord compressed. If you want post your mri results here --people here will help advise. What are your symptoms pain in neck,shoulder,arm going into your hand and fingers??? If you dont have a copy of your MRI you need to request it from the place you had it done with the written copy. I had acdf surgery 2010---from c5 thru c7. . I have a good friend I took to my surgeon who has 2 large herinations at but were not spinal cord compressed and he said no surgery she had the esi (spidural steroid injections) after two shots-- she has been pain free for 18months. Sometimes these injections do the trick. Please let me know if I can help with any ? you may have---im sorry your in so much pain!!

Gracemary--I wish you the best on whatever you choose to do if you ever have a ? regarding surgery please dont hesitate to ask? I understand how diffiucult life can be when your in pain.