Quick recap then I'll get off my evil people soapbox. At the clinic, where I was required to take PT to see my neurosurgeon, they ordered a MRI and found a rupture. My whiplash was from a car wreck in 1995 and I had no symptoms. My PT put me in a MedX lumbar strengthening machine with full force on my upper body for 8 weeks until I quit from the overwhelming pain. Besides a ruptured eardrum, 2 cracked molars and a torn rotator cuff, these are before and after MRI's.

MRI 12/2/2014

large midline and right-sided disc herniation at C5-6 with migration of disc material caudally behind the C6 vertebral body.
Mild effacement of the right side of the spinal cord, mild narrowing of neural exit foramen on the right


MRI 4/15/2015

C3-4 slight disk bulge
C4-5 slight disc bulge

C5-6 A posterior central disc extrusion extends inferior behind the C6 vertebral body **** Is this also new damage? Inferior?
Disc herniation results in moderate to severe central canal stenosis and flattening of the spinal cord.
There is mild bilateral neural foraminal narrowing


This damage occurred over EIGHT physical therapy sessions. I quit a month early

I'm confused, how did a lumbar machine affect your c spine? was it set up incorrectly or did they not supervise your postures while using the machine?

Why were they having you use the lumbar machine if you had no lumbar issues?
For basic core fitness?

Overall- my motto has become - if PT is hurting or making you feel worse- stop it right away - do not continue even if they pressure you to do so..

[QUOTE=Jo*mar;1139373]I'm confused, how did a lumbar machine affect your c spine? was it set up incorrectly or did they not supervise your postures while using the machine?

###### It was set up correctly and I was supervised. My entire lower body was immobilized. They had a MedX cervical machine I didn't use which protects the neck. My PT went over the cervical MRI results and said they were not bad. I had no symptoms so it didn't seem bad.

Why were they having you use the lumbar machine if you had no lumbar issues?
For basic core fitness?

####### I was referred by my PCP, and waited 5 months, for ruptured lumbar discs and arachnoiditis. This was a supposed top notch neurosurgeon. I was never referred for surgery or narcotics

Overall- my motto has become - if PT is hurting or making you feel worse- stop it right away - do not continue even if they pressure you to do so..[/QUOTE

###### Yes, I already feel quite stupid

Oh, and I quit a month early. PT told me my symptoms were because I'm bipolar.

My apologies for being snarky. I've been in severe pain and tomorrow will be going into 5 months of this situation. It's also very maddening and frightening when doctors throw their power around. I am blessed to have finally found a 2nd opinion and that I didn't continue PT to do further damage.

Does anyone know what spinal cord flattening is? I can only think it occurs in the elderly. Also, I believe that rate of stenosis would normally show up over years of progression on an average person.

Malpractice is definitely harmful to victims as well. I believe my PT knew I was in pain and he made a big mistake. The first rule of do no harm may often be replaced with never admit a mistake.

This does seem quite complicated too, the lumbar vs cervical spine issues vs the machine etc....
Have you written out a time line and how symptoms & pain have changed all this time?
Sometime journaling helps to clarify points and also helps to unload some of the stresses once they are on paper.

I tried a similar machine for a short time, but I didn’t care for the confinement and forced use...seemed like overkill to me..unnatural...

Terminology for CT scans and MRI scans - Lumbar region

In that link are some terms. If you scroll down a little way you'll find the explanation for "Flattening of the spinal cord "

Yes, I completely agree about machines being unnatural and having way too much force.

The timeline shows how fast my health declined. I had my PCP blood test me for cancer, and I notarized my will at age 44. I was dismissed at the ER and by other doctors as having psychosomatic symptoms. Ive been told, since this last MRI, my neck is fine I just need physical therapy lol. Most doctors cover for each other and it's hard to get help without explaining the source of the trauma. I still have no idea what this may have done to my upper back.

BTW, after this is done I plan to move to the Pacific Northwest to heal. It's the most beautiful place.

So sorry to hear about your injuries.

The device looks like a medieval instrument of torture.

Thank you for sharing your experience. I will steer clear of those machines.

Engligh Dave, When I was first put into the instrument of death my PT yelled, "You're a witch! Then things kind of went downhill from there. Seriously, you are the third person to say that. When I told my shrink how I've been dismissed she said, what century is this? I plan to wear a bonnet to my next dr appt and seek aftercare from a veterinarian.