Bulging Disc in Neck

caseyjshu

caseyjshu

New Member
Location
Louisiana
Has anyone had any experience with this? 6 years ago I was suffering pain in my neck and shoulder. Doctor did an MRI and I had a bulging disc at C5-C6. He suggested surgery. Not wanting to be out of work for weeks or months at a time I went to a chiropractor. It took about 6 weeks of twice weekly visits but I was pain free until recently when I apparently aggravated it again.

So not sure if I should just go ahead and have the surgery to repair it or go the chiropractor again to relieve the pain, but not actually repair anything. I know a couple people who have had the surgery and are fine now, but it took months to get back to 100%. I've also read some stories online where people were miserable for weeks and some took a year to get back to 100%. Some still have slight neck pain. I want to do this while I'm working ( I'm 57 ) and I'm sure it gets harder on you as you get older.

Anyone have any thoughts or experience with this? Not looking for medical advice, I'll let my doctor do that.
 

caseyjshu said:
Has anyone had any experience with this? 6 years ago I was suffering pain in my neck and shoulder. Doctor did an MRI and I had a bulging disc at C5-C6. He suggested surgery. Not wanting to be out of work for weeks or months at a time I went to a chiropractor. It took about 6 weeks of twice weekly visits but I was pain free until recently when I apparently aggravated it again.

So not sure if I should just go ahead and have the surgery to repair it or go the chiropractor again to relieve the pain, but not actually repair anything. I know a couple people who have had the surgery and are fine now, but it took months to get back to 100%. I've also read some stories online where people were miserable for weeks and some took a year to get back to 100%. Some still have slight neck pain. I want to do this while I'm working ( I'm 57 ) and I'm sure it gets harder on you as you get older.

Anyone have any thoughts or experience with this? Not looking for medical advice, I'll let my doctor do that.
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Yes, I have the same thing plus herniated disk, bone spurs, arthritis. I tried chiropractor and that did not help. I went for a long time until I found a pain management doctor who gave injections into the area and performed a nerve block. i had a severe problem but was pain free for many years. An anesthesiologist often does these procedures.
 
I would go back to the chiropractor. If I could keep it under control that way, I would certainly go that route. Neck surgery is a big deal and there are no guarantees. What would the surgery involve -- i.e., would it involve fusion of vertebrae, thus causing loss of motion? Also, if you were off work for an extended time in recovery from surgery, would your job still be waiting for you? I'd take a long hard look at all the ramifications of the decision.
 
Yes not in my neck thank goodness , but herniated discs in my spine... had cortisone injections after trying all sorts of chropractors..in fact it was one of the best sports chiropractors who referred me for the first cortisone injection.

I got relief from the pain for 18 months the first time... some people get relief forever, others nothing...but the cortisone injection is no big deal...the pain relief afterwards definitely is..
 
Bear in mind too much cortisone softens and weakens the bones and cartildge. I avoid that one. Had 2 in my life and no more if I can help it. PRP could really do good if you can go that route. I'm hoping the insurance world will help out on helping people pay for it and get relief without invasive work.

Osteopathic doctors can do wonders too if you can locate one.
 
Depending on the severity of pain, and the injury, I would only do surgery as a last resort, and this is what was advised from an Orthopedic Surgeon I went to.

I have cervical, thoracic, and lumbar degeneration, so bulges, herniations and some tears as well. My belief is these injuries have accrued from workouts I have done over the years, from a young age until now, at 55 years old. The doctor says he thinks it was from a more traumatic incident, like car accident, etc, which I do not recall ever happening.

My thoughts would be to start strengthening exercises for the injured area and to stop doing any repetitive type motions that will aggravated your condition, and no jarring movements.

I still workout almost every day, but just changed the way I work out so it is not so jarring or high impact. I also starting doing strengthening workouts (stability ball) & others and stretches daily. It has helped me to stay in shape and stay strong.

Hope this may help.
 
I don't have any bulging discs but I do have degenerated C6-7 cervical discs (neck). They usually don't bother me but occasionally do flare up and cause a pinched nerve in my shoulder and arm. I also have damage to my left rotator cuff which is the most annoying thing; when it "flares up" I have trouble reaching above shoulder height. It's always something. :D

I agree that unless the pain is totally unbearable, surgery would be my last resort. Good luck with your decision.
 
CindyLouWho said:
Depending on the severity of pain, and the injury, I would only do surgery as a last resort, and this is what was advised from an Orthopedic Surgeon I went to.

I have cervical, thoracic, and lumbar degeneration, so bulges, herniations and some tears as well. My belief is these injuries have accrued from workouts I have done over the years, from a young age until now, at 55 years old. The doctor says he thinks it was from a more traumatic incident, like car accident, etc, which I do not recall ever happening.

My thoughts would be to start strengthening exercises for the injured area and to stop doing any repetitive type motions that will aggravated your condition, and no jarring movements.

I still workout almost every day, but just changed the way I work out so it is not so jarring or high impact. I also starting doing strengthening workouts (stability ball) & others and stretches daily. It has helped me to stay in shape and stay strong.

Hope this may help.
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The pain is not unbearable but is constant and disrupts my sleep most times. I have also been doing stretches, yoga and strengthening exercises for a few years since it first cropped up. I'm sure the therapy I'm currently undergoing will ease the pain but it won't heal the disc. So what happens in 10 years? 20 years? 30 years - when the pain comes back? At 80+ years of age will I still be able to ease the pain with therapy? Will it be worse as the disc continues to degenerate? Will I have to live with the pain? Yes, surgery is my last resort - I can't handle pain and am nervous about being cut on my neck - but I'm thinking about down the road and how I'll handle this in the future.

Thanks for the responses by the way.
 
caseyjshu said:
The pain is not unbearable but is constant and disrupts my sleep most times. I have also been doing stretches, yoga and strengthening exercises for a few years since it first cropped up. I'm sure the therapy I'm currently undergoing will ease the pain but it won't heal the disc. So what happens in 10 years? 20 years? 30 years - when the pain comes back? At 80+ years of age will I still be able to ease the pain with therapy? Will it be worse as the disc continues to degenerate? Will I have to live with the pain? Yes, surgery is my last resort - I can't handle pain and am nervous about being cut on my neck - but I'm thinking about down the road and how I'll handle this in the future.



Thanks for the responses by the way.
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This is just my experience, but years ago when I first injured my back (Teaser move doing Pilates) and was in pain, I also went to a Rheumatologist, besides the Orthopedic doctor. She suggested and I tried different medications, but since I didn't want to go the medication route with all the side effects, I finally tried Cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril), a muscle relaxer. Yes, it's a medication, but I only take is "as needed", and have only ever taken a 5 mg, or cut in half for 2.5 mg. It worked like magic, compared to some of the other more dangerous drugs you could take. It relaxed my muscle spasms enough to feel like normal again. So it would probably work well for you at night, even 2.5, to relax the spasms and let you sleep. Great that you are already doing yoga, strengthening and stretching!

It took me a long time and research to finally feel normal again. Like you, at first, I thought about how to live with this or in the future, but my advice would be to live in the moment, try the very low dose Flexeril to relax the spasms at night and do not think ahead, take it one day at a time.

It does no good to worry about the future, things have a way of working themselves out, just take care of the here and now. :)
 
When you hit old age, you just deal with it. I've had OA issues for 60+ yrs and never a back surgery or neck but a hip replacement left me worse off in 2010. Surgery isn't always an answer...who knows by then PRP and Stem Cells could be the REAL THINGS. They are coming on pretty strong now.

Often these surgeries end up with another one and another one and more OA sets in all the time. Don't live 10-20 yrs down the road .... work on what is NOW.
 
UPDATE: Ok after a few weeks of therapy at the chiropractor and a few over the counter pain meds I am today pain free.

I had an MRI done and met with the Orthopedic PA. Basically told me if I have no pain then do not have surgery. She said surgery could create a new problem and suggested just what I have been doing - therapy, exercise and proper ergonomics.

So life goes on...:)
 
caseyjshu said:
UPDATE: Ok after a few weeks of therapy at the chiropractor and a few over the counter pain meds I am today pain free.

I had an MRI done and met with the Orthopedic PA. Basically told me if I have no pain then do not have surgery. She said surgery could create a new problem and suggested just what I have been doing - therapy, exercise and proper ergonomics.

So life goes on...:)
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Good.. surgery needs to be last last last last resort.

I'd like to be pain free but our issues are different but still no surgery for me.
 
Bulging discs will sometimes get better, the bulge may be absorbed and return to normal. It doesn't happen often and can be temporary.

A herniated disc may ease up but will get worse over time as a person's discs degenerate from age.

No Fellowship trained neurosurgeon will ever tell you the pain will go away if the surgery to repair or replace the disc is done. It may or may not. The only time surgery may be the only alternative is when you are experiencing weakness in any extremity. It will not get better.
 

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